Skating rink and the Post PalaceWhere Széll Kálmán Square sits today, there was a clay mine in the second half of the 19th century; later, a small pond formed, where locals even went skating in winter. By the beginning of the 20th century a sports centre, complete with a sports hall and a tennis court were created, and in the month after WWI the brick-striped building of the Postapalota ("Post Palace"), designed by GyulaSándy,was finished. The characteristic round tower on the corner of the palace used to have a practical purpose: it was the machine room of the elevator. The building, has, unfortunately, been standing abandoned since 2008: we hope that the reconstruction of the square will change that.
But let us not rush forward: relatively few people know that the unnamed area had been referred to as Gödör ("hole") for a long time before the construction of the Post Palace; but it was named Széll Kállmán Square after a former Prime Minister in 1929. About a decade later, the construction of the transport hub began. The place rechristened to Moszkva Square ("Moscow Square") in 1951 and has been one of the busiest transport junctions in Buda ever since.KalefThe fan shaped building of the then new underground railway line was finished in 1972. Around these times, the popular name of the square was Kalef, derived from the name Kálmán. "Kalefing" meant to hang out at the square, meeting under the large clock. Ferenc Török's cult movie, "Moszkva tér",commemorates this era: the protagonists - today's 50-year-olds - used to mingle in the square, competing for the title of the best house party.
The square was re-christened to its original name in 2011, and was, for a time, home to a barely concealed "man market". There were construction workers of almost every trade looking for work - but it's a rumour that the cheap labourers often left with any unattended building material or anything else they could grab.
Good work takes timeIn the 25 years since the end of Communism in Hungary there have been repeated promises of the reconstruction of this important hub.
In 2014 there were finally signs of progress but one of the tender applicants attacked the result of the reconstruction's public procurement tender in court, so the works were again postponed. Now, finally, it seems it's game on!
The reconstruction - as described by the BKK (the public transport centre) - will eliminate unnecessary booths and rails, making the image of the square, which is designed in cooperation with Építész Stúdió Kft., Lépték-Terv Kft.
and Főmterv, more uniform.
The space allocated for bus parking bays will decrease, making room for new green surfaces: the plans include cutting down 44 trees that are in bad condition and the planting 179 new trees. The space will be characterised by non-slip surfaces and smaller, shady, park-like sections.
The visuals show that the revitalised Széll Kálmán Square will be home to new shops and cafés with patios, and the new BKK customer centre building will have large stairs and a green roof suitable for sunbathing. The partly covered platforms will also be equipped with digital travel information signs, so passengers can see live travel times.
The fan shaped building of the metro and the legendary clock will not disappear, but they will both undergo a modern makeover. Obstacle-free access will be guaranteed by escalators and elevators on the Várfok Street side; while a MOL Bubi public bike sharing docking station, as well as a bike path will be added by the foot of the slopes of Vérmező Street. After the reconstruction, the interconnected tram network will also pass through here, and the square will be ready to accommodate the planned new terminal of the Cogwheel Railway. At night pedestrians will be guided by LED floor lights, which seems to be a simple, yet elegant solution.
The reconstruction process, of course, is not without its inconveniences for those who use the square for transport. But be patient because the new square will be nicer, more lively and more useful, and we, for one, can hardly wait until it's finished.
