masterwork
Growing Minds
Revitalisation of the Petőházi sugar factory
My masterwork focuses on the revitalisation of a closed sugar factory site in Petőháza, utilising the existing buildings. The presence of the factory laid the foundation for the development of the village, which, as a result, had advanced infrastructure considering its size. Moreover, during its operation, the factory provided more than just a place of work – it offered housing and recreational activities, not only for its employees but for the local community also. My intention is for the reintegration of the area to serve as a similarly significant local response to the current and future global challenges. The aim of the educational system I have designed, ranging from kindergarten to highschool, is to foster social development through individual education. Children are raised with an environmentally conscious mindset based on responsible production and consumption. This is achieved through learning about agricultural systems including plant cultivation and animal husbandry.
thesis
Imprints of Identity
The presence of a decommissioned sugar factory in the collective memory
In my thesis, I examine the past and present of the Petőházi Sugar Factory, which I have chosen as the location for my masterwork, through its impact on individuals and the wider community. The sugar factory, which operated for 128 years, closed in 2007, and a significant portion of the factory buildings that defined the identity of the settlement were demolished. My research examines the various processes of trans-generational attachment to a place, as well as the loss of a place, and the role of the factory in the collective memory. My intention is to understand the deeper layers of the relationship formed with the built environment, in order to propose a revitalisation plan for the area in my masterwork.
