Rehabilitation walk
Duration
180-200 minutes
Number of objects
11
How to travel
public transport and walking
The walk starting from the Klinikák underground station leads through two historical suburbs, Ferencváros and Józsefváros. These formerly ill-famed suburbs give an example for two different types of rehabilitation. On the first section of the route we walk through Ferencváros, which has been rewarded with numerous prizes. The rehabilitation of blocks has been going on here for nearly three decades: new residental buildings have been set up in place of the worn-out ones, though the tenants mostly remain the same. Common green areas have been created inside the blocks, while public areas are also being renewed, like the Ferenc square, for instance. Different methods are being used in Józsefváros, on the other side of Üllői way: between the Corvin cinema and Szigony street, a brand new promenade and a whole new district is being built, similarly to the Orczy Forum. The tour takes us to one of the new houses built for the residents evicted from the area of Corvin promenade. One of the terminal points, the Kesztyűgyár (Glove factory) is an example for the efforts made to renew the community: the old industrial building, turned into a center for culture was designed for the benefit of the locals.
1
Semmelweis University Education Center
Semmelweis University Education Center
6
Architect
Noll Tamás
Company
M-Teampannon Kft.
Built in
2008
Photo
Polinszky
Tibor / KÉK
As the campus of the Semmelweis University of Medicine lies nearby, directly beside Üllői way, the IX. district, Ferencváros, which is just being rehabilitated, was the ideal place to locate the new building. 16 individual parcels have been merged together for the establishment, on these were built a block housing five separate theoretical institutions and a 1300-quare-meter public area during the first movement. The deployment of the building was partly defined by the adjoining block in Tűzoltó street. Eventually a passage way is to be opened here which will, according to the plans, connect the new public area with Üllői way and the Klinikák subway station. The glazed curtain-wall of the building’s grandiose hall looks upon the new public space by Vendel street. From here can be reached the five institutions which are located on separate levels, and the auditoriums that can receive up to 1600 students at the same time. With the use of wooden surfaces and natural stone revetments, the designers intention was to reflect on the ambiance of the University’s older buildings. The block is articulated by three inner courts; the poured-floor is the work of artist Antal Örkényi.
2
Renovation of Ferenc Square
Renovation of Ferenc Square
6
Architect
Kovács Miklós, Sári István
Company
Pestterv Kft.
Built in
2006
Photo
Polinszky
Tibor / KÉK, Polgár Ádám / KÉK
The rehabilitation of the inner area of the IX. District of Budapest, also called Ferencváros started in 1992, with the help of the EU's URBAN programme. During the exceptional works the area was completely renewed in physical and social aspects as well, while managing to keep its precious building stock and residents. The leaders of the rehabilitation were among the first to realise that the quality transformation of public spaces attracts the reformation of resident communities, which in turn catalises the renewal of the buildings as well. The symbolic part of the enormous work was the reconstruction of Ferenc tér, the largest public park of the district in the epicentre of the action area. The competition for the renewal of the heavily eroded park was won by Pestterv. The goal of the rehabilitation was for the park to provide a high quality and exciting space for local communities, as it did before. Therefore local residents were also included in the process. Hundreds of schrubs and plants were planted, furthermore two covered terrases, a music pavilion and two fountains were also installed in the park.
3
Holocaust Documentation Center
Holocaust Documentation Center
6
Architect
Mányi István, Gáti Attila
Company
Mányi István Építész Stúdió Kft.
Built in
2004
Photo
Schmal Fülöp
More info
4
Renovation of a residential building within the rehabilitation project of Ferencváros
Renovation of a residential building within the rehabilitation project of Ferencváros
6
Architect
Szabó Zerindné
Company
Attik’-Art Kft.
Built in
1995
Photo
Schmal Fülöp
More info
5
Trafó House of Contemporary Arts
Trafó House of Contemporary Arts
6
Architect
Gerstenberger Ágost, Arvé Károly, Gaskó Mátyás, Schnell Judit
Built in
1998
Photo
Kőhegyi Erika / KÉK
The building with quality historic architecture was originally a power transformator station that functioned until the 1960s, after which it stood empty for decades. In the early '90s several old transformator stations were renewed in functions differing from the original (Merlin Theatre, Electrotechnical Museum). It was in this time that the transformator house of Souther Pest was discovered by a group of French anarchist artists, who operated an open cultural centre for one summer, after which they created a squat. Finally, the main municipality of the capital funded the reconstruction from the budget originally allocated to the world expo that never manifested. The original idea for the new function was to use the building as the successor of the legendary Young Artists' Club. The interiour of the building was completely changed while preserving the architectural values. A new auditorium, event halls under ground, an exhibition space and even a rehearsal room was possible to place. The one-story house on the neighbouring plot, faceing Tűzoltó utca was demolished in order to give space where the new entrance of the cultural centre can be opened, with the trademark TRAFÓ sign over the canopy roof.
