The development of Budapest’s three suburban railway (HÉV) lines connecting the city with Csepel, Ráckeve and Szentendre is in its planning phase, the Budapest transport development centre (BFK) said on Tuesday. The end result will be better integrated and faster services, the centre said.
Thanks to an extension of the southern suburban rail lines to Kálvin square in the city centre, passenger numbers are expected to double, BFK said. The trains will pass underground at Közvágóhíd station, reaching downtown Kálvin Square with a stop at Boráros Square, allowing the development of a new extended green promenade along the River Danube, it added.
Around one million people commute to the city centre from suburban areas every day, and the HÉV development project will also shorten their travel times.
On certain external stretches of the HÉV network, trains will travel at up to 100kmh.
New stations will be built and air-conditioned carriages with disabled access will be introduced.
Services between Szentendre and Batthyány Square will become more frequent and travel times will be up to 6 minutes shorter. Travel times from Ráckeve to Kálvin Square will be 30 minutes shorter and from Csepel 7 minutes shorter than currently.
The project is receiving 13.7 billion forints (EUR 38.4m) in non-refundable support co-funded by European Union Cohesion Funds and the Hungarian central budget.
2020 was an unconventional year, to say the least. A lot of tragedies were crammed into this single year, and it was mostly about staying home to avoid the coronavirus pandemic and finding solutions to move your office to your living room. But art seems to have been impervious to this year’s hardships and was productive in these last twelve months since a whole host of works of art, books, and buildings have been created. Of these, you will now see the best residential and public buildings finished this year. In architecture, simple shapes and colours were dominant in 2020.
24’s original article can be found by clicking on the link. This year has been quite productive architectural designs-wise as the plans for a modern luxurious dormitory have just recently been released.
SA43 condominium, Budapest (designed by Noémi Varga and Balázs Szelecsényi)
Source: facebook.com/sa43tarsashaz
Source: facebook.com/sa43tarsashaz
Source: facebook.com/sa43tarsashaz
Source: facebook.com/sa43tarsashaz
Source: facebook.com/sa43tarsashaz
The Buda Hills, i.e. the hilly areas of District 12 in Budapest, do not lack wonderful historical buildings, but next to the 19th- and 20th-century buildings, some modern ones can also find their perfect place. The panoramic SA43 in Buda is an excellent example of this. The thoughtful design culminates in an unusually grey, glazed ceramic façade which is intensified by the shutters. The building, designed by Noémi Varga (Numbernow) and Balázs Szelecsényi, hides five flats that can be connected on each floor and are supported by a reinforced concrete staircase. The condominium got a simple white interior.
Church of Pope Saint John Paul II, Páty (designed by Robert Gutowski)
Designing a church is not an easy task. The typical forms created in recent centuries are deeply rooted in the minds of most people, and they are not easy to overwrite. But after WWII, as modernism started spreading, it became clear that there is no such thing that is impossible, so today, in Hungary, there are numerous modern church buildings inspired by the principles of Bauhaus and European architecture after WWII.
Robert Gutowski’s church in Páty is one such example. It was designed between 2004 and 2007 but was only completed this year. It bears the name of Pope John Paul II. The building, which evokes the fortified churches and the arches of Gutowski’s master, Dezső Ekler, is both modern and respectful of tradition, and this might be the source of its attractiveness.
Havana Hetivásár (Havana Weekly Fair), Budapest (designed by Ferenc Keller, Barnabás Láris, Modulárt Kft.)
Marketplaces have undergone a major transformation in Hungary in recent years, not only in their inventory but also in terms of their architectural quality. Farmers’ markets have become quite popular over the past few years, and so buildings that have been neglected for decades are now being modernised. In 2018, Újpest received a new market hall integrated with a cultural centre (built by Zoltán Bun), and this year, the 6,000-apartment Havana housing estate (1977–1985) received a building complex called the Havana Hetivásár (Havana Weekly Fair).
It is just that: a simple row of stores, fitting next to an existing row of garages, covered with a concrete strip soaring into the sky at the end, next to which there is a square. On the square, there is an enlarged still life of Béla Kondor, but there is space for stalls to be set for the weekend.
The bus station at Szivárvány Street, Budaörs (designed by Intramuros)
When you think of a city bus station, you usually think of an old building with a shabby waiting room and a few numbered bus stops, but it can be more than that, as Intramuros has proved. They showed that they can design not only a surprisingly nice gas station (it is also in Budaörs) but also an exciting new bus station.
