BUDAPEST MASTERPLAN

Rákosrendező occupies a strategic position within Budapest, yet for decades it has functioned as a barrier rather than a connector. Large-scale railway infrastructure, fragmented land uses, and residual open spaces have severed relationships between neighbourhoods, limited access to green space, and disrupted ecological continuity. Our proposal transforms this condition of separation into a framework for reconnection.

At the heart of the vision is the Budapest String – a continuous pedestrian and cycling landscape that links the city centre, Városliget, Rákosrendező and the eastern districts through a single coherent urban structure. More than a promenade or green corridor, the String is conceived as a new horizontal landmark for Budapest: an everyday public infrastructure that stitches together fragmented parts of the city while creating a new narrative for urban life based on walkability, accessibility and social interaction.

The masterplan extends the surrounding street network, public spaces and neighbourhood structures into the site, allowing the development to emerge as a natural continuation of the existing city. Rather than creating an isolated district, the proposal repairs historic ruptures in the urban fabric and establishes a fine-grained network of streets, squares and public spaces that support daily life and long-term adaptability.

Landscape plays an equally important role. A system of parks, green corridors and ecological connections transforms underutilized land into active public infrastructure. Green bridges reconnect habitats and neighbourhoods across the railway corridors, while a new city park integrates biodiversity, recreation and climate adaptation into a resilient landscape framework. Rain gardens, lakes, urban forests and meadows support ecological performance while creating diverse experiences for residents and visitors.

Mobility is reimagined around people rather than vehicles. Walking, cycling and public transport form the backbone of the district, supported by an extended metro line, a new intermodal mobility hub and a network of active mobility routes. Car traffic is carefully managed and concentrated at the edges of neighbourhoods, creating safer and more liveable streets that prioritise social interaction and everyday urban life.

The proposal also embraces the site's existing identity. Selected industrial and railway structures are retained and adapted as community facilities, markets, cultural venues and public anchors. Together with a network of squares and neighbourhood centres, these elements create a strong sense of place while connecting the area's future to its history.

By combining urban repair, ecological regeneration and human-centred mobility, the masterplan transforms Rákosrendező from an infrastructural void into a vibrant and connected district. The project demonstrates how large-scale urban regeneration can create not only new development, but also a stronger, healthier and more cohesive city.

Program: Masterplan, Mixed-Use, Housing, Public Space, Mobility Infrastructure, Urban Park

Size: 85 ha

Location: Rákosrendező, Budapest, Hungary

Client: Municipality of Budapest / Competition Organizer

Type: Competition

Status: Competition Proposal, 2025

Project Team: Henning Stüben, Heechan Park, Narcisa Ionita, Jose villar Pastor, Rosa Fuentes fernandez, Borja Santurino, Andrea Tenuta, Gaspar Canepa