6
Corvin Corner Office Center
Corvin Corner Office Center
1
Architect
Szász László
Company
Stúdió'100 Építészeti Kft.
Built in
2015
Photo
Bujnovszky Tamás
More info
7
73-apartment residential building
73-apartment residential building
8
Architect
Hajnal Zsolt, Harangi László Barna, Kendlényi Péter
Company
Hajnal Építész Iroda Kft.
Built in
2006
Photo
Polgár Attila, Hajdú József, Zsitva Tibor
More info
8
Social Apartment Building in the Práter Street
Social Apartment Building in the Práter Street
5
Architect
Kis Péter, Valkai Csaba
Company
PLANT - Atelier Peter Kis
Built in
2008
Photo
Polgár Ádám / KÉK
The municipality tenant building in Práter Street was built for the residents evicted because of the biggest development of the district, the Corvin Sétány (Corvin Promenade). The four partition-walls facing the L-shaped parcel posed a great challenge, and the architects decided on building further as opposed to covering them up. The two separate blocks created by this are connected by a framework of bridges over the small garden at the entrance; the stairways are accessible from here as well. The double-hung French windows are placed on the deep brown brick facades in different distances; this playfulness is further enhanced by the steel concrete balconies and the cast stone shades. The colouring of the outside is reflected on the white-dark brown-grey communal spaces of the interior. A further colourful touch has been added after the erection of the building, as residents cover the balcony railings with different materials.
9
Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Information Technology
Pázmány Péter Catholic University Faculty of Information Technology
6
Architect
Balázs Mihály
Company
Balázs Mihály Építész Műterme Kft.
Built in
2004
Photo
Polinszky
Tibor / KÉK, Polgár Ádám / KÉK
The church operated university founded in 1993 has units in both Budapest and in Piliscsaba, a small town not far from the capital. The latter place gives home to a campus converted from a former barrack. The new buildings were designed by Imre Makovecz, master of the Hungarian organic architecture, and his pupils. Designing the building of the Faculty of Information Technology was a similarly complex challenge but resulted in a completely different solution. The neighbourhood is quite heterogeneous, in the neutral proximity there are 10-12 storey, hundreds of meters long block houses, and to the south the once prestigious, now deteriorated 19th century houses of the Práter Street can be found. The sophisticated, accurately sectioned building appears to be a closed block, and represents an independent, characteristic and new voice that serves an unusual, even elite purpose in this neighbourhood. The white, plastered strips of embayments look like they were cut with a knife out of the red brick facade so typical of Balázs. The dry rationalism of the outside is paired with a systematic plan based on practical considerations.
10
Kesztyűgyár ("Glove Factory") Community Center
Kesztyűgyár ("Glove Factory") Community Center
5
Architect
Alföldi György, Sárkány Csilla, Kolossa József
Company
Rév8 Zrt.
Built in
2008
Photo
Polinszky
Tibor / KÉK
This part of the 8th district is one of the poorest neighbourhoods of the city with a very high crime rate. The general rehabilitation programme launched in 2005 involved the renovation of Mátyás square in accordance with the residents, as well as the redesigning of the former glove factory into a community house. The architects coordinating the rehabilitation programme simplified and adjusted the 19th century building; the main new additions are the two staircases. The colours applied in the interior, the freshly plastered surfaces, the rustics of the rough concrete and the easiness of the shapes provide the building with an unusual strength, giving it a refreshing look among the deteriorated residential buildings. Important features of the interior are the prints on the glass walls that were created using the paintings of a Roma painter teaching at the nearby school. When choosing the materials and shapes, the architects’ main concern was the future “heavy usage” of the building.
Orczy Forum
5
Architect
Kévés György, Földvári Éva, Kovács András
Company
Kévés és Építésztársai Zrt.
Built in
2006
Photo
Polinszky
Tibor / KÉK
Orczy Fórum has by now become an individual quarter with nine buildings. Its history began with the hotel designed at 135 Baross Street that eventually failed to come to existence due to financial difficulties on the investor’s part. Coordination of the work was taken over by the designing architect studio that acquired partial ownership in the project. In the past fifteen years, 505 apartments, two office buildings and a parking building were erected on the premises under continuously altered programmes adjusted to the ever-changing demand. Even though not many people were optimistic about the project because of the bad reputation of the neighbourhood, the architects turned out to be right, and the quarter became well-populated and popular. Materials and shapes were chosen to fit the long-term plans: the colourful brick facades are not only pleasant to look at, but they are durable as well.