Budapest100 is an annual festival organized with residents and volunteers to celebrate the city’s built heritage. The project uses tangible and intangible heritage to fight social isolation and strengthen local communities. Through guided visits and exhibitions, visitors and residents share stories and knowledge. The festival is a great tool to keep the stories of residents alive and raise awareness about the value of the built environment and thus creating a sense of belonging.
Local
Hungary
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Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
2022-05-15
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Timea Last name of representative: Szoke Gender: Female Nationality: Hungary Function: program director of KÉK Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Bartók Béla út, 10-12 Town: Budapest Postal code: 1111 Country: Hungary Direct Tel:+36 70 254 0744 E-mail:budapest100@kek.org.hu Website:https://budapest100.hu/
Budapest100 is a weekend festival co-organized by local residents and hundreds of volunteers to highlight the values of tangible and intangible heritage.
Budapest100 was started in 2011 by the Open Society Archives and KÉK - Contemporary Architecture Centre in Budapest, celebrating houses turning 100 years old. The event quickly became successful. Since 2016 the celebration of 100-year-old buildings is not possible anymore due to WWI, so each year we choose different themes such as the centenary of the Bauhaus or the City Unification 150 years ago. Nevertheless, the main approach remains, expressed well by the festival’s motto: every single building is interesting.
During the weekend residents open their houses and organize programs for visitors to reflect on their own built heritage. Visitors get to know the history of the house through exhibitions and the stories of residents. Visitors explore their own city through a new perspective, while residents explore their connections to their houses and to each other.
The main goal of Budapest100 is to encourage civilian power alongside the built environment as a catalyst. Its broader mission is to initiate a common discussion about urban issues and to strengthen residential communities.
Next to the outstanding quantitative results - more than 600 opened buildings, 2,000 involved volunteers, and about 160,000 visitors -, our qualitative impact could be summarized as
sustainability of the community-driven actions - encouraging residents to continue to organize community gatherings after the festival
volunteers realizing their own initiatives in other fields of their personal or professional lives (strengthened independence and reliability)
spill-over effects on the sector of building restoration/renovation (participating houses are encouraged to apply for grants) and on decision-making and municipality levels (involving citizens in urban planning-related decisions).
built heritage
local communities
personal stories, oral history
volunteering
haritage participation
Although Budapest100 may not have a direct connection to environmental sustainability, we do believe that our activities have a long-term educational impact. By evoking a sense of ownership and belonging, as well as organizing programs by locals mainly for locals, we are encouraging the development of sustainable communities and promoting local tourism. Both the residents and the visitors become more conscious of their environment by getting to know alternative ways of building and heritage management (e.g., taking small actions towards easily achievable goals). By raising awareness of the built heritage, we are encouraging people to reuse and manage buildings instead of supporting new developments which inarguably have a higher negative environmental impact. Studying built heritage in a wider, urban planning and development context can also teach us a lot about how we can find ways toward more sustainable cities. We also support digital knowledge transfer through the openly available research and data on our website. Moreover, we encourage people to use the Budapest100 application developed in 2020, containing all of the annual programs and a personalizable schedule planner for the weekend’s events.
Compared to its outreach and impact, the implementation costs of the project are moderate and thanks to the strong branding value and the stable professional background provided by KÉK, not only the methodology but also the funding is sustainable. Methodological sustainability is based on an organically changing team and an education offering a career path to volunteers and any young professionals working in the field. Many of the team members used to be volunteers themselves. This way, the fresh inputs, ideas, and energies in the team create opportunities ensuring that the project is able to naturally and organically change, renew, and adapt to the ever-changing needs of the city and its communities and face new challenges.
Budapest100 is a celebration of our shared heritage, both tangible and intangible. The joint effort of various urban communities makes the realization of the event possible: by encouraging and showing them ways to get to know their neighbourhood better, they build connections to both its past and its present.
As for the built environment, we are always proud to showcase our city’s spectacular monuments; however, we also aim to feature buildings that may not be in the best condition or may be lacking in architectural value, but could be brought back to their former glory with careful renovation or should be preserved because of their historical significance.
By allowing visitors to walk around the buildings by themselves (i.e, not necessarily on a guided tour), they can discover the smallest charming details and have one-on-one conversations with the current residents. Through the stories of past and current inhabitants, volunteers and visitors gain a better understanding of a neighbourhood's atmosphere and character, and its connections to larger events in our country’s and even world history. Discovering a neighbourhood or a building with a microhistorical approach gives us a more personal perspective and instantly makes it more relatable.
We also provide opportunities to enter facilities that may not be open to the public otherwise. These can range from a state or religious building to an ancient stone cellar or even someone’s living room with a breathtaking view of the city. Such spaces can teach us a lot about how people lived in different times in the past, how architects and urban planners (and, of course, the owners) thought about exterior and interior space as well as the placement of a house, and how the city evolved over time.
