PHOTOS: This is how Budapest’s largest and most beautiful park will look

Photo: Karácsony Gergely Facebook

Mayor Gergely Karácsony presented the results of the concept competition for the renovation of Budapest’s largest public park, Népliget.

Eight months after Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced the renewal of Népliget and the launch of a landscape architecture competition, the winners of the competition have been announced.

According to MTI, instead of choosing one project, architects will cherry-pick the best solutions from each competitor. The jury selected 4D Tájépítész Iroda as the best entry and awarded them HUF 9 million (EUR 23,878).

“We believe in urban development that tries not to concentrate cultural and tourist attractions in certain parts of the city, but to break them up and give the Rust Belt a chance,” said Mayor Gergely Karácsony during their press conference.

Photo: Budapest Főváros Főpolgármesteri Hivatal

“Urban development strategy should give these less respected urban areas a chance to reclaim their glorious past and show their values. Many ideas are needed to make Népliget a popular park. I hope that Népliget will become a common cause, one of the most important areas for a new kind of urban development thinking together,” he added.

Announcing that the first prize would not be awarded, Deputy Mayor Gábor Kerpel-Fronius explained that “it is not possible to declare one idea as the winner for such a large area because all the entries had elements that offered a better solution to a particular part of the underlying problems than the others.”

Photo: Budapest Főváros Főpolgármesteri Hivatal

The planned features of Népliget park

While renovating the 129-ha park, architects will have to create an event area, playgrounds, a sunbathing area, public sporting spaces, and running and cycling paths. In addition to the renovation of the planetarium, they will also have to address the challenges of Vajda Péter Street, which cuts the park in half.

After finalising the plans combining the best landscape architecture ideas and making several variations, the Municipality of Budapest will hold a vote to select the winning entry.

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