Diller Scofidio & Renfro beats big hitters to Budapest museum

Diller Scofidio & Renfro has continued its winning streak by triumphing in an international competition to design the Hungarian Museum of Transport.

The US architect beat a shortlist that included Foster & Partners, David Chipperfield, Caruso St John and Amanda Levete’s practice AL_A.

Second prize went to Reichen et Robert & Associés with Ralph Appelbaum Associates, while third place was taken by Hungarian outfit Építész Stúdió. Fosters and German practice GMP were given honourable mentions.

The project will see an abandoned former Hungarian State Railways maintenance depot in Budapest transformed into a new 10,000sq m home for the Hungarian Museum of Transport.

Twice the size of its existing premises, the new home is also intended to kickstart the regeneration of a “rustbelt” area.

Thirteen Hungarian and international architects entered the second round of the two-stage competition launched last August. The proposals were assessed by an 18-member jury.

Diller Scofidio & Renfro is currently designing London’s new concert hall – again beating a star-studded shortlist – and the V&A collections centre at the Olympic Park. It also won the Adelaide Contemporary competition, though that project has hit a roadbump with a change of administration.