BUILD Archtecture Awards 2025 Based in Budapest, Equinox International Kft is a socially responsible building company specialising in shaping a sustainable and accessible built environment. The multifaceted approach at the heart of the organisation sees it cover design, building, and consultancy all under one roof, setting the standards across the fields of research, education, and professional practice in the process. We spoke with the founding duo of Noémi and Bálint Bakos for more about this beacon of excellence. Best Multi-Disciplinary Sustainable Architecture & Design Practice 2025 – Europe & Most Innovative Residential Eco-Design & Build Project 2025 (Europe): Emília House Contact Details: Contact: Noémi & Bálint Bakos Company: Equinox International Ltd Web Address: https://equinox.fyi/ In Hungary’s expansive architecture scene, Equinox stands out as a result of its holistic approach and commitment to pushing the boundaries of quality and sustainability. Across the company’s three primary service areas – design and build, architectural design, and sustainability consultancy – it connects visions with successful execution, uses in-house expertise and local partnerships to integrate diverse contexts, and helps clients navigate the complexities inherent in sustainable design. Simply put, the mission that drives the company is as simple as it is unwavering: to decarbonise the bult environment and make highquality, climate-sensitive architecture the new norm for people across Hungary. This mission is spurred on by the belief that buildings should serve people and the planet equally, and this is why zerocarbon performance, resource-efficient construction, and comfortpromoting buildings are standards the company strives to achieve at every turn. Recently, this comprehensive approach lent itself to a single-family residence project, the multi-award winning Emília. Discussing the aims of the project, Bálint told us: “The primary objective was to create a modern, energy-efficient home with an exceptionally low carbon footprint. Emphasis was placed on spacious, light-filled interiors, achieved through large, glazed surfaces that maximise natural illumination, while passive and active design strategies mitigate the risk of overheating and reduce energy demand.” The team exceeded the project’s goals, delivering a building that seamlessly blends traditional techniques—such as Japan’s Sou Sugi Ban—with advanced sustainable technologies. The façade uses charred timber cladding for durability, low maintenance, and resistance to insects and mold, while the roof is finished with aluminum sheets and equipped with a photovoltaic (PV) system producing 4,600 kWh annually (32.81 kWh/m²a). This output exceeds the building’s energy needs, resulting in an energy-plus performance and operational carbon emissions of -0.82 kgCO₂e/a. The PV system powers a solar-driven air-to-water heat pump, forming the core of the building’s low-impact energy concept. Dynamic thermal modelling informed a design that avoids the need for active cooling or mechanical ventilation. Instead, an optimized envelope, effective thermal mass distribution, natural ventilation, and external shutters maintain comfortable indoor temperatures in summer and reduce heating demand in winter. Despite sustainability being more relevant now than ever before, Equinox’s push for more sustainable methods of design and building – as seen through everything from its whole-life carbon building designs to its use of circular and low-impact building materials – has been fraught with difficulties. For example, there is a lack of local data on embodied carbon and life-cycle assessments, and Hungary’s evolving building codes are yet to fully align with international sustainability standards. Not one to be put off by these challenges, Equinox takes matters into its own hands across its projects, creating its own assessment models when they are not present and exploring innovative, hybrid structural solutions when standard materials simply won’t cut it. All of this starts in the design phase, which the team here place great importance on as they recognise it is the foundation for a successful outcome. Exploring this further, Noémi commented: “To support this process, we use advanced, integrated design software such as One Click LCA and Ladybug Tools, which enable us to analyse complex datasets – including energy performance, embodied carbon, and structural efficiency.” Because the data generated by these tools can be overwhelming for clients, the team places strong emphasis on translating this information into clear, concise, and visually accessible formats that are user-friendly and easy to interpret—an essential step for informed decision-making. By taking an active role in education and awareness-building, Equinox shares a wealth of practical knowledge through its website articles. These tools also support the company’s USP in Hungary’s design and architecture space: the Equinox-System™. Diving deeper into this, Bálint explained how this proprietary design and construction methodology integrates cross-laminated timber (CLT), solar technology, circular material use, and data-driven design into highperformance buildings that minimise environmental impact. The company’s ability to deliver this through a streamlined, repeatable process sees build time cut by up to 60% and material waste reduced by as much as 75%. On the back of these initiatives, the company has had milestone year thus far, utilising the principles of the Equinox-System™ to enter into a new phase and work on exciting multi-unit housing and mid-rise projects. This will allow Equinox International Ltd to further solidify its position as more than just an architectural studio, but a hub for collaboration that sees experts brought together to realise their shared vision of a better future. AIM-Apr25176 Equinox International Ltd
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