Rákosrendező Master Plan - Urban Development of a Brownfield Area in Budapest (HU)

This entry is one of the most coherent and high-quality proposals in the entire field, characterised by clear structural thinking, rich content development and a strong, distinctive urban architectural vision.

The planned district is divided into six distinct quarters, each with its own sub-centre, which not only creates a logical and liveable structure in a spatial sense, but is also capable of responding to diverse and changing life situations, household types and user needs.

The public space network along the circular promenade is unified and clear, and creates a distinct identity that is further reinforced by consistent architectural design and the thoughtful use of materials.

The quality of the public space system and green areas is one of the design's greatest strengths: the trio of the railway park, the forest park and the sports park, along with the north-south green corridor connecting them, forms an exemplary urban green structure.

The social acceptability of the 90-metre-tall tower blocks (and their impact on the cityscape) is questionable, so their scale should be reconsidered. The park included in the proposal is less than 15 hectares in size, and the intensive development along the Railway Heritage Park is poorly served.

The transport concept of the entry is outstanding in several areas, particularly with regard to the transport links at Rákosrendező railway station and the management of cycling infrastructure. The pedestrian-friendly street network, shared-use streets, adequate connectivity and the well-designed gateway concept are all forward-looking elements.

At the same time, a critical shortcoming is the lack of cross-cut public transport links, as well as the underdesigned pedestrian and cycle connections, which only partially mitigate the dividing effect of the railway. The construction of multi-storey car parks and the lack of bike-and-ride facilities run counter to the expectation of a car-free district.

Based on an assessment of sustainability criteria, the proposal is based on an ambitious and, in part, well-substantiated environmental concept, particularly in the areas of energy supply, application of PCED principles, climate studies, the 'sponge city' approach, and the integration of blue-green infrastructure at neighbourhood level.

At the same time, several key areas raise questions: the water utility concept is incomplete, the management of rainwater quality is unsatisfactory, and the mitigation of the heat island effect is unclear due to the dense development and the block structure that hinders air movement. The waste management proposal remains merely a mention. It is not advantageous that the plan, disregarding the possibility of district heating, would essentially base supply on air-source heat pumps.

The development is also exceptionally strong in terms of social sustainability. Alongside a high number of homes, it provides a diverse and inclusive housing mix, and pays attention to housing options that span the life cycle. The inclusivity of public spaces, the incorporation of participative design, the active ground-floor zones and the rich programme offering all indicate that the entry genuinely aims to create a people-scale, socially sustainable neighbourhood, and its creators possess significant practical expertise in this field.

At the same time, a significant shortcoming is the lack of detailed plans for the health and social care facility network, as well as the under-provision of sports and recreation.

In terms of cost-effectiveness and feasibility, the plan performs exceptionally well. The building density is reasonable, the mix of functions is valuable and marketable, and the phasing is logical, taking into account coordination with external developments. The conscious utilisation of roof surfaces, the concept aiming for renewable energy, and the proposal to establish a development agency provide a solid foundation for the project's long-term viability.

At the same time, the plan does not merely outline the final physical state, but also makes proposals for managing the process; its recommendations for pre-use, phasing logic and the 'Handbook of Change' demonstrate a high level of professional awareness.

The Jury considered the entry to be exceptionally strong; its graphic presentation, the documentations's level of detail and the coherence of the technical description clearly placed it among the very best in the field.

Overall, it is a high-quality, strategically well-thought-out proposal that is coherent on an urban scale and offers directions that can be developed effectively during further design.

Its main strengths lie in its urban structure, its vision of a liveable residential environment, and the exceptional quality of its public space system. The most important areas for development are increasing the size of the urban park, strengthening the public transport network, elaborating the environmental and water utility concept in detail, and fully defining the network of social and healthcare services.

The Evaulation Jury awarded the entry first prize in recognition of its high design standard.