One of the main principles of Budapest100 is that all of the programs can be visited free of charge. We provide a free program booklet and a free mobile application containing all of the programs. The final research materials about the buildings are openly available on our website, thus sharing knowledge about Budapest’s urban history including architecture, culture, and society. We encourage civilian activity, engaging residents in the discussion of heritage preservation and establishing a way to bigger renovation projects in historic buildings. We are raising awareness about the citizens’ role in preserving cultural heritage even on a small scale. We encourage low-threshold activities, e.g. a picnic or other community gathering in the courtyard of the building, a concert by a local musician, orchestra, or chorus. We do not select buildings based on their historical significance, aesthetic value, or their current condition, we rather choose a theme and try to open as many houses as possible from different urban areas, thus showcasing a variety of neighborhoods and a variety of aesthetics. Ever since its greater urban development in the 19th century when it became one of the main metropolises of Europe, Budapest has always been home to a diverse crowd of people - whenever possible, we encourage foreign citizens as well as religious or ethnic minorities to showcase their culture, share their unique perspective of the city and participate in the programs.
Each year, we work with approx. 200 volunteers annually with a wide variety of backgrounds, ages, and professions. The project allows volunteers to gain new skills, and knowledge about the built environment and urban processes but also have hands-on experience in architecture research, building photography, and initiating community programs.
Annually we work together between 40-50 residential communities. We always involve residents in the organization process and the development of the programs and we encourage them to share their personal stories, By involving older residents, we are also strengthening intergenerational connections and social coherence. By familiarizing themselves with the history of their house and also getting to know their next-door neighbors we build a stronger residential community. The building becomes personal: inhabitants are more inclined to take care of their close environment (e.g. plant a garden, install a bench, paint a couple of railings, etc.) and even apply for funds for larger renovations. Another positive and long-term impact of the project is the continuation of community events organized by the residents and their increased involvement in local governmental and/or civilian activities.
Not least the project attracts approx. 10.000 visitors/year, for whom we provide free access to heritage, and cultural programs and also a platform for starting a dialogue about our surroundings.
When we started the project, there were no similar initiatives in the city. Ever since we have been working on raising awareness of heritage values and giving inspiration for other initiatives. As a result, now there are many walking tours that focus on oral history, and social media groups where residents discuss problems to make their building, street, or even neighborhood a nicer place to live. Many of these were started by former Budapest100 team members or volunteers so the spill-over effect of the project is quite impactful.
Budapest100 is a project for everyone due to its simple design, its easily enjoyable character, and not least the fact that the built environment around us is something so fundamental that can connect a wide range of stakeholders. The interested and involved groups range from the elderly neighbor to a family with kids through students and professionals dealing with urban issues to decision-makers such as the mayor of Budapest or even EU policy-makers considering the project a good practice.
Both the historical research and the newly made personal connections evoke a sense of belonging in the residents, strengthening their local identity, their collective memory, and a general sense of community. During the organization process, volunteers are able to gain skills in conducting historical research, developing and realizing community programs together with the residents, broadening their knowledge about their city, and enhancing their public speaking skills by holding presentations and leading urban walking tours. For heritage professionals, Budapest100 can provide a special insight into the everyday challenges of managing built heritage as well as a platform for dialogue. Our recently established conference is also an occasion for architecture and heritage professionals, students, academics, and the general public to share and discuss research results, ideas, and projects related to historical, current, or even future urban developments. And since we are working on a city level and involving a significant number of resident communities, volunteers, and visitors the project is a great platform and tool to raise awareness of both the values that should be better appreciates and the problems residents face that should be better addressed on the policy and city governance level.
All adds up to the overall mission of the project: bringing together people to celebrate the built environment around us and find joint solutions to emerging challenges.
During the design and implementation of the project, we collaborate with architects, landscape architects, art historians, and sociologists among other professionals coming from various disciplines.
In addition to professionals directly interested in heritage or urban-related issues, we cooperate with public institutions such as the Budapest City Archive and universities, as well as academics in the framework of our annual conference.
In addition, our volunteers are coming from a wide range of professions with a joint interest in our surroundings and common heritage.
Last, but not least, the project strongly builds on civilian knowledge and oral history connected to heritage as well.
The most efficient way to measure the results and impact of the project is to see the number of houses (40-50 buildings annually, more than 600 in total) , visitors (10-15,000 persons annually, approx. 160,000 visitors in total) and volunteers (150-200 annually, approx. 2,000 in total).
The number of open houses shows us how many local communities we reach with tools and methods promoting participatory management, working towards good and shared governance and setting an example for how to make heritage more accessible and inclusive.
The number of visitors shows us how much a cultural festival can achieve as a format for raising awareness of built heritage and its values.
The number of volunteers helps us to see how many people can contribute to promoting a shared knowledge society connected to cultural heritage.
The number of research materials available openly on our website (approx. 600 houses) also contributes to a shared knowledge society and preserving the collective memory connected to built heritage.
The programs organized in each open building (200-250 annually during the festival weekend) include multidisciplinary community events (exhibitions, concerts, performances, talks, lectures, street art, gastronomy, visual arts, etc.) that help us build new audiences, encourage creativity and raise attention to heritage.
