English

It is an old dream of many Hungarians for Budapest to host the Olympics. The country with its ten million inhabitants has a representative share of Olympic medals. Many think though, that Budapest with two million residents is too small to organize the world games. Rio will host the 2016 games, which fact gave rise to a new spirit of dynamism in Hungary.

The main location would be Csepel Island, at the Southern part of the capital. Recently published city development strategies already consider the 2020 Olympics. Currently the Northern end of Csepel Island is the largest coherently unconstructed area of the city, displaying many advantageous qualities. The choice of location is also in accordance with the river development plans of the Danube.

There is an unusual compliance between Csepel and the city government in the question of the 2020 Olympic tender. Planned developments focus on the Danube, meaning that the river would be the axis of events and connected services, beginning from Hajógyári Island, throughout Downtown, to the Northern peak of Csepel Island. Currently this area is the property of 12 owners, among them the Spanish real-estate development company Martinsa-Fadesa. A recent study examines the area considering the intentions of investors, the Budapest Olympic Movement (BOM), the district and the city. Based on the concept of the company NAOS Design Consultants, the program was elaborated by BFVT Ltd. and Mu-Hely Zrt.

Imre Ikvai-Szabó vice city mayor emphasizes that if the plans are realized, the century-long isolation of the Csepel area and its island-quality ceases to exist, making the region an integral part of the city. At the same time this would open the way to one of the largest riverside development programs, key to the growth of Budapest. This requires the cooperation of Fadesa, BOM, the district and the city. And as illogical as it may seem, in such an economic situation, making long-term plans is necessary.

„Nowadays the city turns towards the North, while the market turns South” - explains András Balázs Süto, architect of NAOS Design Consultants, pointing out that in this case a downtown-size area is concerned, with promising, yet unused possibilities. According to the plans, this area could give place to the next city park of Budapest directly connected to the water-bank forest.

The Island-peak project covers the development of the Northern peak of the island and the area on the Eastern side of the main road. Besides the Olympics, the core ideas of the project are large green spaces directly connected to the natural environment, water, sustainability, densely populated areas and highrise buildings. The latter could be the symbols of 21th century Budapest.

The project outlines a multifunctional area. Its planned structure relates to Central Park in New York, and Canary Wharf in London. The whole area North of the main road would be a park, containing a number of Olympic buildings, such as the swimming center, the gymnastic hall and the tennis courts. According to the plans, the area South of the crossroad and East of the main road is characterized by a delicate use of different heights and densities, with gradually decreasing heights towards the river.

Water is not yet an organic part of the city, however, the new plans would connect the water-system to the area, thus creating a fusion of the ideas of garden city, dense city and water-city. An Olympic avenue leading towards the center of the area would create a special atmosphere, and serve as an Agora. The idea is outstanding, since it would mean the establishment of the worlds only inner-city kayak/canoe course.

The rejuvenated city area would be thus organically linked to a number of important, exciting and fast-growing parts of Budapest, such as the developing Millenium City, Duna Passage or Duna City. Architectural visions govern the development of these areas, associated with the names of well known architects as Finta József (Millenium City), Sir Norman Foster (Duna Passage) and Egeraat (Duna City).