European Capital of Culture - Budapest

According to the decision of the European Parliament, a German and a Hungarian city will be assigned Cultural Capital of Europe for 2010. In Hungary, there are seven cities competing for the title, among them is Budapest.

The city of Budapest has adopted 5 main projects all of them relating to the Danube. By utilising the Danube as creative, useable, mouldable space, and with the help of new constructions, events, installations, actions and celebrations, the river will be linked to the circulation of the city and will be turned into a community space.

1. Water festival
The water festival will be organised in 2010 for the first time but will hopefully be repeated every two years afterwards.
The festival should include traditional art programmes (e.g. theatre performances, exhibitions, installations, musical productions, literary programmes, Land Art projects), however, scientific and environmental programmes and conferences will be organised too.

2. River of light



The Danube will be illuminated all across Budapest. The energy needed will be provided by the Danube; the traditional old water mills will be set to work again.

3. Pedestrian and bicycle crossing on the Danube



I think the title of this project speaks for itself. Although I don’t quite see how do they plan to let ships pass...

4. "Positive" structures on the river



One of the most exciting structures will be a glass bubble on the south side of Margaret Island, attached to the break in Margaret Bridge and serving as a tourist information centre, as well as a view terrace and café in fair weather.


5. "Negative" structures in the river



“Negative islands" will be formed in certain points of the riverbed. These cylinder shaped creations, which will reach down to the bottom of the riverbed and have walls of varying height depending on the water level, will function as new public spaces.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Budapest but you may introduce the program of the competing cities.

@lice

I was just wondering how they planned to construct that pedestrian-cyclist bridge... Surely it must be a full height bridge otherwise ships won't be able to pass.

It also occurred to me that last year we had a pontoon bridge (made out of boats attached to each other) across the Danube. I don't quite remember anymore for how long but it must have been for at least a week. So what did they do with the passing ships and track boats? I didn't see an impatient queue on either side of the pontoon although the Danube has considerable traffic throughout the whole year.

Sophie

Actually I'd much rather have them construct a new bridge for car traffic...

Sophie

Hi all, the proposed pedestrian-cycle bridge is to be constructed in the same manner as the "Blade-of-Light" bridge in London. If sited at the same heigth as the others it should not hinder river traffic.

Hi elin, the milennium foot bridge in London crosses the Thames from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (south side) to "The Monument " (north side). It was conceived by the architect to look, when lit at night, like a "blade of light" crossing the river. Six days after opening it closed for repairs which took a year.

Hi elin, the millennium bridge featured in a film "There was a Crooked Man" last night on tv2. Halfpenny bridge...you ol' romantic you. Eye have many hazy guinness induced memories of walking over that one.
Bridgism, is there such a thing?

For your information another city in Hungary called Pécs has been elected as the official European City of Culture for 2010

Either Pecs or Budapest, I can't wait to visit it in the 2010!!!!!!!!!!!11

hi all and welcome in budapest

http://budapest.travel.googlepages.com/home

i find in the google !