Original use
Original use: Monument/memorial
Current use
Current use: Monument/memorial
Architects
János Heckenast
Concrete by reinforcement
Concrete is a relatively brittle material that is strong in compression but less so in tension.
To increase its overall strength, steel rods, wires, mesh or cables may be embedded in concrete before it sets. This reinforcement, often known as rebar, resists tensile forces. By forming a strong bond, the two materials are able to resist a variety of applied forces, effectively acting as a single structural element .
Construction method
In this case, the concrete can be made by mixing the components directly on site, or it may be transported from a production plant in concrete-mixer trucks.
This method has the disadvantage of leaving the concrete exposed to the elements while it is setting. Whereas, with other methods, the environmental conditions can be controlled during setting, providing greater control over the outcome, with cast-in-place concrete a series of tests and protocols are necessary to verify its final strength.
Architectural concrete
- textured walls
- wooden formwork finish
- stamped concrete
- exposed aggregate concrete, colored concrete, etc.
State of Conservation
Description
This monument commemorates the liberation of Hungary by the Red Army in 1945. As such, it forms part of the extensive series of memorials built in the 1960s in countries governed by communist regimes, behind the Iron Curtain. Many of those memorials were built with striking and expressive forms using reinforced concrete.
This Hungarian monument is a clear example, although, unlike others that incorporate some type of museum program, it is only sculptural: two spectacular concrete wings twist asymmetrically – one laterally, cantilevered, and another pointing toward the sky. A simple metal plaque with the inscription “1945” completes the ensemble.
Hungary
Jégpince út 5
Western Transdanubia (Region), Vas (County), Szombathely (District) 6JH2+V5 Szombathely