Residents report that the festival is full of experiences and lessons learned and that it gives
them a feeling of uniqueness and importance. Through hands-on activities, they also report that the festival helps them to get closer to their own stories, their buildings, and their neighborhoods, building ownership and civic responsibility for their own environment and communities. Also, a tangible success is that many apartment blocks started repeating community actions in a self-organizing way following Budapest100, resulting in renovations and smaller architectural changes or organizing a yard picnic or concert.
The innovation of Budapest100 lies in its simplicity. Residents open their houses for a weekend and organize programs for visitors reflecting on their own built heritage. Visitors get to know the history of the house through installations or listening to stories of residents, supported by a massive number of volunteers as researchers and program organizers. Visitors explore their own city through a new perspective, while residents explore their connections to their houses and to each other.
It is quite a simple idea but that’s why it works - adaptable, easy to understand for every stakeholder group, therefore a very inclusive way of promoting heritage participation and community engagement.
Of course, Budapest100 does not stand alone. There are similar concepts in Europe and worldwide. The most well-known initiatives are the Open House Network and the European Heritage Days. There are two crucial differences between Budapest100 and the other similar initiatives: 1) the involvement of residents and 2) having a strong social focus in addition to the architectural one. These initiatives are about showcasing outstanding architecture for all to experience (mainly in public buildings). For Budapest100 every house is interesting, not only those with outstanding architectural value or the ones protected by law. The combination of the three pillars (built environment regardless of outstanding value, strong involvement of communities, and volunteers from varied backgrounds) makes Budapest100 unique in the EU context.
The methodology utilizes project management tools and guidelines to promote participatory management and an inclusive approach to heritage in the process of organizing the event and designing the right framework for the engagement of local communities and volunteers.
The preparation of the event, the involvement of volunteers, fundamental research, and overall communication are done by a 15-member team working part-time. Based on the chosen theme for the year, the research coordinators compile a list of buildings based on archival documents and other sources. The volunteers who are selected based on filling out an online form, meet every 2 weeks to participate in a mentoring program providing them the necessary skills and knowledge to implement the project.
Firstly, volunteers deliver invitations to the residential houses on the list and start conversations with the locals. The addressed residents are invited to a meeting, where the organizers explain what it means to join the program. The residents and the volunteers realize a variety of community programs together. Beyond these, workshops and discussions are held (mostly for professionals and decision-makers) about urban planning issues and new approaches to city development. Since 2022, we also organize a professional conference open to all audiences around the topic of the given year as well as a full day dedicated to walking tours.
The prime moment of the organizational process is the Budapest100 weekend, which usually happens in May: a weekend celebration of the built heritage and the people who fill it with life. After the festival, the team organizes evaluation meetings both for the residents and the volunteers. The organizers’ principle is that they do not provide financial aid to realize the programs, but they help the volunteers and the residents with infrastructural and relationship capital. The engagement rate is very high despite the financial conditions.
Due to its simplicity, the methodology of Budapest100 can be adapted to a variety of locations. The achieved results show that Budapest100 is a successful method in building communities, easily adaptable to other city contexts as we have been experimenting with it both on a local and international level.
The festival’s community-building efforts aim to support young people that are more conscious, willing to act for their neighborhood, and think in the scale of a city. Creating common experiences is a tool to overcome the isolation that is so common in urban areas. Moreover, the program aims to become a professional platform, that is able to start discussions about the relevant urban problems of the festival, shows possible solutions and that does this process through inclusive and participatory planning.
It also draws the attention of tourists, which can be another factor to consider for cities interested in bottom-up tourism development.
The program’s method lends itself to easy adaptation by other cities. The organizers are convinced that the success of the event in terms of its numbers and media attention is already a signal that it is worth sharing it with other European cities.
In conclusion, Budapest100 is easily transferable because:
it is based on a simple idea - opening buildings
relatively small budget
clear and defined structure ( 3 level - volunteers, residents, buildings)
built heritage as a tool for community building
wide spectrum for implementational changes to the local contexts
High branding potential - festival frame allows a wide range of audience to connect on different levels while experimenting with more challenging topics like empowerment and community- building
And in addition during our URBACT project we have developed different guidelines and templates for local adaptations.
Despite the fact that it contributes to more sustainable development processes and preservation of already existing values and heritage, the involvement of local people in the life of cities often becomes a problem nowadays. As an answer, this project is highlighting a new approach as a solution and possibly an alternative model of urban governance that enables better management of resources towards a more sustainable and inclusive progress (e.g. human resources, maintenance of the built and natural environment, protection of heritage, etc.).
A very varied and intergenerational group of volunteers and residents work together during the process which fosters social cohesion as they have to think together creatively and organize a program while discovering the facts and stories hidden in their houses and streets. During the several months of participation, citizens learn new ways of interacting with each other and their environment, and of seeing their values. This way citizens become involved and dedicated to maintaining and improving their own environment and even investing more effort in finding long-term solutions. On this basis preservation of common heritage and history becomes ensured, thus strengthening not only local but European identity as well.
We hope to give an answer and solution to the challenges (co-governance, better management of resources, preservation of common heritage, social disengagement, sustainability issues, etc.) cities face globally as a result of a massive increase in the world’s urban population, the digital shift, and not least the environmental crises.
