Many Budapest residents know little about the city’s built heritage, the history of heritage places, the residents who live there and their stories. Budgetary constraints resulting from austerity meant the need for residents to step in and strengthen the local cultural offer.
Budapest100 is an annual two-day festival with the support and participation of residents and volunteers to reveal and celebrate the city’s built heritage. The project uses tangible and intangible heritage associated with the city’s built environment to fight social isolation and strengthen local communities. Through guided visits of houses, visitors and residents share stories and knowledge and get to know each other. The festival strengthens local communities, keeps the stories of the residents alive and raises awareness about the value of heritage and a well-designed built environment.
The Budapest100 festival started in 2011 at the initiative of the Open Society Archives and the Contemporary Architecture Centre in Budapest (KEK), to celebrate houses turning 100-years old. Since 2016, the event has been structured around a given theme or location. Every house is of interest, not only those with outstanding architectural value or the ones protected by law. Residents develop a programme with the support of volunteers and the festival organisers. Through installations and stories told by residents and volunteers (passionate urbanists, architects, and researchers) visitors learn about the history of the place and what makes it remarkable. Whilst listening to stories and reading the history of the house, visitors start to talk to each other. The festival has become a platform to start discussions on urban issues and explore possible solutions with the local population. Residents are encouraged to continue organising community gatherings after the festival in order to sustain the momentum created during the visits. The festival is made possible by the work of 150 volunteers annually. Every year more than 50 public and private buildings are open to visits.
Budapest100 is an initiative of the Contemporary Architecture Centre in Budapest (KÉK) and the Open Society Archives. Both organisations oversee and support the implementation of the festival each year. The Municipality of Budapest (Cultural Department, Architectural Department, Mayor’s cabinet, City Branding Agency) supports the project. Currently 13 people work on the project part time with about 150 volunteers. Individual experts (architects, sociologists, urban planners, designers, historians) work as advisors. The festival would not be possible without the participation of owners and residents. Each year various public and private institutions are partners of the festival (museums, archives, libraries, associations, media, universities, business).
In 2019, roughly 15,000 people participated in the festival. 59 houses were opened to the public, with the support of 164 volunteers. Residents report that the festival is full of experiences and lessons learnt and that it gives them a feeling of uniqueness and importance. They also report that the festival helps them to get closer to their own stories, their buildings and their neighbourhoods, making them feel responsible for them. Following Budapest100 festivals, followup community actions have been organised by residents (picnics, concerts). Renovations and smaller architectural changes to the buildings are also reported.
Find more about the project here
