BORD Architectural Studio

Specialized in Architecture Design.

BORD Architectural Studio

About BORD Architectural Studio

BORD Architectural Studio is a young and successful Hungarian architectural studio whose works are listed among the determining creations of contemporary architecture in Hungary. The studio works on projects with different scales and usages. They offer complete solutions from the conceptual to the completion phase in three cities of Europe: Budapest, Debrecen and Zurich. In order to guarantee human-centred and sustainable design for their projects, the studio has a separate department with its own landscape architects and mechanical engineers. The unique atmosphere of their projects is designed by Peter Bordas, who is the founder and lead architect of the office.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Architecture Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Architecture
Gearing International School of Debrecen

Gearing International School of Debrecen

Architecture Design

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Interview with BORD Architectural Studio

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I graduated from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 2003 but I had made up my mind about being an architect at the age of ten. Ever since then I have been amazed by manmade spaces, shelters and monumental buildings, basically everything man shapes his environment with
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BORD Architectural Studio was established in 2006. Since then we opened two other offices: one in Debrecen and another in Zurich. Apart from our architectural studio we also set up a building engineering office called BORD HVAC Engineering and we have our own landscape architecture department as well
What is "design" for you?
When completing a concept, we always focus on creating a strong connection between the building and its natural environment. Throughout our work we are inspired by nature.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Public buildings. We thrive to find a way in designing a given function that serves the widest possible social audience.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Although BORD Architectural Studio does not follow any particular style, I have to admit that I really like high-tech, especially Lloyd’s building in London.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
Moonvalley/Holdvölgy Winery in Mád was completed in 2012. This building won bronze medal at A’ Design Award. https://bordstudio.hu/en/projects/moonvalley-vinery/ It has been such a great cooperation with our customer that we had multiple projects together and we keep a close friendship ever since.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
We choose materials and technology based on the given design of a building. One of our frequently used materials is membrane structure.
When do you feel the most creative?
During the day I’m busy running the company. My most creative time of day is probably early in the morning when I’m baking bread for my family. ☺
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Throughout a design process I try to choose the simplest possible solutions. I like it if spaces are multifunctional.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
In the office it is generally appreciated if the most simple design jobs are represented as graphic symbols. We like to admire simple symbols.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I like to assess and experience a building together with its users. This is always a complex and extraordinary experience.
What makes a design successful?
Connection of building and its environment is of utmost importance. We consider it a success if people start using the building and they like it.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Well, I first consider function, for a building should not be self-serving.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
We ought to create such buildings that are capable of fulfilling the needs of future generations functionally, energetically and esthetically too.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Environment, energy and technology are more and more important when planning. Design too will evolve being closely connected to these.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
Every autumn in the past two years we have organized the so called DECODE exhibition. Our aim with this is to draw attention to the importance of thought driven art and creating value. https://bordstudio.hu/en/2019/11/29/decode-award-ceremony-2019/
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
I find nature extremely inspiring. I also read a lot and search for the simplest forms, graphic symbols.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
Using the already existing assets of the location we provide our buildings a strong and unique character. We build each project item around a story. This story inspires the architectural concept and guides our working process while adding a “personality” to our buildings.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
Most of the time I live and work in Budapest but I was born and raised in the countryside. The traditional architecture style of the Hungarian great plain is simple and straightforward. This mentality is genuinely present in my work.
How do you work with companies?
We are the general contractors of our projects. It is important for us to support our clients straight from the first steps of planning.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
A project can only be successful if the communication between the designer and the client is flawless straight from the beginning.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
We prefer real mock-ups and visual designs. We create mock-ups of whole volumes of buildings and every architecturally important detail too. We present our concept to our clients this way.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Every morning starts with taking care of the family. Every other day I bake a bread. These mornings are extremely active regarding architecture for during baking in the early hours of the day an awful lot of sketches are made in the kitchen. During the day I run the company. I do my best to support my design teams and provide them with sufficient information. I travel a lot between our workshops. Throughout these rides I try to insert such programs that broaden my perspectives.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
The foundation of a good design is knowing our clients’ needs, aims and mentality in every detail. It is especially crucial to know their long-term goals. We always handle our clients’ projects as if they were our own.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Creation from planning to manifesting is part of our lives, this is a great sensation. However, creative processes do not enable breaks, one cannot stop, cannot leave halfway through. Not at this phase at least.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
We aim to give to people, to society, to design feel good places.
What skills are most important for a designer?
It is important to be able to feel with others, to empathies with a whole community even.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Since I’m on the road most of the time, online communication is crucial. Usually I prefer freehand drawings which I do on my tablet so I can immediately share them with my colleagues. In the beginning of a project I consider freehand drawings, sketches important, because they have time consuming, monotonous parts like shading when we can gain some time. We cannot skim so easily over seemingly good ideas.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
It is difficult indeed. Daily routine tasks consume most of my days but I try to make the most of the early hours and late evenings.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
The most difficult part is setting the deadlines of the process of creating a concept. It may take days to come up with an idea, while at other times it can unexpectedly strike you, completely out of the blue. Once the concept is set, the process can be scheduled smoothly - depending on the size of the buildings they can last a couple of months up to two years.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
An artifact should never be self-serving, therefore the question is how it could be more versatile, user friendly and worthy for its users and society.
What was your most important job experience?
12 years ago we designed a hotel on a vineyard where we had to consider natural elements (fire, water, earth, air) as parts of the building. When planning this building we had some groundbreaking ideas and novel thoughts that stuck with us ever since, though the building was finally not completed.
Who are some of your clients?
Half of our clients are private investors, the other half comprises of urban and government commissions.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
My favorite part is when the outlines of the buildings are visible and we try to create its impromptu mockup from the objects around us in the office. We end up with funny, makeshift objects which are extremely useful.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Our office is expanding and progressing. We aim to create an even more efficient general construction process. We already have a building engineering and a landscape architecture department and we hope to further improve with other units.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Though the first sparks of ideas are born in my head, I prefer teamwork. When we get the contract, we start work based on my visions together, as a team.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
At the moment we are working on some mixed structure buildings. Apart from meeting the general needs in this case we use more structural materials on the building that all match the functional unity. This is our first such project and we are very excited to hear the first feedbacks.
How can people contact you?
Our philosophy and our most important projects can be found on the website of BORD Architectural Studio. We are also available via email or personal messages on Facebook and Instagram.
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
I truly hope that my answers reflect how important the simplicity of a concept and the strong, symbolic cleanness of ideas are for us. Thank you.

