Boros Géza: Statue Park - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2002)

Witness Square

by two externally identical buildings. They will be harmonised with the mock facade in architectural style, but they will be smaller buildings of normal proportions. This will create the spatial effect as conceived in the original design: the new buildings will serve as a counterpoint highlighting the monumentality of the mock facade. The fronts of these buildings facing the square will serve as theatrical scenery, as does the mock facade, so as to enhance the period atmosphere, but the rest of the dual edifice will be designed in today's architectonic style. The interior "will offer something different from what the visitor might expect after seeing the rigid symmetry of the facade built in 'Socialist- Realist style’. Paradoxically, the interiors of both buildings will be exterior spaces-, the streets, squares, bridges and other architectural details of a pseudo-city,” according to the description accompanying the design. Incorporated in these two atmospheric interiors will be cultural, tourist and catering units aiming to make an extended stay here worth the visitor's while, so that an outing does not simply involve a walk around the Statue Park. The dual buildings will offer a selection of period exhibitions, film shows, books, music CDs (Beit oft Commu- niim, etc.) and souvenirs.

The most salient architectural symbol of Witness Square will be the tribune: opposite the facade of the Statue Park will stand the terraces built on the

■ The pedestal of the toppled statue oft Stalin in 1956

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