Budapest to the Future: city development plans in 2017 and beyond

During the so-called Gründerzeit era in the last third of the 19th century, Budapest was clattering with loud construction noise. We cannot really state that similar times are about to return this year, but there will surely be plenty of new buildings established and reconstructed in 2017, as well as in the upcoming years. We always love new parklands popping up around town, so one of the most anticipated renovations planned for this year is the refurbishment of Millenáris Park, and the transformation of the 2.5-hectare vacant lot into a leisure park. Underneath the surface, a parking garage will be constructed, while the community area will be enhanced with nearly 300 new trees, benches, a playground, and water surfaces.

A whole new quarter is being built near Kopaszi Dam in the framework of the BudaPart project; primarily, new office buildings and residential properties will be erected, separated by a lengthy shopping street, but according to the project plans there will also be a sports field, a hotel, a nursery, and possibly even a skyscraper established here.

The Hungarian National Museum’s garden has a good chance of becoming a beloved inner-city green oasis, as the unpleasant-looking parking lot that is now found inside the garden will be taken out, the flora and fauna will be resuscitated, and cozy spots suitable for picnics will be cultivated. Furthermore, the historical houses of Pollack Mihány Square in the Palotanegyed will be renovated, while two other buildings belonging to the Hungarian state radio headquarters will be demolished.

The complete renovation of the Buda Castle continues this year, including the reconstruction of several buildings that were damaged and senselessly demolished during World War II. The plans include the reconstruction of several edifices designed by Alajos Huszmann, such as the Csikós Court and its surroundings, the ornate riding hall and its corresponding barn, the so-called Főőrségi (Main Guard’s) building, the Stöckl stairs, and the tower of Karakas Pasha.

The renewal of the Danube Banks stretching from Fővám Square to Kossuth Square is one of the most ambitious 2017 projects. According to the plans, the roads and crash barriers will be replaced with pedestrian-friendly walkways, ornate cladding, and strictly controlled traffic, while on the water floating platforms will await city dwellers. The Pest-side pillar of Erzsébet Bridge will be transformed into a green area with a bikeway and a thoroughfare running through it, the parking lot in front of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences will disappear to give space to a sizeable park, and the Belgrade Quay will become a more attractive area lined with cafés and restaurants.

A tree-planting program already started in 2016 and continues in 2017, planting a total of 10,000 new trees in 20 different districts, and on 62 streets in Budapest.

Over the next three years, Vajdahunyad Castle will get a facelift within the framework of the Liget Budapest project that targets the beautification of City Park. Furthermore, the Liget Budapest project also aims to revitalize the entirety of City Park, expanding green areas, restoring historical pavilions and the original state of the lake, and ameliorating Nádor Island.

The demolished parts of the Museum of Transport will be restored by the plans of Mérték Architects Studio, and the complex will also be expanded by 4,000 m2 on two underground floors, and with a lookout tower in the dome.

The Hungarian House of Music gets a new contemporary construction this year, with the aim of introducing and popularizing music history, folk traditions, music pedagogy, and the contemporary music culture. The glass-walled establishment – which looks like it is waving between the trees of the City Park – may become Budapest’s newest musical center, similar to the Cité de la Musique of Paris.

The Museum of Ethnography moves to a new location in City Park. The new building will be half-sunk in the ground, sophisticatedly decorated with motifs of folk art, and will house a café with a terrace, a panoramic glass-walled library, a children’s museum, and a cinema hall. The plans were made by Napur Architects.

The complete reconstruction and expansion of the Museum of Applied Arts takes place this year according to the winning plans of Vikár and Lukács Architects Studio. The plans include the preservation of historical values, the rethinking of the exhibition methods, and the expansion of the building with a contemporary crystal-like structure.

The renovation of the Museum of Fine Arts continues on this year; the rebirth of the huge and imposing hall that is enhanced with large wall paintings is preceded by profound restoration work. The plans were made by Mányi Studio.

One of the most special and intriguing structures of the city, Párisi Udvar (Paris Court) on Ferenciek Square, is being renewed this year according to the plans of Archikon.

The southern wing of Klotild Palace, also known as Matild Palace, will turn into a luxurious hotel housing 156 rooms in the near future; the units of the Belvárosi Kávéház (Central Café) get their original purpose back, and an open-kitchen Turkish restaurant will also be launched in the hotel, on the side nearest to the Danube shore. The plans were made by Puhl and Dajka Architects.

It is always good news if an edifice in the historic part of downtown is renewed. An office building designed by Dezső Cserba has long been standing unexploited on Múzeum Avenue, but after a reconstruction planned by Péter Bokor and Ádám Villa, loft flats will be established inside.

