“You Cut and Pull: I Build” Collective bridge-building

In 2012 twelve architect students from Transylvania, Felvidék (Upper Hungary) and Hungary decided to work together and, using their own resources, create something of lasting value, which would enrich them and the small village of Gyergyócsomafalva. They chose for the location for their project – the environs of the Kőzúgó (meaning ‘roaring on rocks’) waterfall at Gyergyócsomafalva – based on a description by a 19th-century Hungarian writer, Balázs Orbán. Because of a steep rock face, the local stream could only be crossed by walking over three trees that had fallen across the stream. It took four days’ work for the team to build a wooden bridge, which was inspired by the contours of these trees and made an organic part of its surroundings. By summer 2017 the wood of the trees originally used for the bridge had grown old and the bridge gradually collapsed into the stream. The team – its members already certifed architects of the BUTE – got together again and were joined by other young people who wanted to participate in the collective project.