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 plans for the childrens play-area was signed by Keresztély Ilsemann in 1897, and the square was constructed in the same year.253 According to research so far, this is the first known plan designed especially for this function in Budapest. The layout was laid out in a geometrical design, the main axis being a decisive element, fitting for the deltoid shape of the square. The central, round space was built on the main axis as well; this was a paved area with three concentric rows of trees. There was another circular element, most probably a flower bed, which also emphasised the main axis. The main and the lateral axis were created out of lawn areas, in the classical shapes of historicism, the edges being emphasised with small trees. The plan has a special significance for two reasons: firstly, it clearly shows that - despite the harsh critique of the next generations - Ilsemann did not insist on the informal, English landscape style for smaller squares. The small green space was created with the biggest possible planted area, and according to a very logical and clear layout. On the other hand, the fact that this was created especially for children, makes the design even more significant. From the reports of professional journals of the period, the creation of other small parks on other, traditional market squares can be reconstructed as well. In 1897 plans for creating a new park on the Újvásártér (today II. János Pál pápa Square) were known. It was one of the major investments of the period, and its size and importance was compared to the Stadtpark in Vienna. The main central element was supposed to be a fountain, the designer being chosen through an open design competition. The building of a kiosk, like the one in Erzsébet Square was planned as well. The four corners of the park were to be used as playgrounds, because - according to the writer of the journal article - Budapest lacked these.254 The park was supposed to be built with large lawned areas, divided by shrubs and trees, without carpet beds. Keresztély Ilsemann, Plan for landscaping Mátyás Square, 1897 HUBFL XV.l 7.d.lS14.a. 8/5.1 The exact plans are currently not known. However, there is a plan which is unsigned and undated, which shows a very similar layout to the one on the cadastral map of 1908. On the unsigned map, the ground plan of the so-called Népopera (today the Erkel Theatre) can be seen, which makes it possible that the plan was created when the park had to be redesigned because of the building of the new theatre in 1911. Both plans show a grand, symmetrical, geometrical layout, created with concentric circles, with a perpendicular path system and wide rows of trees. Both plans show spatially separate areas in the four corners of the square, which were probably intended to be play areas in the original design. On the plan dated around 1911, one of these was used for the new theatre, and another one was most probably turned into a grassy sports area. In the main circular area on the 1908 plan could be the fountain mentioned in contemporary newspapers, but as the central element on the redevelopment plan is a carpet bed, it is unknown if the fountain was built. The small parks, created in the traditional market squares have significance for several reasons. Firstly, their construction was based on a comprehensive plan, aiming to create green spaces in the most densely built-up areas of the city centre, where the greatest demand occurred. On the other hand, new and appropriate style and functions appeared as well. These new formal layouts became crucial from the point of view of bigger parks too. The appearance of these verifies that the process of specification of urban green spaces was already happening at this time. The new, more geometrical layouts, and the fact that the designers wanted to leave the informal style of ‘miniature landscape gardens’ behind, shows the beginning of a new period in terms of design theory. The large open spaces of the childrens play-areas, only divided by trees planted in a geometric system shows a similarity to the Kinderpark in Vienna, designed especially for this function.255 Keresztély Ilsemann, Plan for landscaping Mátyás Square, n. d. HU BFL XV.17.d.lS14.a. 8/5.2 78