Designer of the Day Interview with BORD Architectural Studio

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I started my studies at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 1997. As a student I was very keen to start my hands-on experience so in my second year in 1999 I started working for a then leading architectural studio, ZDA (Zoboki Design and Architecture). I carried on working for them until 2006 when BORD Architectural Studio was established and as a project architect I had plenty of opportunity to take part in a wide range of projects from industrial buildings to cultural institutions. I graduated from the university in 2003. One of the first projects of BORD Architectural Studio was Villa Budapest, which is still under construction. While designing the building we collaborated a number of famous designers such as Tadao Ando or Ilse Crawford who agreed to create a concept for the interior of the building. This was a truly groundbreaking experience for me. https://bordstudio.hu/projektek/villa-budapest/
How did you become a designer?
When I was a child I had this instinct that I needed to build a house for myself. I was always busy building huts wherever I was until the age of ten when drawing took its place. I drew different buildings imagining what it might feel to live in them. This was such a strong intuition that paved my way to the architecture faculty of the university.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
In the very beginning I am not yet interested in space and the physical reality of the building. The first step for me is to find the message of the location and the environment the building will communicate. Then I start drawing. This usually is teamwork and it includes making mockups. Almost all projects are different as the key is the message we’d like to pass on. This often comes in a form of a story that will become a strong motif throughout the entire work process till the implementation of the building.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Expectation. Planning is like a journey to an unknown destination. The difference compared to a regular expectation of a journey is that here we have no prior information of guidebooks or internet sources, we don’t know what will await us. The process of creation is like a journey to the unknown but instead of being surprised we are the ones who surprise others by creating something new for the people who will enter our buildings.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I was born and raised in the Hungarian countryside. The most typical aspect of the great plains is its endless horizon, the Fata Morgana, when the earth becomes its own reflection on the horizon. The vision of multi coloured horizontal lines, the blurred boundary of earth and sky is floating in front of your eyes like some mysterious gate through which resides endless imagination. This is the heaven of dreamers and this is where I grew up. Of course, life in this part of the country appears in the most simple of forms. Local traditional architecture is simple and functional. So simplicity and beauty of nature appeared to me simultaneously. As if the functional canvas of the artist with its simplicity could appear next to the colourful painting it beholds.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
It is very important for us to share our vision with the people. We established a foundation and a prize that helps communication between young artists or architects and everyday people. This is DECODE – The Space for ARTchitecture. https://www.facebook.com/decodecompetition/ Recently we have been designing larger scale urban spaces and city centers. These keep us on our toes at the moment. In our constantly changing world we have to transform a long lasting story into an urban tissue. This the biggest challenge I can think of right now.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I believe that nature communicates with us and would like to use us as its mouthpiece. In order to be able to hear this we have to shut out all earlier desires and unfulfilled thoughts. A new project is not another chance to manifest an earlier idea. The most important thing is to arrive to the location without preconceptions. This is extremely difficult, trust me, I speak from personal experience.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
In business there are many standard ways of selling an idea, these are all very important as this is the common language through which we can find our ways to each other. And yet these are not enough. For a designer manifesting a building is a personal cause. This personal attraction is so powerful that it shows on the designer. It must be visible that they believe in what they have created.
What is your day to day look like?
My hobby is creation itself, the mere idea of doing something. Unfortunately most of the days are revolving around solving routine tasks and it is also very common that a normal workday does not offer anything but running the business for days. Therefore I steal some time from the early hours of the morning to practice my hobby. Later on in the day I arrange my daily schedule and start going around the office from project to project. Needless to say, I rarely have time for everything but it is always a priority to encourage young colleagues to make decisions as this is crucial for their advancement.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
