Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled plans for a new mixed-use project in Budapest, Hungary. 

Called Zugló City Centre, the new scheme has won the architectural design tender to develop the Zugló City Centre in Budapest. 

Set to be located in Budapest’s 14th district, the new proposal integrates new civic spaces surrounded by nature and comprises residential units, retails and office functions on a site of nearly seven hectares between Bosnyák Square and Rákos Creek. 

The project, developed in phases by Bayer Construct Group in Hungary, will begin construction early next year and is scheduled for completion in 2029.

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The new scheme is defined by the surrounding urban fabric of the district’s avenues and parks, the project incorporates new public squares and gardens to connect with the re-established natural ecosystem at Rákos Creek. The project creates a network of interconnected gardens and plazas tied with restaurants and cafes, shops, apartments and offices as well as a new medical clinic and town hall.

"It is a great honour for us to have won the architectural design tender for the development of Zugló City Centre. The project will create one of the greenest and most sustainable neighborhoods on the Pest side of the capital," said Gianluca Racana, Director of Zaha Hadid Architects.

"The new city centre, organically linked to the surrounding area and Rákos Creek, will equally offer residential, office, commercial and leisure services which will form a harmonious whole with the large green areas and community spaces that will be created." 

"The complex development will also pay tribute to the architecture, culture and history of the beautiful capital, Budapest, while paving the way for the future with state-of-the-art solutions," Racana added.

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Zugló City Centre is shaped around several future-proof solutions aiming to reduce energy consumption and emissions while enhancing the quality of life for the local community. 

With this goal, the design incorporates insulating green roofs as well as the collection, storage and reuse of 90,000 cubic meters of rainwater per year. 

The orientation and composition of the buildings are defined to contribute to naturally regulate temperatures within the centre, decreasing summer peaks by up to 6 degrees compared to average temperatures in downtown Budapest.

ZHA stated that "to achieve these goals, the design includes nearly 35,000 square meters of communal green space, shade trees and ponds to establish a new park that will be the third largest in the district." 

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The plans also include a centralised plant controlled by smart systems and powered by renewables, which will reduce energy consumption compared to buildings using traditional heating and energy supply.

Integrating extensive pedestrian zones and new bike paths in the heart of design scheme, the project aims to encourage urban micro-mobility by connecting living, working and recreational spaces within short walking distances. 

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This is determined by detailed transport impact assessments together with micro/macro simulations. The surrounding infrastructure and road networks will be improved and include the creation of 12,000 square meters of new landscaped areas, according to ZHA.

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With Zugló City Centre project, ZHA extends the natural ecosystem of Rákos Creek by creating a new ‘green spine’ which includes the planting of 900 new trees and defines the central axis of the City Centre design. 

This will transform from urban plazas and gardens into natural parkland at the creek, enabling all those living in the 14th district to easily connect with nature.

ZHA will work with international landscape architecture studio LAND Srl and BuroHappold Engineering for sustainability and engineering on the project.

Project facts

Design: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
ZHA Project Principal: Gianluca Racana
ZHA Project Director: Maurizio Meossi
ZHA Project Associate: Cristina Capanna
ZHA Project Lead Designer: Bogdan Zaha
ZHA Competition Team: Millie Anderson, Sara Criscenti, Harry Spraiter, Shi Qi Tu, Carlos Bausa Martinez, Pierandrea Angius, Anat Stern, Vishu Bhoshaan, Henry Louth, Federico Borello
ZHA Project Team: Zsuzsanna Barat, Sara Criscenti, Shi Qi Tu, Damir Alisphahic, Alessandro Cascone, Benedetta Cavaliere, Juan Pablo Londono, Gabriele De Giovanni, Luciana Maia Teodozio, Yaseen Bhatti, Lara Zakhem, Alexandra Fisher, Dilara Yurttas, Rotem Lewinsohn

Consultants
Consultants Competition Stage:
Landscape: LAND Italia srl
Sustainability & Energy: BuroHappold Engineering

Consultant Design Stage:
Local Executive Architect: LIMA Design
Landscape: LAND Italia srl
Sustainability: ABUD
Urban Planning: Obeliszk
Mobility & Traffic Simulation: Innoqalea
Road Design: Mobil-city
Fire & Safety: Fireeng

Top image © Brick Visual

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