Between Waterway and Railway – Industry along the Danube Riverside in Budapest

Abstract

The most significant current discussions regarding Budapest’s urban development are the restructuring of former industrial areas and redesigning the Danube riverbank. The research approaches this complex question by giving a historical overview of the industrialisation and deindustrialisation of the Danube zone, analysing the changing relationships among river, city, industry and railway. This urban area, situated between the waterway and railway, could be the first to develop to achieve sustainability. The paper highlights the importance of the re-use of urbanised sites and buildings, a green mobility concept based on the existing railway system and the natural and historic values of the riverbank. Moreover, in this time of increasing globalisation, the recognised local identity becomes a principal component of urban development.