LF: Actually I don’t really believe that it <strong>is</strong> a possible way. I would work on a process by which <strong>here</strong> <strong>life</strong> will be <strong>better</strong>. <strong>My</strong> aim <strong>is</strong> not <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> <strong>an</strong>other place <strong>an</strong>d enjoy <strong>an</strong> easier nicer <strong>life</strong>. <strong>My</strong> <strong>ambition</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>make</strong> <strong>life</strong> <strong>better</strong> <strong>here</strong>, <strong>in</strong> th<strong>is</strong> <strong>country</strong>. EKP: Why? LF: I th<strong>in</strong>k all the citizens, <strong>an</strong>d us architects as well, have a duty, a task. Our duty <strong>is</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>make</strong> <strong>life</strong> <strong>better</strong>, more normal, less bureaucratic, of higher quality, <strong>an</strong>d so on. EKP: It <strong>is</strong> really nice what you're say<strong>in</strong>g, I really like it. Tell me, please, more details: what do you me<strong>an</strong> <strong>better</strong> <strong>life</strong>, less bureaucratic, of higher quality? Would you show some examples about what do you me<strong>an</strong> exactly? LF: I c<strong>an</strong> not improve the world as a whole unit. It <strong>is</strong> <strong>to</strong>o much for me. But I c<strong>an</strong> <strong>make</strong> efforts <strong>in</strong> my field: <strong>in</strong> architecture or org<strong>an</strong>iz<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>is</strong> office. I th<strong>in</strong>k these are my possibilities. When I have <strong>an</strong> architectural job <strong>an</strong>d I do it accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> my best, maybe even <strong>better</strong> th<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong> average level, th<strong>an</strong> I feel sat<strong>is</strong>fied. I did someth<strong>in</strong>g little. I th<strong>in</strong>k all the people <strong>in</strong> Hungary should do th<strong>is</strong> little effort <strong>in</strong> their field. If we all do it, th<strong>is</strong> l<strong>an</strong>d, th<strong>is</strong> place will be <strong>better</strong>. While we are design<strong>in</strong>g build<strong>in</strong>gs, schools, research centers, family homes, water <strong>to</strong>wers, we f<strong>in</strong>d very <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g situations. We c<strong>an</strong> always help with someth<strong>in</strong>g. I give you <strong>an</strong> example. More th<strong>an</strong> ten years ago we designed a forestry school near V<strong>is</strong>egrád, <strong>an</strong>d s<strong>in</strong>ce then I have kept the connection with them. A year ago they did not have a website, <strong>an</strong>d I offered them <strong>to</strong> create one, just <strong>to</strong> connect them with the world. I would like <strong>to</strong> see them bloom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>an</strong>d go<strong>in</strong>g well, <strong>an</strong>d that's why I helped. EKP: Do you have a secret desire what you would like <strong>to</strong> achieve or what you would like reach or would you like <strong>to</strong> have? LF: Def<strong>in</strong>itely yes. I would like <strong>to</strong> org<strong>an</strong>ize a spiritually <strong>an</strong>d ex<strong>is</strong>tentially strong office, which doesn't not depend very much on clients. W<strong>here</strong> I c<strong>an</strong> choose among works, <strong>an</strong>d not because I choosy, but <strong>to</strong> achieve even higher architectural quality, or at least not <strong>to</strong> be under a pressure. EKP: What <strong>is</strong> <strong>in</strong> your m<strong>in</strong>d about "architectural quality"? Quality <strong>in</strong> materials used <strong>in</strong> the build<strong>in</strong>gs or <strong>in</strong> money <strong>in</strong>vested? LF: I me<strong>an</strong> quality spiritually. The more dependent you are, the more comprom<strong>is</strong>es you should do. When I look around <strong>here</strong>, t<strong>here</strong> are very strong offices <strong>an</strong>d very weak offices, <strong>to</strong>o. Ex<strong>is</strong>tentially <strong>an</strong>d <strong>in</strong> the sense of architectural quality as well. I th<strong>in</strong>k when you have a strong office, you have much <strong>better</strong> ch<strong>an</strong>ces, <strong>to</strong>o. T<strong>here</strong> are ten people work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> our office. It <strong>is</strong> very <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g, that if you have a good office or a good studio, it creates extra energy. Ten creative <strong>an</strong>d talented people c<strong>an</strong> do fabulous th<strong>in</strong>gs, just because they have a common aim <strong>to</strong> design good build<strong>in</strong>gs. EKP: Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> the aim? LF: That was one aim. The <strong>an</strong>other aim of m<strong>in</strong>e <strong>is</strong> <strong>to</strong> have a good family. The two th<strong>in</strong>gs are sometimes aga<strong>in</strong>st each other. EKP: What do you me<strong>an</strong> by good family?
LF: Harmonious, friendly, happy:-) May, 2004 Budapest Erika Katal<strong>in</strong>a Pász<strong>to</strong>r www.epiteszforum.hu www.architectforum.hu
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