Location: Budapest, V. kerület

Area: 13 ha

Year: 2015

Client: Budapest City Council

Collaborators: CÉH Zrt.

Award: RAK-PARK Design competition: Complex regeneration of the Pest-side Danube waterfront

between Kossuth- and Fővám Square - purchased, 2015

Status: concept plan

The design proposal aims to create a new central city core by reorganizing traffic and pedestrian zones along the Danube, while preserving the values of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

 In the short term, the lower quay section between the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) and Elisabeth Bridge (Erzsébet híd) will have "wall-to-wall" pavement, traffic restrictions, and weight limits. In the medium term, road traffic will be restricted during events, holidays, and weekends, except for public transport and hop-on-hop-off buses. The long-term vision involves redirecting non-public transport traffic from the lower quay to Apáczai Csere János Street, freeing the area for pedestrian and bicycle use.

The Chain Bridge may also become exclusive for pedestrians and bicycles. The plan emphasizes seamless connections between lower and upper quays with as few road crossings as possible.

Former tunnels will be reopened, direct connections established, and unnecessary structures removed to create continuous pedestrian and bicycle surfaces.

The new central city core will harmonize with the existing heritage, blending modern architectural solutions with the historical essence. The development will cater to the needs of both residents and tourists, providing a captivating sensory experience of the Danube and the city core. The zoning and architectural solutions, while tailored to different sections, will present a unified and distinctive image from Kossuth tér to Fővám tér.