Tucked within the bold contours of a former community centre in Veszprém, Hungary, the newly opened CODE Centre is redefining how we experience culture in the digital age. More than just a gallery or event space, it is a vivid collision of past and future, where brutalist architecture meets immersive technology and visitors of all ages step into interactive worlds that blend the physical with the virtual. CODE doesn’t just display culture – it lets you walk through it, feel it, and be transformed by it.
Housed in the city’s iconic building, the centre invites wonder through multisensory exhibitions, 3D explorations, and dynamic performances that dissolve the line between audience and artwork. Officially opened in late February 2025, CODE – Centre of Digital Experiences – now stands as a cutting-edge creative haven combining art, science, education, and community engagement. Inside, visitors explore three purpose-built zones: the spectacular Hexagon, a 360° immersive projection and sound space; the Studio – co-designed with Ars Electronica and featuring an interactive presentation environment; and the Installation Space, where digital technologies bring local history and ecology to life. Underpinned by robust AV infrastructure and responsive systems, the centre also offers ever-evolving exhibitions like UniView – Space, inviting guests to step into the cosmos or rediscover world heritage sites in new ways.
We talk with Adorján Tóth, Chief Operating Officer at CODE Veszprém, about the idea behind the centre, making the digital accessible and engaging for all, and how digital culture can remain both embodied and emotionally resonant in a rapidly evolving world.
Maria Ilieva: Let’s start from the beginning. This new space is unique and appears richly multidisciplinary: employing the digital, notoriously self-referential, but also a powerful social and political tool. Could you tell us more about the genesis of this new space?
Adorján Tóth: The institution is housed in one of the city’s iconic buildings – the former community centre built in the 1970s, known for its distinctive hexagonal shape and brutalist architectural style. The building’s technical and aesthetic renewal sets an exemplary precedent by blending architectural heritage from the past with the creative technologies of the present. CODE was established as part of the Veszprém–Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture programme, with the aim of providing lasting value and experiences for the public across generations.
The Experience Centre welcomes visitors in three main areas. But in addition to digital productions, the institution also serves as a venue for a variety of cultural events, including concerts and live performances. CODE is not merely an exhibition space or entertainment centre: it is more of a meeting point at the intersection of science, technology and art, where the wonders and possibilities of the digital world can be discovered through multi-sensory experiences.
“CODE is not merely an exhibition space or entertainment centre: it is more of a meeting point at the intersection of science, technology and art, where the wonders and possibilities of the digital world can be discovered through multi-sensory experiences.”
M.I.: The centre is ingrained in the local context of Veszprém: does the layering of spaces and temporalities influence one another; do you find inspiration in this progression?
A.T.: One of our main goals in the European Capital of Culture programme was to breathe new life into long-disused buildings – to give them new purpose and new content. CODE is a brilliant example of this ambition: a space that simultaneously evokes the past and looks to the future. The people of Veszprém know the location well and cherish it; many have personal memories connected to the building, such as school performances, city celebrations, and a host of shared experiences link them to the former community centre. It’s no surprise, then, that its rebirth was eagerly anticipated.
This 20th-century analogue cultural centre now embraces and integrates the latest achievements of the 21st century – digital art, cutting-edge technological solutions, science, contemporary thinking, and community programmes all come together here. The distinctive features of brutalist architecture, the transformation of the former theatre auditorium into a 400-square-metre experience space and the organic fusion of past and present are what give CODE its unique character.
M.I.: Why do you think the digital is such a divisive topic nowadays? How do you go about making it more accessible?
A.T.: Perceptions of the digital world are often polarised, as it evolves at a pace that not everyone can keep up with. While some people feel left behind, others move through this world with ease, creating a kind of divide between individuals. Some see digital technologies as all-powerful; others remain sceptical, or even fearful of them.
CODE’s mission is to bring digital experiences closer to everyone, regardless of age or interests. Through interactive and enjoyable formats, we show that digital tools are not threats, but opportunities. We offer experiences that invite visitors to discover the world of audiovisual, three-dimensional and interactive technologies in exciting and accessible ways – whether they are children, teenagers, or adults.
M.I.: And immersive digital experiences are powerful tools for wonder: people enter reverent, and leave in awe. What does experience-based cultural engagement mean to you, and how do you see the intersection of embodied and virtual experiences?
A.T.: For us, technology is not just a tool but a bridge – to culture, to self-expression, and to shared experience. We believe that when visitors are not merely passive observers but active participants in a digital programme, culture is no longer an abstract concept; it becomes a personal, deeply meaningful experience. Technology has the power to expand our perception, intensify emotional impact, and enable learning in ways once thought unimaginable. A thoughtfully designed immersive experience engages both body and soul – it moves, teaches, and inspires all at once.
“Technology has the power to expand our perception, intensify emotional impact, and enable learning in ways once thought unimaginable. A thoughtfully designed immersive experience engages both body and soul – it moves, teaches, and inspires all at once.”
M.I.: CODE’s current exhibitions are demonstrating how immersive and interactive technologies can present an intimate view of the universe and the natural world surrounding us. Can you share an example of how a particular piece activates and (re)defines our relationship to one another and what surrounds us?
A.T.: At CODE, we seek to reimagine our relationship with the world around us through the power of immersive technologies. In the Studio space, for instance, the UniView experience offers visitors an interactive journey through the cosmos – not simply observing the universe, but stepping into it. Here, guests can examine the breathtaking architectural details of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, explore masterpieces of world-famous art and encounter the delicate wonders of nature, such as insects, from an entirely new perspective. It is a space where technology becomes a lens through which the familiar is rediscovered and the extraordinary is brought thrillingly close.
M.I.: Yes, there’s a liminal space between the physical and digital that seems hard to inhabit – we are often either aware of our physicality or fully immersed within a digital experience. Is it possible to remain embodied while in the virtual? Do viewers need to know anything in advance before entering these transitional zones?
A.T.: An experience truly resonates when it builds upon, rather than diminishes, our physical presence. Again, in the Studio, for example, certain projections respond directly to the visitor’s movements and presence, while in the Hexagon, immersive audiovisual journeys captivate and completely envelop every guest.
These spaces engage not only technologically but also sensorially and emotionally. Therefore, visitors need no prior knowledge of what they will encounter; openness is far more valuable. Our mission is to create an environment where stepping into this world feels natural and safe – a place where the digital does not subtract from perception but enriches it.
M.I.: For a glimpse into the future – how do you see the museum developing?
A.T.: Looking to the future, we see that museums and experience centres like CODE no longer simply preserve objects – they safeguard experiences and ideas as well. The path forward is one where the digital and analogue worlds do not compete but harmonise: where interactive art, communal creativity and cutting-edge technology seamlessly merge with timeless traditions.
For future generations, we aim not only to preserve artworks but also the emotions, experiences and conversations they inspire. Both are vital, for together they tell the story we are living now – one well worth passing on.
“The path forward is one where the digital and analogue worlds do not compete but harmonise: where interactive art, communal creativity and cutting-edge technology seamlessly merge with timeless traditions.”
