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
Gizella (today s Vörösmarty) Square was predominantly a space for strolling, parallel to József Square. Its popularity was also due to Kugler s bakery. The regulation plans and the creation of the first green area happened between 1871 and 1874, according to some sources.286 However, the Board of Public Works presented the issue of the creation of a new garden to the Municipality in 1894 and again in 1897.287 In 1898 and 1899, the professional journals discussed the fact that the square was to be transformed following the example of Erzsébet Square.288 The final plans and the budget was accepted by the Board in 1901,289 A plan from 1899 shows not just the layout of the green spaces, but also the detail of the cast iron fence, which gives an insight into the fittings used to divide the ornamental green spaces from the surrounding pedestrian areas, strongly restricting the usage. In 1902, the General Assembly of the Municipality decided to erect a statue of the poet Mihály Vörösmarty290 in the square, which led to the redesign of die green spaces.291 After the unveiling of the statue in 1908, Antal Palóczi recommended the regulation of the squares building lines in order to create a rectangular square.292 Flower bed in József nádor Square in 1892 Kertészeti Lapok, 1892. p. 292. / ADT József nádor Square, unknown photographer, after 1869 MESZL Budapest Collection Károly Rüde, Landscape design for the transformation of József nádor Square, 1913 HU BFL XV. 17.d.lS14.a. 5/1.1 91 Unveiling ceremony of the statue of Palatine Joseph / VU 1869 p. 256. / ADT
