Architects: Hello Wood
Area: 60 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: György Palkó
Structure: Attila Csicsó, Miklós Piltman
Structural Design: László Pongor
Plants: Gergely Ronai
Design and General Construction: Hello Wood Zrt
Board Team: András Huszár, Dávid Ráday, Krisztián Tóth
Idea: András Huszár (CEO, Head Architect)
Architect: Balázs Szelecsényi
Associate Architect: Szilvia Odry
Project Manager: Viktor Rajmon
Landscape Design: Enikő Kapás
City: Veszprém
Country: Hungary

The Garden of Communities Pavilion by Hello Wood, located in Veszprém, Hungary, celebrates the Veszprém-Balaton region’s culture. The pavilion features 116 unique planter boxes, each representing a municipality in the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture program. Designed with reclaimed timber from the Drechsler Palace, the planters create a biodiverse vertical garden with automated irrigation. After four years, the planters will be returned to their respective municipalities. This project highlights community cooperation and the historical significance of the site.

Garden of Communities Pavilion / Hello Wood

Hello Wood, known for its distinctive cabin houses and builder festivals, has designed another remarkable public installation. Located in the center of Factory’ard in Veszprém, the Garden of Communities is an artwork celebrating the rich culture of the Veszprém-Balaton region. This pavilion symbolizes the collaboration of the 116 municipalities participating in the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture program. This is not Hello Wood’s first public work representing an important cause; their iconic Sledge Trees, shaped like Christmas trees and temporarily displayed in several European cities before being disassembled and the sleds donated, is a notable example.

“For each municipality participating in the VEB2023 program, we have designed a unique planter box, with the name of the municipality clearly displayed on the side, containing a sapling. In Veszprém, which is the central site of the European Capital of Culture 2023, we have set up a Garden of Communities, consisting of 116 planters, which promotes the eternal values of community cooperation,” says Balázs Szelecsényi, the project’s architect. The uniquely shaped planters form a stunning exhibition space, accessible to all. The contrast between the geometric architectural forms and the lush vegetation creates an enchanting atmosphere, inviting visitors to explore the pavilion and discover the names of villages or cities that hold personal significance.

The native tree saplings of the region, planted in crates, collectively form a biodiverse vertical garden that grows and strengthens with the seasons. An automated irrigation system built into the structures ensures consistent growth. Furthermore, the complex design provides various sun, wind, and rainfall conditions, allowing each tree species to be optimally positioned for its water and sunlight needs. The site’s historical significance, once home to one of the region’s largest furniture factories for about 120 years, influenced the design. This heritage is honored by cladding the planter boxes with nearly 120-year-old reclaimed timber from the recently renovated Drechsler Palace in Budapest. The use of antique materials not only adds to the historical reference but also contributes to the work’s timeless quality.

After four years, each planter will be returned to its respective municipality, where the saplings will take root and grow into trees symbolizing the unity of 2023. Moreover, as part of the EKF 2023 program, the Hello Wood architectural summer school and festival will take place from July 6 to 15 in a new inspiring location: the basalt mine of Zalahaláp.