Dagály Avenue in Budapest

Landscape architects: Máté Pécsi, János Hómann 
Text: Eszter Götz 
Photos: Tamás Bujnovszky 

Amongst the old factory buildings and new office blocks flanking Váci Road, a straight avenue leads to the new Swimming Arena from the underground station in Forgách Street now. Not long ago, this area was still the periphery of the rusty zone where waste was dumped. Now it is a well-conceived and pleasantly shaped avenue implemented with means of landscape architecture. At the entrance to the underground station there is a statue by Péter Gálhidy titled Turbine Leaf: it forms a huge sail-like turbine slightly moved to evoke the site of the former Láng factory, whilst at the first junction of Turbina Street there are metal motifs embedded in the pavement to remind us of the industrial past of the surroundings. At the end of the avenue there are street furniture to sit on which follow organic designs and evoke huge river pebbles that alternate with benches made from timber ribs. The variety of plants here resist the drought and their numerous species range from lush Allium Gigantum through existing and preserved ash-trees to newly planted sycamors and lindens.

Landscape: Objekt Tájépítész Iroda
General design: Főmterv Zrt.
Water utilities, roads: Triaut Kft.
Client: Budapest Főváros XIII. Kerületi Önkormányzat
Main contractor: Market Zrt.