Csepely-Knorr Luca: Barren Places to Public Spaces. A History of Publick Park Design in Budapest 1867-1914 (Budapest, 2016)
The Beginnings - The Urban Development of Pest-Buda and their Public Green Spaces Prior to the unification
English landscape Gardens from him. Further to this they were also related to each other.42 Therefore, it is safe to assume that the intentions behind the designs were based on similar theoretical backgrounds. In Germany, both the Englischer Garten and the public park in Magdeburg were results of a new theoretical writing: Christian Cay Lorenz Hirschfeld s publication, and the Orczy Gardens in Budapest are an early example of this in Hungary.43 Hirschfeld mentions the Public Garden (Volksgarten) among "Gardens whose character depends on special circumstances" in the seventh section of the last of his five-volume book.44 Hirschfeld was convinced that the scenery and understanding of nature can improve the morality of individuals; therefore public parks became particularly important in the life of cities. In his description he emphasised the relationship between the built and the natural environment, and argued that every city needs spaces for the citizens to meet and to enjoy fresh air. To fulfil this he recommended the construction of tree-lined avenues as a minimum, but highlighted the importance of special public parks. He considered both the intellectual contents and the questions of formal arrangement and equipment of parks. From the point of view of design theory the various layers of his educational programme is particularly interesting. His main argument was that these spaces need to be available to everyone all the time. Hirschfeld found it important that these natural spaces can draw the workers “away from ignoble and costly urban pastimes", which makes it possible to create amusement which is cheaper but at the same time socially more beneficial.45 Orczy Garden on the 1885 map of Budapest / HU BFL XV.16.e.2Sl/166 16 Orczy Garden on the Pest regulation plan by János Hild, 1808 / HU MNL-OL S 70 No. 129/2
