British architecture firm Foster + Partners has completed a new sustainable headquarters for Hungarian multinational oil and gas company MOL Group in Budapest, Hungary. 

Named MOL Headquarters, the 28-storey building is located in southern Budapest and has been completed in collaboration with Budapest-based architecture firm Finta Studio.

The building consolidates the company’s Budapest operations in a single location. The headquarters has been designed in line with the the company’s sustainable vision for 2030, providing a strong embodiment for the office of the future.

"We are delighted to celebrate the opening of our new headquarters for MOL Group in Budapest. The architectural, structural and environmental engineering team at Foster + Partners aimed to set new standards for sustainable projects in the city and push the boundaries of workplace design," said Nigel Dancey, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners. 

"The tower and the podium are merged into a singular form, to create a unified campus that is enhanced by nature." 

"The office spaces are connected by lush gardens which seamlessly link the floors together, encouraging collaboration and relaxation," Dancey added.

While the lower floors house restaurants, a gym, conference centre and other facilities for staff, the flexible offices spaces are arranged on the upper levels. 

Foster + Partners adds a plenty of greenery at the heart of the building, from the central atrium to the rooftop, bringing employers to nature closer integrated with the workspace. 

According to the studio, the building also acts as "a social catalyst", offering spaces for collaboration, relaxation and inspiration. 

The service cores are offset to create large flexible areas that encourage collaborative patterns of working. 

The office building features integrates cutting edge technology to control light levels, temperature and views so that these workspaces can finely be calibrated to create the perfect working environment. 

The interiors consist of a light-filled inspirational space for people to work in. 

"All occupants have a direct connection to the external environment providing daylight and views," the studio said.

The building implements low and zero carbon technologies, such as integrated rooftop photovoltaic panels, ground source heat pumps and features a greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting system. 

Heating and cooling are provided via radiant panel system which enhances indoor environment quality and comfort, while allowing the central plant system to operate more efficiently compared to conventional systems. 

The heating and cooling plant system also integrates with the district heating system for added support and resilience, as well as cooling towers for ‘free-cooling’ when external conditions are appropriate.

The design seeks to preserve live-work relationships as part of the urban experience, where people can walk or cycle to work. 

Foster + Partners said that "the building is on track to achieving LEED Platinum and BREEAM Excellent certifications, setting new benchmark both for Budapest and Hungary, the design of the building makes the most of its urban context to drive a sustainable response."

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Second floor plan

6th floor plan

Roof level plan

Longitudinal section - South side

Section - sky garden

East elevation

South elevation

Foster + Partners recently completed "first full-block office building" in New York's Park Avenue and completed EU’s tallest building in Warsaw, Poland. 

All images © Nigel Young.

All drawings © Foster + Partners.

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