The Olof Palme House has an interesting history, as it already provided a home for a military hospital, a café, a beer bar, an office, and a dance school in the past. After its renovation in the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, it will be enhanced with cultural and hospitality functions.

An intriguing edifice, Budapest’s Old City Hall, stands opposite to the Matthias Church in the Castle District. The building reached its current form during the Baroque era, and the City Hall of Buda was seated here until 1873; unfortunately, the building was mostly destroyed during the 20th century. Following the restoration and modernization works – according to the plans of the Hetedik Műterem – it will primarily serve educational purposes, but a restaurant and a bookstore will also be established inside.

Plans for the near future also include the reconstruction of the completely demolished Lónyay Villa – designed by Miklós Ybl – according to the plans of BORD Architect Studio, and the world-famous Tadao Ando.

The Zichy Palace of Óbuda, which houses the Vasarely Museum, will also be beautified in the future. The edifice’s façade, lighting, and interior design will be renewed.

The refurbishment of The Tomb of Gül Baba, along with its terraced garden and park, may be finished this year. According to the plans of the Mányi Studio, the memorial site gets new ceramic cladding, while the columns surrounding the octagonal Ottoman tomb will be made out of carved quarry stone, and will be decorated with Zsolnay column capital. A museum and a café will be established here as well.

When the residents of Király Street 40 almost completely demolished renowned Hungarian architect József Hild’s dreamy design by negligence in the past decade, a scandal broke out in Budapest. A new residential building housing more than 100 flats will be erected on this site, restoring the original façade.

The final station of Zugliget’s heritage horse tramway, as well as its surroundings, will be restored this year.

The new headquarters of the Federation of Technical and Scientific Societies at Kossuth Square 6-8 in Budapest will soon be reconstructed to suit contemporary trends.

The hideous concrete structure originally planned to be a hotel of the National Council of Trade Unions on Rózsadomb may be restructured to house luxurious apartments, as the tender for its renovation was won by Építész Stúdió and Lab5 Architects. It is still not yet decided who can start the reconstruction works, but both project plans have interesting and innovative elements that would only enhance the Buda side’s panorama.

The building of the former Postal Palace in downtown Budapest will house a luxurious hotel in the future.

Found directly opposite the Opera House, Budapest’s historic Drechsler Palace, which formerly housed the city’s erstwhile Ballet Institute and many other important establishments, will be turned into a deluxe W Hotel by 2020. The building was completed in 1898 according to the designs of renowned Hungarian architects Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos. According to the plans, both the interior and exterior of the building will be completely refurbished, and the new W Budapest will house 162 stylish contemporary guest rooms and one luxurious royal suite, as well as a wellness section, conference rooms, a bar, and a restaurant.

Széll Kálmán Square’s postal palace will be reborn as an office building; the tower of the eight-storey building will be open to the public, providing far-reaching views to the Buda Castle, Vérmező, and Hűvösvölgy.

Not only its parkland, but Millenáris itself will also be renewed this year; soon, the building of the Teátrum will house the National Dance Theater. The plans were made by Zoboki and Demeter Architecture, who have already gained experience in renovating a cultural institute by working on the . The reconstruction works will be completed by February of 2018, and the high-quality dance institute will give a home to the representatives of traditional and contemporary dance culture alike.

There’s no need to wait too long for the complete renovation of the Király Bath, either. The bath was built by Arszlán Pasha of Buda in 1565, and behind the building’s classicist façade we still find a bath that evokes a Balkan atmosphere. During the renovation works, the domed pool, the Turkish inner courtyard, and plenty of other parts of the building will be restored.

A new swimming pool in the place of the former Dagály Beach will soon be ready to host the 2017 FINA water world championship. The 44-meter-high building will provide wonderful view to Budapest’s cityscape from its roof, while inside, two 50-meter-long swimming pools – one dividable by a movable wall – as well as a diving pool and smaller pools will be established. The bottom of the diving boards will be enhanced with LED lights.

Following the demolishment of Puskás Stadium, the construction of a new stadium in its place may begin soon, keeping some original elements of the edifice. The building’s tower might turn into a museum for stadium tours, and a maximum of 67,000 seats will be installed inside.

Within the next couple of years, a biodome will be built inside the Budapest Zoo, providing many animals with a balmy environment similar to their own original habitats all year long, separated from the noises and cold weather of the outside world. Designed by Mérték Architectural Studio Ltd, the new indoor enclosure will have rich flora, a small river suitable for boat rides, an educational area, and exhibition corridors.

The Buda-side campus of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design is also being renewed this year.

The  may finally bring an old project, the Eiffel Műhelyház, to life, establishing a significant classical music center in Budapest.