László Baán said that the total project, including construction of several other museums and total rehabilitation of the park, will be completed in 2019-2020, at a cost of 220 billion forints (EUR 713m).

Referring to concerns around felled trees and construction in the popular public park, Baan said that “the green area will grow calculated by any methodology” and insisted that “one third of the park is now covered with concrete”. He added that the park’s neglected vegetation would also be renewed.

Concerning details of the project, Baán mentioned that the renewed Transport Museum building at the eastern edge of the park would become the House of Hungarian Innovation, while the Transport Museum will be moved to another location.

The City Park Theatre, destroyed in 1952, will be reconstructed as a children’s theatre according to the original design, while the House of Hungarian Music – Bartók Centre, designed by Fujimoto Sou will replace the Hungexpo office buildings just outside the park.

The new National Gallery will replace the recently pulled down Petőfi Csarnok, following designs by Japan’s SANAA, he said. Baán also said that the Museum of Fine Arts, on nearby Heroes’ Square and of which he is director, will have been renewed by the end of the year.

Photo: ligetbudapest.hu

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.