THE CITY LIVING TOGETHER WITH THE DANUBE City development along the River Danube in Budapest

Balázs Szeneczey J.D.Vice-Mayor of Budapest for City DevelopmentMoscow, 12/12/2014

Until the 19th century

AT A GLANCE

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19th century

FACING THE DANUBE

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20th century

BACK FOR THE DANUBE

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21th century

DIP YOUR FEET IN THE DANUBE

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Spatial structure → characters

Historical city centerTransport: multi-level enbankments (motorway and rampart), track-bound transport system, ports (sightseeing and cruise ships, boat restaurants)Riverside walkways and representative spacesIntensive, metropolitan residential areas

Industrial zoneTransport: motorway, railwayBrown-field areasCity management territories (power plants, waste water treatment plants)Recreational areas: sport fields, green spaces, islandsIntensive residential areas

Suburban zoneCity management territories (drinking water supply)Natural and conservation areasSuburban residential areas away from the riverside

Danube city center

industrial zone

suburban zone

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South-City center, 1990

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↑ Millennium City Center: residential areas, offices and culture↓ Technical university campus & IT offices

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BUDAPEST 2030Long-term Urban Development Concept

Study on Danube riverside development[[urban management

& development projectsurban planning(masterplan)

• transportation (on water, at riverside)• recreation (green system, public spaces)• real estate (housing, offices, logistics)• defense etc.

• urban design• networks (promenades, transportation etc.)

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Main goals

I. Network establishment

Creation of accessible Danube and its public utilisation along the entire lenght of the riverside.

Sustainable transport development: regional professional ship transport, cruise ships, better use of international waterway.

II. Sustainable use of territory

Functional expansion of riverside territories with brown-field development.

Making advantage of natural endowements of the Danube.

Development and decentralization of touristic and recreational riverside areas along the Danube.

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45

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76

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Tasks & projectsI. Network establishment

Contiguous green space development:Rehabilitation of streams and their environment Rehabilitation of under-used riverside areas, creation of

new onesGreen surface revitalization and accessibility improvement on Danube islandsQuality public spaces and parks along downtown riverside

Public space development:Bridgehead areas, Danube riverside representative spaces City center public space rehabilitation in riverside

catchment areaTraffic reducement on enbankments to improve access to

the river

Regional transport development: Development of track-bound community transportLocal and agglomeration professional ship transport International waterway cargo shipping

realizedunder constructionplanned

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Tasks & projectsII. Sustainable use of territory

Heritage protection and tourism destination development:

UNESCO world heritage sites Development of spas and bathsSettlement of cruise ship statusRiverside „landmark” cultural development Industrial monument rehabilitation and cultural

development Territorial expansion of tourism destinations along the

river

Complex development of residential areas and economic zone:

Development of urban sub-centresBrown-field developmentComplex development of city center, historic urban areas Complex (social and technical) rehabilitation of residential

blocksIntegration of riverside environment

realizedunder constructionplanned

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Conclusions: tools

1. Legal• the right of use of waterfront properties belongs to the Municipality of the City of Budapest• Danube Bank Building Regulation• regulations of ports

2. Financial• property valuation with complex city development projects• differentiated utilisation of ports, income reinvestment

3. Spatial• Project development• preparatory work e.g. site recovery and rehabilitation, infrastructure creation

4. Institutional• strategic cooperation between the actors of the government and public administration• new type of cooperation: forum on political and city development level• Project companies• cooperation with civil society organisations carrying out attractive micro projects

Thank you for your attention!

Balázs Szeneczey J.D.szeneczeyb@budapest.huH-1052 Budapest, Városház u. 9-11.