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
Small squares in the city centre "Let us look at (...) each square around the churches, and imagine them turned into promenades with trees, - how different not just the square, but also the surroundings would be."277 The creation of green spaces out of existing open spaces of the inner city was an important element of the landscape architecture of the period under discussion. According to contemporary descriptions, spaces often called public pleasure grounds were functioning as promenades, created for strolling as opposed to the big public parks.278 British squares were crucial precedents for these, but also the French examples, which were fully open and freely accessible public spaces, in contrast to the British format, which originally served as the main model for Haussmann’s reconstruction. These smaller parks, laid out mostly with carpet beds, were often named ‘szkver’ in the Hungarian papers, a phonetic version of the English word ‘square’. József (today József nádor) Square was one of the city’s popular promenades. A bakery in between the square and the neighbouring Gizella Square, run by Henrik Kugler, played a major role in its popularity.279 The creation of the first green space started in 1858, when Kugler wanted to set up a kiosk for selling refreshments. The planning permission documents also contain the plans for the newly-planted layout, and the works were also discussed in the newspaper Vasárnapi Újság.280 The layout was symmetrical, with informal paths embellished by a lawn and shrubbery. Armin Pecz Sr., in his memoirs mentioned that he had also submitted plans for the gardens at the site, which were constructed, but his labour was not paid. However he did not give exact dates for his plans.281 The redesign of the square happened in 1874, when Archduke Joseph’s statue was erected.282 The square was created according to the ideas of the Board of Public Works, with two rows of trees, a main lawn area, like French examples.283 From this period of the square we know a plan by Keresztéiy Ilsemann, and a plan for the redevelopment of the square by Károly Räde, dated 1913. The latter shows small changes. The square had the popular carpet beds as well, which were analysed regularly in the contemporary gardening journals.284 The square was a representative example of the early models for public gardens in Budapest, meant to serve as a place for strolling and awakening aesthetic experience. In 1892 two majolica vases were recommended for placement in the square by the municipal committee responsible for the Promenades of Pest.285 József nádor Square on an 1878 map of Budapest HU BFL XV.16.e.251/23 Survey plan of József nádor Square showing two planned kiosks, 1865 / HU BFL IV.1303.fV-598/1858 90