Squeezed between shopping malls and residential tower blocks built in the ‘70s, the pavilion stands out from its surroundings with its simplicity and colour scheme, as well as the huge numbers at each bus stop with which they also solved the problem of finding the bus you need. And the pedestrian traffic flows uninterrupted in an environment that has also been transformed by the architectural firm, also minimising the chances of accident-prone situations by smart solutions that direct pedestrians properly.
Timpex Arena, Nyíregyháza (designed by Dezső Ekler)
Seeing the previous contenders of the list, it becomes clear that 2020 was all about simple shapes. Dezső Ekler’s building might seem like a totally uninteresting 2,400 m2 riding school for Nyíregyháza, but the Timpex Arena is much more than that; under a strip window surrounding the red brick building crowned with a long gable roof, the building is dented, giving the façade an interesting playfulness.
Unfortunately, the video is in Hungarian only; it is an interview by the TV channel of Nyíregyháza, but it showcases the new building from the outside and inside as well.
A revamp of the central section of the capital city’s metro line 3 tunnel can continue under the letter of intent signed on Tuesday by Budapest transport company BKV and construction firm Swietelsky on modifications concerning the project, BKV said.
The implementation of the complete reconstruction phase announced long ago has been delayed for some time but, according to the latest government decision, the investment can start next year with more than ten billion forints (€28 million) in state support under the Modern Cities Program, with the missing HUF 1.5 billion.
According to epiteszforum.hu, in a 2018 resolution, the Government provided HUF 10.191 billion (€28 million) to the local government for the full construction of the castle. The tourism development of Diósgyőr Castle, completed in 2014, provoked serious controversy at the time due to questioning its historical authenticity, but it is fair to say that thanks to György Szekér and the design work of Gyula Cséfalvay and Judith Botos, it was preceded by historical and archaeological research. At the time, the construction was carried out along the results of these preliminary studies so that the building could be given additional tourist functions, which could thus become self-sufficient.
Photo: www.youtube.com/borsodihirek
To give just one example, they tried to build the supplemented wall structures with stones of exactly the same porosity and texture as the original stones, only in a slightly different shade that distinguishes the new and old additions. Needless to say, this is one step more advanced than the narrative practice of the 20th century, as the possibility of distinction was seen mainly in modern materials at the time, but we now know that reinforced concrete, for example, is not the right component to coexist with medieval walls.
Photo: www.diosgyorivar.hu
For the time being, there is no information about which office will record the new visual designs presented in the video shown below, which was released in 2017, and whether a design change will be made. The construction of a 19th-century castle with a moat is envisioned for the original historical ruins.
In February this year, the investment started with a loss of one and a half billion forints, and then the Public Procurement Supervision Department of the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the implementation of the project was this way endangered, so no statement of support was issued. However, yesterday’s issue of the Magyar Közlöny contains a resolution according to which six billion will be granted this year and then another four billion forints in 2022 within the framework of the Modern Cities Program. One and a half billion forints is covered by the local government, so it seems that the complete construction of the castle can finally be realised.
Hungary’s most significant Baroque-Rococo styled ensemble of monuments may get back its glory.
The main building, also called the museum block, of the Esterházy Palace of Győr-Moson-Sopron county, will be significantly renovated on almost 2400 m2. The reconstruction of the Palace in Fertőd continues in the execution of ZÁÉV and Fertődi Építő.
The consortium of ZÁÉV Épitőipari Zrt and the Fertősi Építő és Szolgáltató Zrt will carry out general tasks of the reconstruction works. As part of a project called “The touristic development of the Esterházy Palace of Fertőd”. Magyarépítők.hu, based on the EU’s public procurement data, writes that the reconstruction will be done from 3.2 billion forints.
The cellar, the ground floor, the first floor, certain areas of the eastern part of the second floor, the-called “clock floor” and the belvedere will be involved. Moreover, there will be works carried out on the cellar and the ground floor of the block connecting the east wing to the main building. On the southern end of the eastern wing, the stairs and the connecting aisleway area of the first floor will be renovated.
The current reconstructions only include the inside spaces of the building and the restoration of the front stairs looking at the courtyard.
By opening-up of the ground floor, the original structure can be restored, thus making it possible to go around the ground-floor and the upper story. The stairs leading to the first floor on the southern end of the eastern wing will also be renovated. The executors will also work on different workmanships of restoration, which will involve working with stone, wood, metal and the painting of the building.
