The facade will protect the family house from storms at Lake Balaton

During the construction of the house, two factors primarily played a role. Firstly, it was of course the overall appearance of the building. Secondly, the extreme climatic conditions that are typical for the Balaton region had to be taken into account when selecting a suitable facade. Dense snowfall or persistent frost are not unusual at the largest lake in Central Europe, not to mention the strong northwest wind, which posed a real challenge for the builders. “Here at Balaton – in the paradise of surfers and kiters – unpredictable weather conditions prevail, which require strong building constructions. After discussing with the owner, we agreed on a facade of 300 m2 in the shape of a cube. This is placed on the ground floor part of the building, which consists of a living area, technical background, and garage,” says architect Dipl.-Ing. Adam Szabo from B3-architech Kft. From an architectural perspective, a striking connection between the exterior and interior was achieved in the front part by inserting large window elements. “Thanks to the careful selection of materials, we succeeded in creating an unusual combination. The play of light and shadows on the aluminum facade is particularly interesting,” explains the architect.

Aluminum defeated copper
“The owner wanted a special facade on the first floor, and we were happy to accommodate this request. The architecture of the house enchants with clean lines, which emphasize the large windows and other building openings. This allowed for a perfect synthesis of the interior and exterior, which fits perfectly into the surrounding environment,” describes Judit Nemere, project manager at PREFA. Initially, the owner desired a copper facade, but later changed his decision, which turned out to be a wise step. “Both the architects and the plumbing company Szolnok KAS Kft. explained to him all the advantages and disadvantages of the different materials. Beyond resistance to storms and shatter-proofing, a uniform surface, an attractive appearance, easy installation, and, last but not least, a 40-year warranty on the material were decisive for our product,” continues Nemere.

Cassette construction
Work on the external shell of the family house began in June 2013. After just three months, the owners could assess the finished result. For the head of the plumbing company Barta Levente, the house by the lake was a special challenge. "The PREFALZ panels in various sizes had to be perfectly secured to the wooden supporting structure. Therefore, the most difficult part was the manufacture (profiling) of the panels with the correct dimensions in coordination with the window elements and terrace doors. The result is impressive, and the facade in the shade of patina green perfectly matches the environment.”

Other exemplary projects in Hungary
The residential house by Lake Balaton has expanded the long list of prestigious projects that have been realized in Hungary in recent years. Among them, we can mention the building of the Technical University of Budapest, which was clad in silver PREFALZ panels and gray Reynobond panels. The Hotel Delibáb/Mirage in the heart of Budapest is also a feast for the eyes, where the light gray folded template from PREFA adorns the palace's roof. Also noteworthy is the impressive representative building Il Baco di stile, which has since been converted into a shopping center and clad in PREFA's PREFALZ product. The cladding of both the main building of TÜV and the music center in Budapest demonstrates how architecturally diverse and versatile the use of PREFA products can be.

Architect's view
“We enjoy collaborating with PREFA because we always receive the necessary technical support, as was the case with the family house by Balaton using different dimensions of profiled cassettes. In addition, we received very good feedback on the products from our partners. When planning the house, we had a free hand. In the end, after agreement with the owner, we chose PREFALZ, primarily due to its uniform appearance and ease of handling,” describes Dipl. Ing. Adam Szabo.

Construction data:
Location: Balatonboglar, Balaton, Hungary
Construction: June – September 2013
Area: facade area: 300 m2
Building architect: Dipl. Ing. Gabor Bajkai
Facade architect: B3-architech Kft.: Dipl. Ing. Adam Szabo
Installation company: Szolnok KAS Kft.: Barta Levente

Product range PREFALZ - rolled sheet:
Brief description: Colored aluminum rolled sheet is predisposed for individual and creative solutions for roofs and facades thanks to its excellent folding quality and surface treatment.
Product advantages: A wide range of PREFA accessories (drainage systems, fastening materials, snow guards,…); universal application (from arched roofs to complex loft conversions, curved roofs, or large roofs); constant quality; low weight (approx. 1.89 kg/m2 with a strip width of 650 mm); long lifespan; recyclability; rust resistance; optionally available with a protective film.
Colors: 13 standard colors in stock, smooth or stucco surface finish, warranty on color stability and quality of 40 years
Temperature resistance: from -50 °C to +80 °C
Cleaning: with pressure water, sponge, or brush
Processing: easily and lightly workable even at low outdoor temperatures below 0 degrees