Do you remember the first and second roadshow organised by our Budapest team? On 20 July 2018 the third one took place: A round table discussion at Valyo Harbour about the challenges of the Danube and the city. Four main speakers contributed to the panel with their insights into the relation between the river and the city and into possible ways to draw citizens closer to the Danube:
- Dr. Mariann Fonyódi (Department of Urban Design at BME Faculty of Architecture)
- Mr. Miklós Tömör (Valyo – City and the River Association)
- Ms. Cecília Lohász (Valyo – City and the River Association)
- Mr. Zoltán Nyul (BKK, Head of Strategy and Innovation)
The main challenge with the river in Budapest seems to be related with the fact that the Danube is at once a highway and an appealing recreational area. Some spaces are suitable to let people relax along the river banks, such as the Valyo Harbour. However, many other places are hardly accessible to pedestrians.
Community involvement and community planning are regarded as a relevant step in the decision-making process concerning the urban space around the river. Change is not only about funding and permissions (which should never be underestimated!), but also about ideas, attitudes and open-mindedness. These are traits that seem to be present among Budapest’s citizens: the roundtable discussion was marked by a strong participation and long-lasting debates, signals of an increasing social interest in and demand for a liveable city.
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