A new area perfect for organising different events will be created.
In the middle building, a new plumbing unit will be created. In this part of the Palace, those museum areas that were not involved in the reconstructions made between 2008 and 2012 will be given a new touch. On the second floor, a hall will be formed from the areas leading to the clock floor. Under the stairs that lead to this clock floor, a new plumbing unit will be built replacing the bathroom of the current Leopoldina suite. Apart from a projection room on the clock floor, the belvedere floor will give home to a new area perfect for temporary events alongside exhibitions.
When it comes to the belvedere, the old wooden ceiling will be reconditioned. Steel stairs covered with wood and plasterboard will lead the visitors up to the ceiling, while the existing stairs going from the second floor to the clock floor will be reconstructed.
Several, previously built-in overlays and division walls will be removed. The cellar of the main building will also go through some major changes, such as the removal of unnecessary cables and the changing of those is in bad condition.
On the ground floor, first floor, clock floor and in the exhibition rooms of the centre area central heating will be built in. The projection room will get a new system of air conditioning. Ventilation will be organised in a natural way, through the windows.
The security system of the Palace will be completed n some parts, and a new, passive informatics network will be built with three centres. Moreover, a new system of protection of property made up of intelligent elements will be provided.
Around 10,000sqm of new green areas are being created in Budapest’s City Park as part of the Liget Project, while 40,000sqm of park space is being renewed, with government financing of 3.9 billion forints (EUR 11m), Városliget Zrt, the project’s manager, said on Tuesday.
The historical park entrance, the Rondo, will be renovated and the park’s promenade expanded with a new section, while the spaces surrounding the new Ethnographic Museum and Hungarian House of Music will be landscaped as part of the new development.
Construction of the Hungarian House of Music and the new Ethnographic Museum, the designs of both having received prestigious international awards, is advancing well, and by the end of next year more than 50,000sqms of green spaces surrounding the new buildings will have been completely renewed with hundreds of deciduous trees and tens of thousands of shrubs and perennials.
The park’s reconstruction is based on Heinrich Nebbien’s plans from the early 19th century, Városliget Zrt said.
The old broad concrete pavements are being broken up and landscaped to incorporate modern, narrower promenades.
Also, areas that have been hitherto fenced-off will be reopened to the public, expanding green usable spaces by thousands of square meters, with interactive musical elements placed in a Musical Experience Garden.
The statement said the project was Hungary’s biggest garden and landscaping programme ever, during which altogether 150,000sqm of green spaces will have been renewed and 72,000sqm of paving torn up.
Altogether, the Liget Project will have increased the park’s green space by tens of thousands of square meters, from 60 percent to 65 percent, the statement said.
The new design plans for developing the Hungarian University of Physical Education were made public by the designer, TSPC Kft., soon after the new buildings of the University of Physical Education on Alkotás Street received the necessary permits. The visual designs showcase both the interior and exterior of the modern facility.
According to the designer’s website, this project is currently the largest campus development in Hungary’s capital,
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
as it is a 78,000 m2 area. Within a few years, the area will become a complex, innovative and green area of the capital. Another recent project of the designer includes the Széllkapu, one of the newest and most innovative park designs in Budapest that opened at the end of this summer.
Telex wrote that the designs of the new campus will house several sports facilities, including a 50-metre indoor swimming pool, an indoor athletics hall, a full-fledged gym, a ball games rooms, a dormitory with a capacity of 400 people, and a shooting range. Part of the innovative design is the several sports fields planned for the 9,000 m2 rooftop area of the building. It will include a 320-metre running track, an outdoor training park, a green arbour, and a café terrace. According to the plans, the gardens will also be reconstructed and open to the public.
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
Source: tspc.hu
The renewal of the Hungarian University of Physical Education has been going on for some time.
The athletic hall on Csörsz Street is currently being built. The construction of an athletics track and multi-hall started in November. The contractor is ZÁÉV, the company that is currently building the Museum of Ethnography in the City Park in Budapest, while the architect-designer was also TSPC.
Skanska’s latest investment in Hungary, H2Offices is one of the company’s most impressive projects inBudapest. The new office complex, which is already under construction in the heart of the Váci office corridor is in line with modern business needs such as flexibility of spaces, sustainability and wellbeing of people, and is being developed in accordance with the guidelines of LEED and WELL standards. Budapest office buildings skyline will be enriched with a futureproof one designed with lots of attention to environmental challenges and to the needs of the people working inside.
