National Széchenyi Library Archive

In 2017, the government issued a decision to establish the National Széchenyi Library’s new building, the Archive Warehouse. In line with recommendations from the European Union, this national collection consists of a hermetically sealed warehouse that serves as a cultural treasury, preserving a single copy of every book printed from the 19th century to the present day (the “iron copy”). These copies can never be removed or borrowed – only researched. The purpose of the collection is to ensure that all items are reproducible and digitized for national and world literature, preserving them for future generations.

The general designer of the building was TSPC Group, while architect Attila Turi, who had been preparing the project for years, was responsible for its architectural and visual design. The new Archive Warehouse is located in Piliscsaba, 20 kilometers from Budapest, within the National Knowledge Park – a vast connected area in the Pilis Mountains, on the edge of the city, that includes a research park and university campuses.

The 126-meter-long, 34-meter-wide, three-story warehouse was built at the highest point of the site, shaded by trees. It was designed not only to meet the functional requirement of being perfectly enclosed but also to remain hidden from view. The architectural design and composition are inspired by the works of renowned graphic artist Tibor Pataki