Jan Kennis, from the Dutch embassy, said it was "a real gift" that a Dutch artist was picked to design the project that will transform Városháza Square in the centre of Budapest into a new public forum.
The project, called Városháza Forum, will combined the restoration of the existing, but never completed 18th-century baroque city hall with new, futuristic wings. When completed, the city hall complex will act as a micro-city, revitalizing the square for the benefit and enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
Eric van Egeraat acknowledged that the economic crisis had squeezed financing, but said Budapest could not be allowed to leave its city centre empty.
"We have to decide if we'll push this problem onto the next generation," he said.
The plans for the project will be submitted for permits by September. However, because of the debate over financing, the Városháza Forum is likely to start only in 2010 or 2011. It could be completed as early as 2012 or as late as 2014.
Though the capital's chief architect Éva Beleznay was sent an invitation to the presentation, she did not attend.
A model of the project can be seen at the Merlin Theatre, on the edge of the square, for the next month. The theatre will be demolished to make way for the Városháza Forum.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