In August 2020, the construction of Skanska’s latest Hungarian project, H2Offices started on the former plot of Budapest Waterworks. We can have now a sneak peek of how the futureproof office complex will look like. The office complex dreamed by Skanska together with the Danish Arrow Architects is approaching environmental consciousness along the principles of traditional Scandinavian design.
The result is an innovative, people-centered building that works in harmony with nature.
Inspired by the heritage of the place, water was given a special role even in the naming of the project. Visualizations and the movie of the project now allow us to see this symbolic connection created by the water elements at the placemaking of the building. The garden, which serves as a meeting point and is open to everyone, is filled with the freshness of water and greenery much aspired in the busy urban business district. Smart water management reusing rain and soil water will allow to treat one of our most valuable natural resources in a sustainable way.
The multifunctional garden is surrounded by spacious office spaces lit by natural light, the double height Scandinavian lobby and canopy connecting the buildings give a special character to the project. Good quality indoor air, comfortable workplaces, warm, friendly lighting, natural materials, easily accessible recreational facilities and a range of services await future tenants. Bicycle storage, changing rooms and showers, as well as electric charging stations encourage the use of environmentally friendly transport options, thus reducing the ecological footprint of the users. Employees can also take advantage of workout possibilities on the rooftop running track, enhancing their health and well-being.
The green terraces on the top floor will also offer a unique view over the city.
“As a result of the pandemic, there is a strong emphasis on office choice. Tenants are looking for futureproof office buildings that will adapt well to changing circumstances. In H2Offices, health security, human-centeredness, sustainability and innovation are going hand in hand. Energy efficiency and cost-effective operation is a trademark of all Skanska buildings, but such a high level of integration of tenant needs and user experience makes H2Offices an exceptional office project” – said Alexandra Tomášková, EVP Operations Hungary & Czech Republic at Skanska’s commercial development business unit in CEE.
“Togetherness is a strong theme in the design. H2Offices is three buildings with a shared white facade expression set in a green and blue landscape. A canopy binds together all buildings and creates a distinct space at eyelevel framing the buildings and the landscape. The landscaped garden is at the heart of the project, shared by all buildings and people. When entering the garden the white facade transitions to a more warm tone that reinforces the special atmosphere of the landscaped garden. This creates a strong sense of space and community for the H2Offices” – said Ulrik Raysse, Founding Partner, Arrow Architects.
The office complex will offer 65,000 square meters of leasable area in total. The eight floors of the first building will be completed by three underground parking levels. The general design work is going to be made by Studio IN-EX, and the green areas will be created by the Lépték Landscape Architects.
The construction of the new Danube Bridge is progressing well; that has been proved with a recently published visual design.
As we reported in September, the construction of the Galvani Bridge has been on the agenda since 1980 and has reached an important stage this year; as a result of which, the planning of the tram lane passing through the bridge has started.
As Budapest Fejlesztési Központ reports, the project was well-founded as in the downtown section of the Danube we can find a bridge almost every kilometre, while in the lower section of the river, including Csepel, there is no crossing opportunity for more than 10 kilometres. The need for the bridge also comes from the ring-radius road network layout of the capital,
and the construction of the road network connected to the New Danube Bridge can create the new boulevard of Budapest.
Thanks to the new Danube Bridge and the associated road developments, a direct connection can be established between:
11th district (Újbuda),
21st district (Csepel)
the southern part of the 9th district (Külső-Ferencváros),
the northern part of 19th and 20th districts (Pesterzsébet and Wekerletelep),
the 10th district (Kőbánya) and the road leading to Budapest Airport.
In order to keep this new part of the city on a human scale, the living conditions will be given a special role in the design of the bridge and its road network.
According to Balázs Fürjes, Secretary of State responsible for the development of Budapest and the metropolitan agglomeration,
“The design of the new southern Danube bridge is progressing well.”
“The bridge eases the city centre with 55,000 cars a day. It will also have tram, bicycle and pedestrian transport, with wide spaces.”
