Download TRAFÓ CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS – A FORERUNNER

TRAFÓ CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS – A FORERUNNER, POSTINDUSTRIAL URBAN FUNCTION
Brief description
The transformer house for south of Pest was standing empty for 40 years, when a group of
anarchist artist has squatted it and used it for performances, when the municipality of
Budapest has bought the site for the same purposes: to create a recipient centre for
contemporary arts in the city of Budapest. There is a tradition reaching back decades in
Western Europe of erecting artistic centers and institutions in empty industrial buildings.
The Trafó House of Contemporary Arts opened its doors in 1998 as the first of this kind in
Hungary.
Objective, need for action
The transformer house in Liliom street serving the South Pest neighbourhood, was built in
1909. It is a typical example of industrial secession style in Budapest. On the spot from the
1896 there has been a residential building with stables. The plans for the transformer house
were accepted in 1908, while deploying the factory happened in 1909. Part of the original
residential house has not demolished on the Tűzoltó utca front. The last reconstruction of
the building happened in 1940, while the functioning of the transformer house has stopped
in the 1960s.
In the early 1990's many old transformer houses were renovated in Budapest for functions
other than the original (Merlin theatre, Museum of Electrical Engineering, bank branch).
The building was discovered by a French anarchist art group, called Resonance group at the
beginning of 1990s and they opened up the building for the unconventional public. it served
as an open cultural centre for a summer, with concerts, art performances and later it became
a squat.
While the plans for the Budapest expo was rejected the municipality used money set apart
fro the expo to buy the building in 1995. It was the Municipality of Budapest which rebuilt
to building to its current design, originally planned to be the successor of the legendary
Young Artists’ Club (Fiatal Művészek Klubja) an alternative art space active during the late
communism. The Trafo, Centre for Contemporary Arts has opened to the general public in
1998.
Key steps and activities
The reconstruction of the Trafo coincided with the rehabilitation of the 9th district, the
neighbourhood in which it stands.
The single level building on the neighbouring parcel – the remains of the original
residential house - facing Tűzoltó street was demolished, giving place to a small square in
front of the new entrance to the cultural centre with the trade mark "TRAFÓ" sign over it.
On the exterior there was little alteration, concentrated only on the open great door, which
is essential to load many of the equipments for the performances.
While maintaining the architectural values of the building, the whole interior of the house
was altered. Beside the large theatre room and the event halls of the basement, an
exhibition area and rehearsal rooms were created.
The great hall – which used to be the machine hall of the transformer house – is the location
of the performing art programmes. The theatre space is so-called blackbox type. 60% of the
auditorium is removable creating high adaptability of the space. Technical equipments
(light and sound techniques) are installed on a metal frame, which can be lowered for
adjustments for single performances. Thus it also gives high flexibility for organising the
stage.
Trafo Galéria, which is located in the basement, is the exhibition space for contemporary
artists. While rehearsal rooms and training rooms for contemporary dance classes are
available on the first floor.
Also a second phase for the reconstruction of the Trafo building was planned. It would
create new office functions and rehearsal rooms at the empty lot in front of the present
building. Approved building plans and permits have been acquired; however the lack of
financial resources makes further development impossible.
Financial support for operational costs of Trafo comes from the yearly budget of the
Municipality of Budapest, while the organisation also applies for various grants.
Results and impacts
Budapest has a long tradition of performing art, with nearly 20 repertory theatre and
numerous smaller studio-theatres. The art programme of Trafo has been developed taking
into consideration this context. The emphasis of the programme of Trafo is on
performances which are beyond traditional theatrical language, which put visual experience
in the foreground, which are trying to reinterpret the theatre space.
The professional program of the institute operating in a postindustrial space is organized
according to a unified, yet diverse approach, which is experimental and audience-friendly at
the same time, based on new directions as well as our cultural memories and providing
space for the presentation of both domestic and international artists.
The Trafó is a mediating site dedicated to social issues, a platform for establishing values
and contexts as well as generating new ideas and productions. Its performances, concerts,
exhibitions, community and audience-building programs address a number of different
generations, viewers of all kinds open to something new, whilst devoting special attention
in its operation to the younger generations.
The Trafó House of Contemporary Arts in Budapest is a receptive venue place unique to
Hungary, embedded in the international contemporary scene, where the various genres –
theater, dance, new circus, music and other visual arts – are presented in an individual and
authentic manner.
Trafo is marked on the map of contemporary performing art venue places. Due to the
facilities of the building many art groups and companies are looking for the possibility to
perform here.
Lessons learnt/ sustainability
It was an anarchist group which determined the future of the building and directed the
attention of the municipality towards the possibility of using the old industrial building as
an art venue. The reconstruction of the building and the creation of the new function for the
building went hand in hand with the rehabilitation and gentrification of the district to which
it belongs, thus the public acceptance of Trafo was high not only among art-lovers but also
in the neighbourhood.
The municipality at the time had financial resources at hands to purchase the building and
to renovate it without need of investors and PPP constructions, thus there was less constrain
on the future “economical use” of the building.
Trafo as the only contemporary art venue place in Budapest is still owned by the
Municipality and yearly budget is allocated to Trafo. Although the financial burden it
creates on the municipality makes is vulnerable to debates and questioning, thus as any
other art service, it cannot be sustainable without public support.
Contact details
Trafó - House of Contemporary Arts
1094 Budapest, Liliom u. 41.
http://www.trafo.hu/en-US
[email protected]