The Common Language of Creativity: the University of Sopron at Creatividad Festival 4.0

The Sopron team was the only one invited from Europe, and their participation represents a major professional recognition, proving that a creative industry approach built on sustainability, heritage preservation, and interdisciplinarity aligns organically with global trends.

During the Mexican program, the students presented current issues in sustainable architecture and contemporary material use, with particular emphasis on giving new functions to historic buildings and the creative use of wood. Participation in the festival provided both an introduction to international audiences and a genuine professional dialogue at the intersections of art, architecture, and creativity.

As a result of this collaboration, new professional paths and partnerships are emerging: preparation of joint degree programs, bilateral courses, student and faculty mobility opportunities, and further invitations from Mexican institutions. The true value of the process lies in the fact that through shared thinking and creation, the University of Sopron’s students and faculty are shaping the future of creativity and art on a global scale.

Interview with Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa

What did you learn from Mexican architectural thinking, and what did you observe about local interpretations of sustainability?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa: Mexican architectural thinking shows that historical heritage is not merely a relic of the past but an active intellectual space. The merging of Baroque and post-colonial layers demonstrates that the cultural meaning of space can be continuously rewritten, both in community and theoretical terms. Local interpretations of sustainability are not primarily technical but rather cultural structures, where space, identity, and community function are all essential components. The creative use of wood and adaptive reuse play important roles, harmonizing with the Sopron approach.

What reactions did you receive to your presentation? Was there a question that particularly stood out?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa: Our presentation focused on the conceptual reinterpretation of historic buildings and embedding contemporary content creatively. Feedback highlighted that this approach is not just architectural but also a creative intellectual gesture, examining the meanings of space. A particularly memorable question was how historical buildings can be redefined without dissolving community significance, instead enriching it. This aligns perfectly with our institute’s principle: creativity does not displace meaning but highlights and connects new layers of interpretation.

What do you see as the main differences between Hungarian and Mexican student and faculty approaches?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa: Mexican students employ an intuitive, narrative-based approach grounded in personal and cultural spatial relationships, while Hungarian students approach problems with system- and methodology-oriented analytical thinking. The meeting of these two attitudes proved extremely fruitful: the Mexicans’ emotional and cultural sensitivity combined with the Hungarians’ systematic analytical perspective created innovative communicative and interpretive frameworks.

What experiences did the international collaboration bring, and what further opportunities are emerging?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa: Participation in Mexico brought significant institutional recognition, opening the way for joint degree programs, bilateral courses, student and faculty mobility, as well as further professional invitations from institutions in Monterrey and Mexico City. This process is not just travel—it is shared thinking and creation, pointing to continued collaboration.

What global trends are shaping today’s architecture, design, and creative industries?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa: The global creative industry increasingly applies multidisciplinary approaches, combining architecture, visual arts, design, and audiovisual content creation, with an emphasis on sustainability and the reinterpretation of cultural heritage. Adaptive reuse, community functions, and identity formation go beyond technological innovation. Wood, as a bio-based and creative medium, plays an increasing role in this integrated approach, where creativity, cultural reflection, and environmental responsibility are inseparable.

How does this connect to the University of Sopron’s educational and research directions?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Kósa: The Faculty of Wood Engineering and Creative Industries responds to global trends through its unique educational approach to bio-based materials, cultural heritage, and creative thinking. In research, wood is not only a material but also a cultural and conceptual medium, bridging historical and contemporary needs. The faculty’s education interprets creativity as a unity of logical thinking, open-mindedness, and autonomy, aiming for students to create new, critical, and functional content. The Sopron approach emphasizes environmental responsibility, social sensitivity, and design complexity, offering internationally relevant and coherent intellectual frameworks.

University of Sopron students in Mexico at the Creatividad Festival 4.0