As the Hungarian news portal Origo reports, the Secretary of State also shared a picture of the future design; as he wrote in his Twitter post: the “faithful visual plan” shows what the new Danube Bridge in Budapest will look like:
Halad az új déli Duna-híd tervezése,jól dolgozunk együtt Ferencváros,Csepel,Újbuda polgármesterével,a BKK csapatával.A híd napi 55e autóval tehermentesíti a belvárost.Lesz rajta villamos,kerékpáros és gyalogos közlekedés is,tág terekkel.Íme a tervhű látványterv,ilyen lesz: pic.twitter.com/c8YvpyBHvq
The closer we get to the end, the more optimistic I am about the possibility of authentic reconstructions, said Government Commissioner Gergely Fodor in an interview with Magyar Nemzet on Saturday in connection with the reconstruction work in the Budavár Palace District.
Gergely Fodor recalled that the restoration of the palace district dates back to the Hauszmannian period because the decades after the Compromise were one of the most prosperous periods in Hungary’s history, in every sense, writes Origo.
The palace district plan of Alajos Hauszmann created a coherent architectural system, not to mention that it was the last still-intact state before 1944, explained the government commissioner. Regarding the schedule and deadline of the reconstruction, Gergely Fodor said that
before his appointment as government commissioner, he presented a schedule from 2018 to 2030 to the government.
After creating a clean legal environment, the Castle Headquarters was established, and more than thirty investments were organised into three groups. The first step was to tidy up the green areas. The second group of tasks is the reconstruction of buildings demolished for ideological reasons. During the first phase, the buildings of the former Riding School, the Stöckl Staircase, and the Main Guard were renovated. The former bodyguard barracks house an elegant restaurant-café. In 2021, with the handover of the Csikós courtyard in the foyer of the Lovarda and with the completion of the Hauszmann ramp, this mini city centre can be considered complete, one of the deservedly popular attractions of which is the already renovated Matthias Fountain. The next big step will be the reconstruction of the Archduke’s Palace, the Honvéd High Command, and the Red Cross Headquarters, which will start in a few months.
The timeliness of the buildings is guaranteed by the fact that almost half a hundred professionals work on researching the necessary documents,
said the government commissioner. Not only the complete file of the Hauszmann office is available but also a multitude of contemporary delivery notes, material samples, and photographs. After the reconstruction of the destroyed buildings comes the third task, the restoration of the royal palace, which will be the largest project, as it is more than one hundred thousand square metres of historical space.
Regarding the institutions in the Castle, the National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the National Széchényi Library, if they have to move, it is only possible if they have new reception buildings.
“I consider the complete reconstruction of the Buda Palace to be an enterprise lasting at least twelve years because of these already”, added Gergely Fodor. In the case of the palace complex, it is certain that its 1905 state will be restored in terms of appearance.
Restoring the interior of a building is a more complicated issue as it also depends on future features. “I have no doubt that the outstanding historical spaces will be restored to their original condition. Such is the almost completed St. Stephen’s Hall, which will be handed over on 20 August 2021, as well as the Hunyadi Hall, the Habsburg Hall, the Throne Hall, the ballroom, the buffet hall, the reception hall, and the chapel with the palatine crypt,” explained the government commissioner.
Recently, there was a unique dinner held at Hungary’s only two-Michelin-star restaurant, Onyx. Eight guests could enjoy great food and the company of founder Anna Niszkács before completely smashing the place.
Onyx is Hungary’s only restaurant with two Michelin stars, which has been closed for eight months. The restaurant advertised a mysterious (and free!) “Last supper” in October, which eight people could attend together with founder Anna Niszkács and her mother. Those interested in attending were requested to send a videotape as an audition. Eventually, eight people were chosen who could attend the “Last supper” on 28 November, Dining Guide and 444report.
You might wonder how Onyx was able to pull this off at a time when strict restrictions are in place due to the coronavirus epidemic, and no indoor dining is allowed, nor is it possible for more than 10 people to gather in the same place.
The trick was that “Last supper” was not a dinner at all, but a clever marketing trick. The event was actually a film shoot, which granted all the necessary permits that allowed it to happen even in these restricted times. Onyx was equipped with all kinds of lights, cameras, and microphones when guests arrived.
Also, as a safety measure, all attendants were rapid tested for COVID-19 before dinner, including staff and crew members. The dinner went on as usual; attendants were having pleasant discussions while they consumed their dinner with the cameras rolling. After dessert, however, guests were served strange tools. Hammers appeared on the scene and confused looks were exchanged around the table.
Suddenly, everybody was dressed in protective gear (goggles and helmets), and literally started smashing everything: tearing down the tapestry, slashing the rugs, and smashing the glass. Why, you ask? Well, as it turns out, Anna Niszkács decided back in 2019 that she wanted to redesign not only the exterior of the restaurant but also the entire operation of Onyx.
