András Huszár is a Hungarian architect and co-founder of Hello Wood, an international architecture and design studio and educational platform based in Budapest. Trained as an architect and shaped by hands-on building culture, Huszár established Hello Wood as a hybrid practice operating between architecture, art, and social engagement, with a strong emphasis on learning through making. Over the past decade, Hello Wood has become widely known for its experimental timber structures, community-driven installations, and design-build camps, as well as realized projects such as the PEBL Cabins, Rock Cabins, CLT House, and large-scale public works, including the Garden of Communities in Veszprém. Rooted in material honesty, sustainability, and collective authorship, Huszár’s work positions architecture as a social act—one that connects craft, education, and community while exploring the contemporary potential of wood construction across diverse cultural and environmental contexts.
What inspires you?
Our studio projects are driven by innovation, social responsibility, and an unwavering passion for great design. We work with wood and other sustainable materials to ensure our projects are eco-friendly and socially relevant. Through our work, we aim to raise awareness, encourage community building, and bring architecture closer to the general public.
What inspired you to become an architect?
I was inspired to become an architect at a very young age. I was eight years old when my grandfather, who was a mason, built our family house. I closely followed the construction process and recreated it through play—building with LEGO, making “plaster” from modeling clay, and even designing pipe systems using pasta. That was when the idea of becoming an architect first took shape.
Later, winning drawing and model-making competitions at school further strengthened this ambition. At the age of ten, I built my first small structures from leftover construction materials, creating wooden walls covered with clay and mud. Hands-on building, working with materials, and the joy of creation have been a constant source of inspiration for me ever since.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
Our philosophy is rooted in social architecture, material honesty, and learning through making. We believe that architecture comes alive when it becomes an experience—something people can touch, build, inhabit, and rethink together.
What is your favorite project?
It’s hard to choose just one, but one project that is especially close to my heart is the Sledge Christmas Tree. It brought together everything I enjoy about design: hands-on hardware work, collaboration, and social impact. The sleds were not only designed and built by us, but also delivered to people in need. It was our first design project created on commission rather than in a camp setting, and seeing it grow into an internationally recognized project made the experience even more meaningful.
Another favorite is Project Village (2015–17), which later evolved into the Rock Cabins. This was a three-year experimental camp series in the village of Csórompuszta, focusing on the question of how depopulating rural communities might be reimagined. Working closely with the local municipality, we explored what a contemporary community could look like in such a place, developing the idea of a “virtual village” rooted in strong local cooperation. It was a long-term, thoughtful project that shaped how I think about communities, design, and responsibility.
What is your favorite architectural detail?
One of my favorite architectural details is the low-poly geometry and refined linework of the PEBL Grand cabin. It’s something we spent a lot of time refining. The faceted surfaces aren’t meant as a visual statement on their own—they come from a very precise way of thinking about structure and assembly. Every edge and angle is set millimeter-accurately, and when it comes together on site, the planes tighten and align exactly as intended, often assembled very simply, even just with an Allen key.
What we like about this detail is how these sharp, polygonal planes create a calm, continuous space overall. From a distance, it reads as a smooth, pebble-like form, but up close you can see how it’s built from carefully joined surfaces. It’s a point where digital design and hands-on construction really meet, and that’s something we value in our work.
Do you have a favorite material?
Without much hesitation: wood—especially CLT (cross-laminated timber). We value it for its warmth, strength, and sustainability, but also because it fits naturally with how we design and build. CNC technology and prefabrication allow CLT to be used with great precision, reducing waste and making the construction process more efficient and controlled.
At the same time, our connection to wood is very personal. It’s the material I worked with most in childhood and later in creative camps, where even with simple hand tools, it was possible to build at a larger scale. The smell and texture of wood still bring back those early experiences—one of our grandfathers was a carpenter, cutting wooden blocks on a band saw. For us, wood bridges advanced technology and nature, and brings a tactile, human quality back into architecture.
What is your process for starting a new project?
We always start with the vision. There needs to be an initial intuition—something that feels right—but we then try to clearly understand why the project exists and what it should stand for. Defining this underlying reason helps shape the project’s content and direction from the very beginning.
From there, we move to material selection and begin exploring the limits and possibilities of that material. Function, message, and material evolve together, and the design emerges from their combined logic. Throughout the process, we place strong emphasis on budget, because it’s important to us that our projects are realistic and ultimately get built.
How do you balance function and creativity in your designs?
For us, function and creativity go hand in hand. The function sets the foundation, but creativity is what brings it to life. We like to explore unexpected, playful solutions while always making sure that every design element serves a clear purpose. Our experience with the design-and-build approach has shown us that creativity often thrives within constraints.
How does the environment influence your work?
The environment is a key collaborator, not just a backdrop. Over 15 years, we’ve worked in diverse settings—from challenging natural landscapes to New York rooftops. We always adapt our designs to the specific site, responding to factors like terrain, climate, and community needs. Our goal is to create projects that are deeply connected to their surroundings materially and emotionally, no matter the location.
How do you collaborate with clients to achieve their vision?
Collaboration starts with open communication. From the very first moment, we establish a fixed budget and timeframe, so our clients know exactly what to expect. We involve them early in the process with sketches, mock-ups, and models to ensure they’re part of the creative journey, not just passive observers. Throughout the construction phase, we provide daily photo documentation of the project’s progress, keeping clients informed and reassured every step of the way. We believe in building a friendly, transparent relationship, so the client feels comfortable and involved throughout the entire process.
What inspired Community Garden?
The Garden of Communities was inspired by our desire to celebrate the power of cooperation. Located in Veszprém, the pavilion symbolizes the unity of 116 municipalities involved in the Veszprém–Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture program. We designed unique planter boxes for each municipality, containing native tree saplings to highlight community values and regional culture.
A key element of the design is the use of reclaimed beams from the historic Drechsler Palace in Budapest, which clads the planter boxes. These nearly 120-year-old timbers connect the project to the region’s industrial past, adding both historical and timeless significance. The Garden of Communities reflects growth and unity, with the trees continuing to grow as a symbol of enduring cooperation.
How did materiality shape the design and sustainability of the CLT House?
Materiality strongly shaped both the design and sustainability of the CLT House. We chose CLT for the entire structure because it allows low energy consumption, efficient construction, and a reduced environmental footprint. Prefabrication keeps waste and on-site work to a minimum, while the exposed wood creates a warm, natural living environment.
Just as important is scale. We believe smaller floor areas lead to lower energy use and greater environmental awareness, so we often begin by convincing clients that they don’t need more square meters than necessary. A compact house simply consumes less. The green roof further improves insulation and energy performance, while helping the building blend into its surroundings.
What advice would you give to young architects?
Be brave enough to take risks and start things on your own. Don’t stay behind the screen, spend as much time on the site as possible, and learn from real construction processes. And if I had to highlight one direction: engage with timber architecture. Building with wood offers a hands-on understanding of material, structure, and sustainability that is especially valuable today.
