The lower Buda quay (in lower case) is one of the arteries of car traffic in the capital, a function that even the most determined pedestrian and cycling advocates don’t question. In the summer of 2022, due to the renovation of the Chain Bridge, the area became car-free for a month, and we turned the lower buda quay into a temporary public park called “Budai_Alsó”.
The quay, which was closed to traffic because of the renovation, was now a place for recreation, sports and entertainment. Twenty-five picnic tables, a giant children’s sandpit, two fire pits and a herb garden were set up along a one-and-a-half kilometre long section of the riverside in the heart of the city, and were used by the local community on a daily basis.
The area was made more inviting by the seventy-two large container plants from the Főkert, which not only acted as a green island on the asphalt, but also helped to slow cyclists down. The long pathway was divided by painted sports fields and mats. The empty parking spaces served as terraces,and one of the fenced-off sections along the Danube provided space for three animal sculptures, such as an ostrich, evoking the dystopia of urban deserts.
With the Budai_Alsó project, together with our collaborators, we wanted to show how we envision the Danube bank of the future and how simple tools can be used to create a closer connection with the Danube.
