Festival Valley

The deserted quarry by the river Bodrog created a vast amphitheatre-shaped wound on the landscape begging to be utilised. Thanks to a regional tourism and cultural programme, an open-air theatre with a capacity of 2,500 was realised, the design of which was inspired by the site’s half-natural and half-artifcial character as well as by its great acoustic qualities. The horse-shoe-shaped, green-roofed, arcaded service building built at the bottom of the high wall of the quarry also has a protective function: against rain and rocks falling. The open-air auditorium and stage are located in the middle of the quarry space, while the indoor events halls are on the level below. The natural features of the site required architectural and engineering solutions and use of materials of the highest order.