Csepely-Knorr Luca: Barren Places to Public Spaces. A History of Publick Park Design in Budapest 1867-1914 (Budapest, 2016)
Public Park design in Budapest during the second half of the 19th Century
The landscaped Klauzál Square, postcard based on a photograph by Károly Divald, before 1902 / Private collection The first market square to be turned into a public green space was Fővám Square, next to the Central Market Hall, in 1898. The square itself used to serve as a poultry market. The area was filled up to the level of the new bridgeheads, and new trees were planned to be planted.245 The green area was created ‘according to the English system’, which meant informal paths, lawns and trees, without the use of flower beds. The transformation of other market squares into public gardens started in the same year. The parks at Rákóczi, Hunyadi and István Squares were built according to the same stylistic principles as Fővám Square.246 The plans were similar to each other from another, very important point of view: according to the proposition of János Csepreghy, the open spaces were supposed to be created in way that could accommodate play areas for children. This shows how public green spaces had started to become functionally differentiated, a process which makes the period discussed even more crucial in order to understand design theory in the 21st century.247 The small public park at Rákóczi Square had special importance, as this was the only green space along the Nagykörút.248 According to the previously-mentioned guidelines, the park was created in the ‘English style’, with trees, bushes and a fountain, but without flowers. It was surrounded by a fence built on a stone plinth.249 A low fence was a regularly-used element in parks. However, it also shows that the grassy areas were not intended to be actively used. The question of ‘keep off Klauzál Square on a 1907 map of Budapest / HU BFL XV.16.e.2Sl/130 the grass’ was an often-discussed topic in contemporary newspapers.”50 It brings the theoretical question into discussion of whether it is allowed to restrict the use of the parks, or should they be open for the flexible use 75
