Csepely-Knorr Luca: Barren Places to Public Spaces. A History of Publick Park Design in Budapest 1867-1914 (Budapest, 2016)
Public Parks and Public Park design in the Second Half of the 19th Century
intentions, Paxtons Birkenhead Park became an example to follow also in its architectural features. As well as its multifunctional layout, he also used the divided road system in his first public park design, Central Park, New York in 1857.129 Various pictorial representations of Central Park were published throughout Europe, which helped it to become one of the most famous examples of urban green spaces in the world.130 Another decisive example for public parks in Europe was the reconstruction of Paris under the direction of Haussmann. Haussmann created a deliberate and rational system of parks linked to the road and other infrastructural systems. Along with the redevelopment of the existing parks, Haussmann also wanted to create new ones, and linked these ‘green islands’ with wide boulevards containing generous green spaces as well. Twenty-four small squares were also built, following the British example; this was most probably influenced by Napoleon III, who spent his exile in London in the 1840s. However, the squares in Paris did not follow the British example in terms of public use. Napoleon wanted to exceed the British capital in terms of a democratic green policy. While the British squares were closed, the Parisian ones were - according to Haussmann - "open to every child, rich and poor as well".13' Haussmann was proudest of the interlinking green system, among his achievements in Paris.132 Although these squares were mostly small, and their informal style, often referred to as ‘miniature English landscape gardens’, attracted strong criticism later, Haussmann’s systematic thinking became an example to follow. After the appointment of Haussmann in 1853, the ‘Service des Promenades et Plantations de Paris’ was founded a year later, and Jean-Charles- Adolphe Alphand133 became the head of it. The theory, style and appearance of Paris parks followed the principles of Haussmann and Alphand. The generous concept of the green system created ‘green islands’ all across the city, and the elements of this infrastructure were arranged according to a hierarchical structure.134 At the top of the hierarchy were the publicly accessible royal woodlands, the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes, which were in the outskirts of Paris. The first one served the Western parts of the city, while the second the Eastern districts. The second level consisted of the smaller public parks, within the structure of the city, namely the Parc Buttes- Chaumont, Parc Monceau and Parc Montsouris. Small urban spaces - designed after London’s squares and crescents, but contrastingly open to everyone - served as "green Salons for the middle-class".133 The fourth hierarchical part of the system was the chain of connecting Boulevards. To create a unified appearance, a set of street furniture was designed by Gabriel Davioud. The Bois de Boulogne, Paris after its transformation in 18S2-18S8 / J-Ch. Adolphe Alphand, Les Promenades de Paris, Paris, 1867-1873 / BME-OMIKK 36