She created a unique concept that instead of a hierarchical kitchen structure, where there is a master chef who is responsible for all decisions, she wants to build a restaurant where teamwork and cooperation are the basis of the work. She wants the staff to make decisions together and have different chefs responsible for the different aspects of the operation, including cooking, aesthetic presentation, communication, supplies, and the economic background.
The decision to completely rebuild the restaurant was also made back in 2019, so Onyx would have closed even if there was no worldwide epidemic.
Since this complete redesign of Onyx is a very important step, Niszkács wanted the whole process documented, hence the shooting of the now-famous last supper. Even though the supper was also meant as a clever marketing trick, Niszkács also admitted that she wants to create a serious film about the renovation, one worthy of being on Netflix.
Archeological research and a comprehensive site assessment completed in preparation for a three-year reconstruction of Budapest’s Citadel has revealed Celtic, Roman and Turkish coins and ceramics, and the remains of a 19th century observatory’s walls, the project manager has told MTI.
Archaeological monitoring will be maintained during the entire project, Gábor Kőrösi said.
Archeologists have found the remains of the “Csillagda” observatory built in 1851 on Gellért Hill, the highest point of the city centre. It was regarded as the most modern observatory in Europe at the time. It was dismantled in 1870, chief archeologists Zoltán Fullar said.
The Celtic, Roman and Turkish coins and ceramics are believed to have been hidden in layers of soil taken to the site from other parts of Gellért Hill, he said.
The next phase of the Citadel’s reconstruction includes the renovation of the one-time military fortress’s walls, creating a park in the place of a WW2 bunker and an exhibition commemorating “Hungarian fights for freedom”.
Third phase of the refurbishment project of metro line M3 affecting the city centre was supposed to start on 7 November 2020. The full section between Nagyvárad tér and Lehel tér stations has been closed for almost two weeks, but the work has not actually started yet.
The last section of metro line 3 is going to be the hardest, as it is the oldest and deepest led out of the three. BKV already warned the contractor that if they do not start working, their contract will be terminated.
The entire area of renovation has been closed since the beginning of November. However, the actual works probably will not start in months due to the conflict between BKV and the contractor, Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Ltd. The two parties are basically one step away from breaking the contract, Népszava reports.
In March 2020, Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Ltd. claimed an additional 18 billion HUF for the project due to the “extra work” they need to do. BKV was able to offer an additional EUR 22 million/HUF 8 billion for the project, but no more. The contractor did not accept their offer.
Extra costs came up, for example getting rid of the asbestos at the stations of the Southern section of metro line 3. BKV bargained but was unable to offer any more than HUF 8 billion to the contractor.
The original budget for the project was EUR 334 million/HUF 120 billion. Still, it is already at EUR 606 million/HUF 217.5 billion (EUR 478 million/HUF 172 billion from EU funds, and the rest from the government).
Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Ltd.’s contract has been suspended at the end of July. BKV established a deadline (9 November) for coming to an agreement. The date came, and the two parties were unable to do so.
If the contractor does not start working soon, BKV needs to post a new public procurement. Three in fact, as different tenders would be posted for track construction, the replacement of safety equipment and for the construction of the low voltage network.
If they need to go with a new contractor, contracts could be drawn up in 6 months and signed in May 2021. Construction could start in the summer of 2021, and ideally, it would be finished by the end of 2022.
Metro line 3 operates on both workdays and weekends on the following two sections: between Kőbánya-Kispest and Nagyvárad tér stations as well as between Újpest-központ and Lehel tér stations. Replacement buses are operating on the skipped section by fully using available capacities, running in dedicated bus lanes on most sections, with a peak-time frequency of 45 seconds.
During the renovation process of the 143-year-old Nyugati Railway Station, it turned out that the heritage-protected building requires some unforeseen additional works.
During the renovation of the roof structure, structural cracks and severe corrosion of the rainwater drainage channels became visible, which resulted in soaking walls. The patch-like repair would not be a permanent solution, so in consultation with the heritage organisation, the entire interior masonry will be renovated on 1,210 square feet. Rainwater has also ruined doors and windows, causing 75 windows and doors to be renovated and repainted to their original brown colour. As a result of the unforeseen errors, additional works had to be ordered.
Magyar Építő Plc will carry out the developments, the total cost of the renovation is almost EUR 25 million (~HUF 9 billion). In addition to the renovation of the hall, further modernisations will be carried out between 19th June and 17th July 2021.
