The results of the international design competition for the urban planning and public space development of the Rákosrendező Master Plan—one of Budapest’s largest urban development projects—were announced this spring.
In the international competition, the joint entry by Superwien urbanism zt gmbh, Építész Stúdió (Architect Studio), and Objekt Landscape Architecture Office tied for third place. Mobilissimus also participated in the team’s work as a mobility and urban structure expert: András Ekés collaborated with Superwien on developing the concept. The goal of the multi-round competition was to lay the foundation for a new urban district that simultaneously addresses housing, climate adaptation, and mobility challenges, while creating a liveable, sustainable urban environment in the long term on one of Budapest’s largest brownfield sites.
What makes this competition unique is not only the scale of the project, but also the fact that, for the first time in a long while, Budapest is undertaking the design of a completely new metropolitan sub-centre. The goal of the development is to create approximately 10,000 new apartments, significant public parks, new community amenities, and an urban structure based on fixed-route public transportation. During the competition, the jury placed particular emphasis on sustainable mobility solutions, the quality of green space systems, and how each concept could create a genuine, human-scale urban environment.
A central idea of the entry by the team led by Superwien was that the new district to be created in Rákosrendező should not function as an isolated development but should be organically connected to Budapest’s existing urban fabric. Building on the existing railway infrastructure, the concept proposed a compact urban structure oriented toward pedestrian and public transportation, in which everyday amenities are accessible within a short distance.
Masterplan
Mobilissimus’s professional work focused primarily on the development of a multi-modal mobility system. A key consideration during the planning process was how to develop the neighbourhood in a way that does not generate disproportionate car traffic, but rather relies on public transportation, cycling, and walking.
The competition entry’s transportation concept proposed a multi-level, integrated public transportation system for Rákosrendező. The backbone of the system consists of the railway and the extension of the M1 metro line, which branches off in two directions: one branch would lead toward the Marcheggi Bridge intermodal hub, while the other would run through Csáktornya Park to the area around Erzsébet királyné road, connecting with the circular railway lines and trams. The goal was to create a network that provides direct connections not only to the city centre but also to Zugló, Angyalföld, Újpalota, and Újpest.
The plan also allocated a significant role to the development of surface public transportation. Tram Line 3 would have reached Rákosrendező and Angyalföld via a new route, while the extension of Trolleybus Line 74 would have created a new cross-town connection between the northern districts of Pest. During the development of the bus network, the team also examined several new and alternative connections, particularly to improve access to metro stations, residential areas, and intermodal hubs.
One innovative element of the concept was a demand-responsive, fully electric minibus system that would operate as a complement to traditional services. These smaller, flexible vehicles would also serve to improve connections between areas separated by rail lines, while being able to operate on routes linked to pedestrian and bicycle corridors. In the system’s logic, the team envisioned a people-centred solution similar to the Kavalir service in Ljubljana.
When designing the transportation system as a whole, a key goal was to ensure that the various modes of transport do not operate as separate elements but rather form a tightly integrated network. The concept is built on minimal transfer distances, well-organized intermodal connections, and modern, zero-emission vehicles. The design proposal was based on the premise that future urban mobility is not about a single technological solution, but rather the intelligent coordination of various transportation systems.
For Mobilissimus, it was a particularly exciting experience to work on an international team where a modern approach to mobility was an integral part of urban planning.