Concrete Retro

The goal of the BETONRETRÓ project was to explore and showcase quality examples of domestic concrete architecture from post-1945 up to pre-1990. International examples from this era, from Le Corbusier to Tadao Ando, are well-known; however, does a domestic precedent of exposed concrete architecture exist? Is there a contemporary Hungarian 'concrete idea'?

We searched for answers through a subjective selection. The data and life stories of the selected buildings were published on the BETONRETRÓ blog. We gathered photos, descriptions, and data of buildings, sculptures, artworks, and objects from the post-war and pre-regime-change era of Hungarian architecture, where concrete prominently appears as a material and architectural expression tool.

The collection was presented at the BETONRETRÓ exhibition. A BETON PROFESSIONAL DAY was associated with the exhibition, where we showcased exposed concrete from the perspective of contemporary technology. Our speakers included experts dealing with monuments, concrete, concrete staining, formwork, and imprints.

Organisers: Dániel Kovács, Péter István Varga