Scandinavian-inspired house in the Balaton Uplands

A house in Révfülöp, for which KAV supplied the windows. Additionally, the construction progress of Zsuzsi’s house can be followed by a closed Facebook group. We spoke with the homeowner about the construction process, her choice of professionals, and also touched upon how the construction industry receives a woman taking charge of a construction project, even though one wouldn’t think it necessary to dwell on this topic in the 21st century.

Why did you decide to showcase the construction process of your house in a closed Facebook group?

For a very simple reason: so I wouldn’t have to explain “forty times” to everyone how the house is progressing. This group consists of my friends, family members, and those who are somehow involved in the house’s construction and wanted to see the project’s progress.

How did you choose the designers and contractors? Why is it important for you, as the client, to closely monitor the house’s construction?

I’m building this house for myself. I’ve renovated apartments for myself three times, and my family has also been involved in construction several times. I really enjoy this process: envisioning what it should become and then bringing it to life. There was a small cottage on the site of this house, but it was in very poor condition. It turned out it was best to demolish it and build a new house in its place. That’s how the idea of the under-construction house was born. I sought out an architectural designer with a very specific idea in mind. I requested price quotes from 3-4 designers, had conversations with them, and in the end, Nanavízió won the bid. I remember our first conversation was on March 8, International Women’s Day, conducted online because of the ongoing Covid situation. The humorous twist is that they are an all-female architectural firm. We immediately clicked because we have similar tastes. Their two main architectural designers studied in Denmark, and I really appreciate Danish and Scandinavian architecture.

When I gave them a brief about the design I wanted, the main idea was that it should be functional and simple. However, it should have a floor plan that is generous with space and incoming light. On the second attempt, they pretty much nailed how the house should look. Next, they brought the design of a black-accented, red sandstone-clad, white-roofed house, which I immediately fell in love with. They were very helpful in selecting materials, but we still didn’t know exactly how the window portal in the living room would be executed because it’s a quite large area, 9 meters wide and 3.5 meters high. Once the plans were ready, I started looking for general contractors. I searched for them in Káli Basin area Facebook groups and asked acquaintances if they could recommend a contractor. I reached out to ten to twelve companies, and eventually, Z-Szabó-Bau emerged as the winner. I really appreciated their professionalism. They provided an incredibly detailed and precise quote, communication with them was easy, and they had no issue with the fact that I am a woman in my thirties. Sexism in everyday life is quite common in the construction industry. However, they communicated very respectfully.

And what about the windows? How did you find KAV?

We had already started construction when the issue of windows came up. Both the architects and the general contractor recommended two to three large window companies to me, but they refused to take on these windows because they were non-standard in size, and the project was too small for them to consider it an extra. It was clear they didn’t really want to handle it. I ended up contacting KAV in a funny way. My friends and I used to use Tumblr, and one of them remembered a user who dealt with windows in Austria. I contacted them, and they suggested that I get in touch with Csaba at KAV.

How did they react to the project?

Csaba Mravik was immediately enthusiastic about how good and beautiful this project was. He emphasized how much they love it when something is unique because it’s also a challenge for them as engineers. I could see that they wanted to solve it and loved what they do. Later, I visited their showroom and saw that their windows were of very high quality. The materials and communication also delivered the quality I expected. I also visited their factory and saw how they make my windows; they are highly professional. An added bonus is that the windows actually turned out to be better – by the time they were finished, Csaba and I had discussed it about eight times – than they were initially designed. They became much more functional, and I know that if I open this sliding door in the kitchen eighty times a day, it will still work 30 years from now.

You mentioned, and I think it’s an interesting topic, that you, as a woman, are overseeing this construction process… What are the challenges in this?

When I was younger and renovating in Budapest, the contractors always wanted to talk to my husband. They wanted to discuss things with him and have him make decisions. When I told them that, firstly, I don’t have a husband, and secondly, I will be making the decisions, they didn’t believe that I could. Then, of course, it became clear over time that I had very concrete ideas, and if they treated me as a partner and presented options A, B, and C, I could immediately tell them what I wanted. But there wasn’t an initial basic trust. I had an experience with a window supplier around 2005 when I was renovating an apartment, and I simply couldn’t get a window quote from them. In the end, I had to send my dad, who is a man in his 60s, to talk to the company’s CEO, who was also in his 60s. They became best friends in five minutes, I received a quote, and even got a discount. I was so nervous… I remember, during the selection process, I asked the general contractor specific questions, such as whether they consume alcohol at the construction site, and whether their subcontractors have any issues with a woman as the client.

In the construction process, I think planning is the most important aspect. It took more than half a year to work on the plans with Nanavízió, and I was deeply involved in every detail. I felt like the entire office was working on my house because they would sit down together once a week, and everyone would brainstorm about every project. Plus, I lived in the vacation home, so I knew exactly how the neighbors moved, how the seasons changed. The new house was designed very consciously according to how I would use it, what I wanted to see from it, and where I didn’t want it to be seen from. Before we started building, I sat with the plans for 3-4 months, contemplating whether it would be good this way. I told them what changes I wanted. So, since construction started, there hasn’t been a single time when I requested changes. I know exactly when there are decision points.

So, it can actually be said that if someone plans consciously and selects professionals wisely, it is possible to complete the construction of such a level house on time and according to schedule even today.

Exactly. Furthermore, everyone has been very kind. I moved right next to the construction site and managed to rent the house of my neighbors. So, the entire construction process went on with them just a walk across the garden away. They’d wave at me through the window and ask me to come over whenever there was an immediate decision to be made. They made use of this opportunity very often. Everyone treats me as an equal partner.

Is the house as you envisioned it?

Absolutely. I feel that, given the location and the construction regulations, we’ve made the best of what could be done. It leans towards traditional Balaton architecture, fits into its surroundings, but also has a touch of elegance with a few extra features, although not too many. Even the local chief architect said it’s a very tasteful design. This was very important to me because it bothers me when I see a bad design or something wrong with a house. That’s why, throughout the entire process, I insisted on high-quality materials and meticulous attention to detail in the construction.