As a result of which, higher quality, more comfortable, cleaner environment and a more modern passenger information system will welcome the travelling public.
As the Hungarian news portal PestBuda reports, similarly to the modernisation carried out at Keleti Railway Station last year, a new passenger information LED wall will be built in the new hall, and the information boards will be standardised. The platform will be re-asphalted, damaged or missing glass will be replaced, the surfaces will be graffiti-free, with new benches and equipment. Marble and stone pavements will be repaired, and a wheelchair ramp will be installed in order to guarantee unhindered access. In 2021, MÁV-START will install 27 ticket machines at the railway station.
The renovated hall is expected to reopen by the end of summer 2021.
The government will provide more than 545 million euros (HUF 200 billion) for the construction of the national athletics stadium.
In addition to the stadium, the investment includes the construction of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge, as well as other related facilities and infrastructure, and the landscaping of the area, writes vg.
According to the plans, the stadium will be taken down after the sporting event and opened to the general public.
The investment includes:
Construction of a 40,000-seat sports facility;
Construction of a 168.8-metre-long steel bridge;
Construction of a public building with a gross floor area of 75,300 square metres;
Growing grass on 61,970 square metres;
Planting a minimum of 359 deciduous trees;
Construction of 380 metres of railway platform;
Construction of a pedestrian bridge;
Construction of a 1,000-metre-long flood protection line.
In the decision, the government calls on the minister without portfolio responsible for the management of national assets to ensure the availability of a portion of the investment costs for 2022-2024, with the involvement of the Minister of Finance.
However, the completion of the stadium is still uncertain.
The Curia has once again validated the referendum initiative on whether to build an athletics stadium.
Last October, the Curia had once decided to hold a referendum on the issue, but the initator did not start collecting signatures at the time. The question was originally submitted by Dániel Kassai, a former LMP politician, in 2019.
According to the National Electoral Commission (Nemzeti Választási Bizottság- NVB), the issue did not meet the requirement of voter clarity. Namely, the designation of the settlement included a topographical number, which is not clear for a significant part of the voters. Although the problem was solved, Dániel Kassai did not take over the signature collection sheets. However, in June, he resubmitted the initiative to the NVB. The NVB refused the authentication again, which was re-authenticated by the Curia. Thus, it is possible that the future of the athletics stadium will be decided by the voters. In a recent similar initiative, the Government backed down from the organisation of the Olympics.
HelloParks has acquired its first industrial and logistics development plot in Fót located in the vicinity of Budapest, next to the junction of motorways M0 and M3. The 76 ha greenfield investment will include energy-efficient buildings that meet the BREEAM sustainability standard. The first facility is going to be completed next year. As part of Futureal Group, HelloParks aims to obtain a key position in the industrial development sector, as a first step in Hungary, later on in the whole CEE market.
HelloParks has acquired its first development plot in Fót, an ideal location for production and logistics companies, next to Budapest. The new member of Futureal, a leading real estate development and investment group in Europe, is building one of the largest industrial and logistics centers in the country on a 76 ha site near the junction of the M0 and M3 highway. The industrial and logistics property developer also offers commercial industrial lands with utilities and road connections, available from 1.5 ha.
In the first phase of the HelloParks Fót development project, a 45,000 sq m warehouse building will be handed over by Q3 2021.
On the land a total of 330,000 sq m of warehouse and industrial space can be realised. HelloParks Fót is targeting logistics service providers, light industry manufacturers, assembly companies as well as tenants with special requirements. The minimum leasable area for the first building is 3,200 sq m, while rental properties will be offered from 1,000 sq m in the next phase, in order to meet smaller tenants’ expectations. The current investment value of the project is close to EUR 50 million.
All the planned facilities, each with a floor area of 35,000 – 49,000 sq m, will feature modern design and meet the requirements of the BREEAM sustainability standard through smart solutions that ensure energy efficiency and environmentally friendly operation.
Leisure and community services will also be available in the logistics park to support the tenants’ recruitment and talent management activities.
“The acquisition and development of the plot hosting HelloParks Fót is the first step for HelloParks to become a determinant player in the dynamically growing industrial and logistics market. In Hungary, we want to start our operation with developments in the Budapest agglomeration and in major Hungarian cities that act as logistics hubs in the countryside. We are also planning serious activities in the Central and Eastern European region, building on the Futureal Group’s existing presence in foreign markets,”
said Rudolf Nemes, CEO of HelloParks. “We are already experiencing strong interest from prospective tenants, so given the high demand in the market and the scarcity of supply, we have decided to start developing the first facility in Fót on a speculative basis.”
