Faurest, Kristin: Ten spaces - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2010)
■ Unique juxtaposition*! oft the industrial and agricultural at the Millenáris What makes a space thrive? There are many factors that influence its success, aesthetic quality being one of the more obvious ones, but equally important is that it be easily reached on foot, preferably surrounded by pleasant, quiet streets with attractive ground-floor destinations such as cafés and shops. It was this that Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of Central Park and the father of American landscape architecture — called the "outer" park. Important, too, are those elements or characteristics that give it a strong local identity. Since these spaces are by their nature small-scale and democratic, they have to serve many functions — all of which should be arranged in a way that excludes no one, serves the needs of everyone and prevents conflict between groups like dog owners and playground parents, or lively teenagers and resting pensioners. The role and context of neighbourhood squares has changed along with political circumstance. Under Communism, city planners sought to create spaces suited for sanctioned large-scale parades, demonstrations and commemorations. Spontaneous, unofficial gatherings were not encouraged, nor was aesthetic pleasure in public space design. That era has been consigned to the recycling bin of history, but with the transition to an open society and a free market economy come new dangers 7