Trend and fashion are nothing but fast disappearing fads for architects. In the life of a building design trends are no more than short moments so it is dangerous to rely on them. Of course, society and technology are changing and buildings, structures and public places should react to these changes. We have to think ahead when it comes to social trends. A building can only be successful if it can adjust to the altered circumstances in the future too. As an architect I think it is high priority to follow and assess social and technological changes.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Everybody is familiar with the sensation when we see some really simple yet perfect answer to a question and we ask ourselves why the answer did not occur to us. A simple design is crucial. It is also important that a building knows its place: should it be in the foreground or the background? Of course it is difficult to stay in the background and is a common mistake that designers overestimate their products, highlighting them more than it would be necessary.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
When we reach the stage of the process that we’d still like to add something but it would only make the building more complicated it is time to stop.
What is your biggest design work?
My longest projects was designing a stadium. The main reason for this was that its location was an abandoned forest in the heart of the city. I knew that my job was not only to pull up a sport complex but also to rebuild a whole district. We needed to come up with a catalyst that generated newer and newer developments. Since the implementation it became the centre attraction of the city that attracts fresh investments endlessly. https://bordstudio.hu/projektek/debreceni-nagyerdei-stadion/ At the moment I am busy with an ongoing planning and construction process where a hill is called to life and a new dweller is being moved in to a wine region. Its name is Elf Padi. I honestly hope that by the time it will be finished people will admire it like a sentient being instead of a building and it will have plenty of visitors. https://bordstudio.hu/projektek/sauska-boraszat/
Who is your favourite designer?
The first names that spring to my mind are architects Louis Kahn and Alvar Aalto. They managed to reinvent space and balance industrial and craft structures at the same time. I also admire high tech, the buildings of Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers are big milestones in my professional life. I adore the zest of technology and science in a building. I find it inspiring how human scale and industrial measures change in the spaces created by them.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Apart from our Budapest headquarters BORD Architectural Studio also set up offices in Debrecen and Zurich. Commuting between the offices takes an awful lot of time so I try to insert some inspiring recreational programme like investigating a previously unknown part of the city or so. Otherwise I really enjoy traveling around the world. I prefer North European destinations. The goal is mostly nature, abandoned areas. We share this passion with my wife who is also an architect. If it comes to a family outing, we go for a sailing trip with our three children. The family nest is in Budapest, this is where we spend most of our life. We like spaces permeated by light, the closeness of nature so we live in a house surrounded by a jungle like grove. Of course we also like to surround ourselves with pretty objects and paintings - these provide the atmosphere of our habitat.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
Our studio is dealing with general planning so apart from the creative parts of the job responsible engineering tasks are also crucial. Almost all phases of projects are carried out in teamwork, we work with a standard staff who are well accustomed to each other. The first ideas are followed by the common task of creating the story that will shape the building. Despite the size of the studio we are persistently maintaining the family like atmosphere. As for the work process I would compare ourselves to a clockwork where each cog has its responsibility and carries out their task flawlessly. In business life we try to get contractors we had already worked with so we can be present in the very beginning of the investment at the business planning phase.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
We constantly take on designing tasks pro bono in regions that need support. In the past years we designed kindergartens and public spaces this way. BORD Architectural Studio established two different foundations. One of them - Aranymadár Alapítvány (Golden Bird Foundation) supports poetry, literature and runs an online magazine: https://drot.eu. The other one is DECODE Foundation which supports contemporary art and architecture. Every year there is a competition for young artists who then have an opportunity to put their works on display in an exhibition. Its aim is to draw attention to thought driven art and creating value which lead to special places, characteristic buildings and inspiring, intriguing artifacts. https://bordstudio.hu/en/2019/11/29/decode-award-ceremony-2019/
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Entering competitions and receiving feedback from a professional jury comprising of the most prestigious members of the profession are essential. It is a great support for us, a sign that we are following the right path. Due to the wide range of international entries, A’ Design Award is a perfect indicator of excellence. The prize is not important only for us, architects but also for our contractors as it adds value to their buildings. On a larger scale the users of the buildings and the local community can also pride on it. We are honored that the International School of Debrecen received gold prize. This is a great feedback that we can create value of.

