Those who remember the old Kossuth Square were dumbstruck by how strikingly different it looks: it's cleaner, more spacious, the details are elegantly simple, and the various pieces of contemporary archtitecture are not only in perfect harmony with the Parliament, but also add to the overall picture, giving it a modern twist, rather than takiing away from it. The cracked concrete is gone and was replaced with granite pavement and the landscape received a trendy makeover.
The new country flag is waving on a 33-meter-high metal column. As Zoltán Tima senior designertold us, it is a place of representation covered with 50x100 centimeter granite plates and a long reflecting pool at the edge of the square.
One of the most important change is that vehicles are not allowed to enter the square, and there are motorcycle cops patrolling the area warning drivers to turn around.
Near the south side of the square stands the completely revamped
formerWellisch mansion, housing the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice. Its exterior and dome were rebuilt following the original plans.
In light of the results, we're more than confused about the scandal stirred by the relocation of Atilla József's statue. He is now closer to the Danube, sitting in a much better spot,forever watching the melon-rinds float by.
Summer heat? No problem, Kossuth Square got this. The weather is observed by special sensors, so when the air is too hot or too dry above the granite pavement, built-in, hidden-between-the-paving humidifiers improve the conditions.
The premises on the other side of the Parliament were also revamped, though this section is yet to be opened. When it does open, all obstacles standing in the way of a stroll along the riverbank will be gone.
A similarly positive change is the Parliaments newfound accessibility, which means you can bask in the beauty of Imre Steindl's breathtaking building from all angles.
As of now, the statues of István Tisza and Gyula Andrássy can only be seen on Waschler Tamás' photos, and both the visitor center and the underground parking lot are only halfway done. Good news for families and sports fanatics: adjacent Olympics Park has been opened on March 22.
In retrospect, the project was more than worth it: in place of the parking lot now lies an elegant square, and the messy wilderness that used to be the park is now a well-kept masterpiece of landscape architecture. Budapest finally got the main square it deserves.
