Beszterce Square - Community led Placemaking.
BESZTERCE SQUARE
LOCATION: Salgotarjan, Hungary
YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION: 2018
AREA OF THE SITE: 9000 m2
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Public recreational green and urban open spaces
AWARDS:
2019 - Finalist of the Media Architecture Awards, Top 5 architecture projects by the Hungarian Media Committee
2018 - Engineering Project of the Year, by the Chamber of Engineers of Nograd County, Hungary
Over the past 30 years since the completion of the housing estate, the open spaces underwent partial repairs only, and condition of paved surfaces and the green spaces deteriorated significantly. The need for revitalisation has become a regular issue for both the residents and the municipality.
Engagement and the design of the new square began in 2016. As a first step, we assessed the needs of residents and their regular activities related to how the open spaces between apartment blocks are being used. We conducted community planning in the framework of a multilevel forum, during which we provided an opportunity to formulate opinions and to clarify various ideas and guidelines proposed.
During community planning, we surveyed the main traffic patterns, identified the existing routes of pedestrian traffic and analyzed habits, such as parking, the condition of green spaces and needs of different age groups.
Based on feedback from the community forums, we determined the most important functions and defined their locations, such as areas for active and passive recreation, potential location of playgrounds.
We determined the necessary quantity of seating, thereby creating areas designed for relaxed conversations and for active space use alike. We also discussed options for expanding green spaces and established where more shading, grassed areas or shrub and perennial planting is needed.
Beszterce Housing Estate.
Beszterce Square is the most important open space and a community hub of a housing estate of the same name in Salgotarjan, a regional centre in Northern Hungary. The construction of the housing estate between 1965-85 was a flagship project of solving the housing needs of thousands of working class families relocating to the city to work in the coal and steel industry, and has been one of the most populous neighbourhoods of the city since then. A distinguishing feature of Beszterce is that, despite the declining population of Salgótarján, it is still densely populated due to the location, the relatively large proportion of green spaces and the fact that the concentrated infrastructure and affordable housing provides a good option for young families. Consequently, the age curve of the housing estate is more favorable than that of other parts of the city, which is an important motor for active community groups and engagement.
Masterplan of Beszterce, 2017
Just like elsewhere in the country, the green spaces of Beszterce housing estate have become neglected and consequently they were underutilized in the past decades. The investment project provides the large group of residents living on the housing estate a chance to create and enjoy a greener and more user friendly living environment of a high esthetic quality. Accordingly, creating connections appears as a key force in spatial organization, including the enhancement of ecological, landscape view, and social connections. The renewed spatial structure and the natural environment function as links between the inherited landscape use of the past, the space use of the present and the human connections of the future. In keeping with these criteria, the new spatial structure has been tailored to meet community needs by completely renewing existing green spaces and increasing the green space ratio.
In order to preserve the identity of the square, the main corner points have been defined as requested by the community and by taking the existing open space structure into consideration. In accordance with the most important design principles discussed during public consultations, the square was reconstructed by using local materials, drawing on the regional ecosystem and showcasing the cultural and natural heritage of the area. The finishing and the color of paving stones used are reminiscent of the local basalt mountains and the rocks extracted therefrom, and the educational trails reflect the ecological heritage and the characteristics of the region. In the design phase of the development, another important cornerstone of our concept -that drew on fundamental natural and cultural values- was the improvement of the urban features and the development of a characteristic community space with a high aesthetic quality. It was also a priority to create a space that could be used simultaneously by different age groups interacting with each other, thus strengthening the social network of the housing estate. To this end, recreational facilities for senior age groups and playgrounds for children and youths, as well as cycling stops, table tennis, outdoor exercise facilities and large community seating areas have been developed.
It was a priority to create a space that could be used simultaneously by different age groups interacting with each other, thus strengthening the social network of the housing estate. To this end, recreational facilities for senior age groups and playgrounds for children and youths, as well as cycling stops, table tennis, outdoor exercise facilities and large community seating areas have been developed.
Another guiding criteria employed was to satisfy the need for an urban space that -in addition to handling transiting pedestrian traffic- is suitable for multifunctional use: from holding city/neighborhood events to serving quieter, everyday use with a primary focus on creating a livable environment. By meeting these criteria, Beszterce square offers active and passive recreational opportunities for a wide range of social groups in all seasons and at all times of day.
In order to preserve the identity of the square, the main corner points have been defined as requested by the community and by taking the existing open space structure into consideration. In accordance with the most important design principles discussed during public consultations, the square was reconstructed by using local materials, drawing on the regional ecosystem and showcasing the cultural and natural heritage of the area. The finishing and the color of paving stones used are reminiscent of the local basalt mountains and the rocks extracted therefrom, and the educational trails reflect the ecological heritage and the characteristics of the region. In the design phase of the development, another important cornerstone of our concept -that drew on fundamental natural and cultural values- was the improvement of the urban features and the development of a characteristic community space with a high aesthetic quality
The theoretical background behind planting, the main spatial organization component, was provided by the current regulations on sustainable urban ecological green spaces. The dynamically designed planting beds make a significant contribution to increasing urban biodiversity. They are an important part of the green infrastructure, since the carefully selected species of shrubs, herbs and perennials provide habitat for pollinators, birds and other urban species. The extensive planting beds and the shade of newly planted trees have a substantial positive impact on the urban climate and create a significant green visual connection between the two wooded slopes surrounding the housing estate.
