On the borders of the XIV, X, and VIII residential districts, the neighbourhood of Puskás Ferenc metro station is an extremely busy transport hub. With a football arena, stadium, offices, event centre, national bus station, trams, and even a shopping mall nearby, over 100,000 vehicles traverse this area, and 70,000+ pedestrians pass daily. So the addition of a modern multicultural centre seems fitting. The Centrale complex, a commercially and architecturally unique hub, will sit on the intersection of Kerepesi út and Hungária Boulevard, right above the metro station. It is built with the main objective to cater to the needs of residents, office workers, and commuters alike.
Developed by Chain Bridge Ventures Ltd and designed by Bánáti + Hartvig Architects, the 29,000 m2 GBA complex stands as a pioneer in Hungary. The building's multifunctional character is created by a mix of retail, a food hall, offices, and a hotel. It is expected that approximately 40 shops and service outlets will open on over 6,000 m2 on the ground floor, including a supermarket, drugstore, pharmacy, banks, telecoms, FMCG and beauty services. A curated F&B experience hall of over 2,000 m2 will sit on the 1st floor.
The light-filled space with terraces, will serve as the neighbourhood hangout space and meeting point before and after concerts happening at the adjacent event venues. An approximately 5,000m2 3-storey modern office tower will sit atop the commercial centre on the Hungária Boulevard facing side, while a 170-room 4* hotel will be situated at the Puskas Arena facing side. A 100-space overground car park will be erected, with additionally the 1000+ parking garage of the Papp Laszlo Arena directly connected to Centrale.
Regarding the technical aspects of the building, the structure will be a real architectural feat, having been carefully planned as a lightweight steel structure sitting on top of the metro but not overloading the metro structure. The building aims for a high-level BREEAM certification, promising modern engineering and energy-saving solutions. Adding to its sustainability, the structure is complemented by a large green roof and landscaped areas covering an area of nearly 7,000 m2, making it one of Hungary's largest commercial green roofs of its kind.
As part of the project, additional developments are in the pipeline, focusing on the infrastructure enhancement of the Puskás Ferenc Stadion metro station. The entrances are set for redevelopment, accompanied by the construction of new escalators in the otherwise stair-access-only station. These escalators will seamlessly lead passengers to a climate-controlled and comfortable commercial passage within the complex. This strategic improvement not only caters to the ever-growing capacity needs but also aligns with the modern requirements of this continually evolving area, prioritizing passenger comfort. The developers will collaborate closely with the BKV Transport Authority to minimize any inconvenience resulting from changes to the traffic flow during the construction period.
(Source and cover photo: Chain Bridge Ventures)
