A new urban centre - development concept.
DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT -
ÁRPÁD GÖNCZ MEMORIAL PARK
LOCATION: District XIII , Budapest, Hungary
YEAR OF DESIGN: 2016
AREA OF THE SITE: 25000 m2
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Public urban open space
PARTNERS: Architecture - P8 Atelier
AWARDS:
2016 - Design Competition for the Development of the Árpád Göncz Memorial Park - 2nd Prize
Our studio developed an urban and landscape design concept for a design competition in 2016. The competition was held to find design solutions for an underused public space at the intersection of two main transport corridors in district XIII of Budapest. The project area was neglected for decades after the completion of the housing estate constructed around it, the asphalt pavement and the green spaces were not maintained and were overrun by exotic weeds. Our concept focused on revealing the potential of the space by building on the good public transport connections and the proximity of several public institutions, and providing a meeting place for the thousands of people living walking distance to the site in the high density apartment blocks. The design features a complex system of footpaths, a new entrance to the metro station with a café and several areas suitable for social gathering. The central design element is a pool, located in the intersection of the main connector cycle routes and walking paths. By cancelling the noise of the main roads by strategic planting and a newly established urban forest, the design proposes a characteristic open space with several options for visitors and locals to interact and relax.
Framework and Connections Plan of the park, 2016
Masterplan of the park, 2016
Árpád Göncz Memorial.
The brief included a memorial for an emblematic politician, a former president of Hungary called Árpád Göncz, and the intention was to rename the new urban public open space after him. The new park is built around the idea of ’conversation’. The former president represented people from different political and socio-economic backgrounds and was an advocate for communication between diverse political groups. The monuments located in the park were designed to encourage random conversations between users, by connecting to the installations with their devices to initiate connections.