Extended Interview with BORD Architectural Studio

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I started my studies at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 1997. As a student I was very keen to start my hands on experience so in my second year in 1999 I started working for a then leading architectural studio, ZDA (Zoboki Design and Architecture). I carried on working for them until 2006 when BORD Architectural Studio was established and as a project architect I had plenty of opportunity to take part in a wide range of projects from industrial buildings to cultural institutions. I graduated from the university in 2003.
How did you become a designer?
When I was a child I had this instinct that I needed to build a house for myself. I was always busy building huts wherever I was until the age of ten when drawing took its place. I think it was inevitable that I became an architect.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I already admired architecture as a child and I applied to university so as to design my own house one day. When I was a second year student, I got a full time job in a prestigious architecture studio and I couldn’t even imagine any other career for myself.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Being an architect I am responsible for many different areas as a designer. BORD Architectural Studio has three workshops in two countries. Our headquarter is in Budapest and we have two other offices, one in Zurich and the other one in Debrecen. All of them are dealing with general design i.e.: design tasks from conceptual designs to structural details and so on.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I am lucky because my hobby and my profession are very much alike. It wasn’t difficult for me to leave my comfort zone and deal with architecture 24/7. Of course it is not enough to spend a lot of time with something. It is also essential to be able to loose ourseves in it. All of my buildings are part of my imagination, I visualize myself in them as I work, study, live there or listen to lectures, you name it. It is very important to be part of what you’re doing.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
A good designer delivers a job right on time, complies with the latest demands, is reliable, successful and has a professional prestige. A great designer does not necessarily adjust to the latest trends, they’d rather have unique ideas and set trends themselves. A great designer is also prestigious and successful but everybody is aware of their merits and faults.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
A really good design is evident. Everybody likes it and everybody regrets not having thought of the same themselves. When meeting a good design it is so balanced that it is impossible to add to it or take away anything from it.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
These days there aren’t too many permanent things around us so we’d like to possess such objects or buildings we can attach to. We trust in the timelessness of these and use them as a safe where we can lock up treasuries moments of our lives.
What is your day to day look like?
It might sound a bit odd but I’ve always wanted to design a bee hive. This recognition hit me when I saw two bee hives in Ljubljana, in front of the workshop of Joze Plecnik. I find the bee society amazing and I think it would be a beautiful task.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
Although I’m an architect I also adore sailing so designing a sailing boat is definitely on my bucket list
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I always imagine every building as if they were real before drawing them. In my imagination I try its spaces, I tidy the kitchen, put the objects to their places. I do my best to understand the needs and demands toward the buildings in all functions. My secret ingredient is believing in the project.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
The first names that spring to my mind are architects Louis Kahn and Alvar Aalto. They managed to reinvent space and balance industrial and craft structures at the same time.
What is your biggest design work?
I admire high tech, the buidlings of Renzo Piano and Richard Roggers are big milestones in my professional life. I adore the zest of technology and science in a building. I find it inspiring how human scale and industrial measures change in the spaces created by them.
Who is your favourite designer?
My longest projects was designing a stadium. The main reason for this was that its location was an abandoned forest in the heart of the city. I knew that my job was not only to pull up a sport complex but also to rebuild a whole district. We needed to come up with a catalyst that generated newer and newer developments. Since the implementation it became the centre attraction of the city that attracts fresh investments endlessly. https://bordstudio.hu/projektek/debreceni-nagyerdei-stadion/ At the moment I am busy with an ongoing planning and construction process where a hill is called to life and a new dweller is being moved in to a wine region. Its name is Elf Padi. I honestly hope that by the time it will be finished people will admire it like a sentient being instead of a building and it will have plenty of visitors. https://bordstudio.hu/projektek/sauska-boraszat/
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Simplicity and pureness are important to me. The two things that remind me of these are: nature with its honesty and functionalism are the artifacts I adore.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I’m afraid I would have been a lawyer. I like to research cause and effect and endlessly reduce the patterns that generate and activate things.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
The simplest form of function where we can find the inventions of our time.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
There was an architect behind me with whom we learnt the trade together. Then I married her. I learnt everything from her that I was lacking.

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