HelloParks can build on Futureal Group’s decade-long property development and investment experience. Futureal is one of the leading real estate developers and investors in Central and Eastern Europe and is among the top 10 largest real estate developers in Europe. Since its foundation Futureal Group’s portfolio has included more than 180 real estate projects with a total value of over EUR 5 billion and an area of 3 million square meters.
Dávid Vitézy spoke about the development of the accessibility of the bus, railway, and expressway at Liszt Ferenc Airport.
Due to the expected increase in airport traffic in the coming years, it is absolutely necessary to build a railway line, informs hvg. The CEO of the Budapest Development Centre, Dávid Vitézy, announced in an online conversation called HungaroControl Kft. HC Café that the plan for the railway to Terminal 2 of Budapest Airport is ready, but no agreement has been reached as of yet with Budapest Airport. According to the plans, the new line would branch off from the 100 railway line next to the airport, run parallel to the number one runway at the airport, and run underground at the Holiday car park, where the station would be.
The new line would connect Terminal 2 to the national rail network. There could be 10 trains per hour to Nyugati Railway Station or via a ring road to Kelenföld and the western agglomeration.
According to Vitézy, the problem is the decades-long agreement with Budapest Airport, which operates the airport, and does not include the need to ensure the construction of railways in the area.
Budapest Airport has serious revenues from taxi traffic and ticket sales for BKK buses.
Vitézy also mentioned that a public procurement tender had already been announced for the planning of the airport expressway. The goal is to have the necessary plans and building permits in a year and a half. The main problem with the current road is that it only has two lanes. As a result, in the event of an accident, all traffic is stuck. Furthermore, the road cuts off the surrounding districts, and there is no cycling infrastructure either.
The ideal solution would be to have two dual lanes.
This requires more space due to noise protection, and houses should be demolished. They would also like to connect the airport road with the Buda area.
The short-term goal is to connect the airport to the Budapest bus network in order to make it easier for thousands of workers to travel from the area to the airport every day.
The second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic is having a serious impact on the real estate market. On average, the price drop of newly-built flats sold by Otthon Centrum in September is approaching almost ten per cent, compared to the previous three months, reports 24.
The market hit is the panel building, as this can be the fastest-selling in the real estate market. Thanks to changing shopping habits, by September, the prices of new and used brick-built flats also fell compared to the previous three months. Newly-built homes have seen the biggest decline, with house prices falling by as much as 8.5 per cent on average.
Moreover, in the case of newly-built homes, the biggest difference is found between large cities and small settlements.
In Buda, as well as in the cities with county rights, there was a decline of around 10 per cent, while in the smaller cities, there was a price increase of more than 5 per cent. The largest price drop was in Budapest in the upscale District 13 and in the northern Buda district. There has been a decline of as much as over 10 per cent. In contrast, prices per square metre in the outer districts of the capital may have risen by as much as 10 per cent.
The price of family houses has not moved much compared to the national average. However, there are also big differences between Budapest and the countryside. There was a 10-20 per cent price increase in Budapest while a 5-10 per cent decrease in smaller cities.
The panel buildings remain top-ranked properties,
as they are available to the masses. Due to demand, considering the national average, they had to pay 7 per cent more per square meter than in the previous three months. This can also be seen as a kind of price correction, as during the first wave of the epidemic, the price of this type of property fell the most.
In addition to property prices, the pandemic also changed the average time required to sell. In the case of panel flats, the rotation speed decreased by 10 days (currently 90 days), while in the case of detached houses, the time spent on the market decreased from 170 days to 166 days.
Budapest is an exception, as an average of 100 days is enough for a sale there.
The best bargaining position for buyers is in the case of detached houses. On average, sellers allow 9.5 per cent of the advertised price to drop from the announcement of the house to the selling contract.
The market could be affected in the short term by the government’s new home-building program. Based on this, in the case of constructions that will take place by the end of 2022, the VAT on housing construction will again be 5 per cent. This can help resume projects that were stopped at the beginning of the year. Second-hand flats are affected by another measure of the government, according to which families raising at least one child can reclaim half of the housing renovations started after 1 January 2021 (up to a maximum of HUF 3 million) from the state.
