Soon, Budapest’s Danube banks may become prime recreation zones in the city. The waterfront sections of Buda and Pest have long been neglected due to these stretches being somewhat blocked from pedestrians by heavy car traffic and tramlines. Currently, only a few locations provide easy river access to pedestrians. To make the city’s scenic embankments more approachable, Budapest offered tenders for their renovation. Last year, successful plans for reconfiguring Pest’s Danube bank were unveiled by Korzó Stúdió, the same design company that has now won the tender to develop the Buda side.
The redesign project on the Buda side includes four designated precincts, covering the zones of Újlak, Felhévíz, Víziváros and Lágymányos. Keeping the transit corridor connecting north to south, parks on the upper embankment would be restored and in some areas, traffic zones could be reallocated to facilitate a stronger link between city and river.
However, the most significant element of the plans show a new pedestrian bridge over the Danube, spanning the Újlak area on the Buda side and Margaret Island. The overpass would run from the riverside end of Szépvölgyi út all the way to Palatinus Baths. The multi-lane bridge would be complete with a bicycle lane and footpaths built on three different levels. This elevated solution would allow the bridge to serve as a lookout point, and several green zones constructed between the lofty lanes would make the viaduct a pleasant recreation zone.
Plans also include new parkland near Kolosy tér, a riverfront promenade, car-free zones, a walled staircase to the river and sports facilities at Fischer Ágoston Park. Over the course of the project, the façade of Lukács Baths would also get a makeover, while the park in front of the building is set to be rebuilt to feature a new water playground, two decorative pools, and pop-up outlets.
Around the Lágymányos area, the vast expanse in front of the Budapest University of Technology is designed to become an area suitable for recreation, complete with vapor and light effects, a playful facility controlled by the students. This new chill zone would be enhanced by plenty of creative concrete seating made by the local Ivanka design company.
