Dec

29

Creation of Public Space in Europe 19th Century - part 3

Filed Under public space, research studies 

creation-of-public-space-in-europe-19th-century-part-3

 

Study Case 2

Monarchic - Millennial Festivities, Hungary

heroes squareBudapest, the capital of Hungary was the host city of the festival. The story behind this millennial celebration was about the 1000th years coming of the Magyar tribe (from Asia) as the solely ancestor of the Hungarian. The initiatives were the Prussian Emperor Franz Joseph I and the Prime Minister Dr. Alexander Werkerle who engaged this celebration as a display case to the world; how magnificent the Kingdom was. Despite the unfortunate fortune the Monarch will meet, Budapest was considered the strongest Capital of Central Europe in the 19th Century.

Behind this powerful monarchical structure however, the parliament (non-royalties) were the one who hold the rein of the actual political conditions. In this case, I would refer them as the Hungarian Bourgeoisie. Every decision was taken over by the Parliament and this is apparently a stronghold of the Monarch. The objective of the Festival then was they wanted to declare to the world how the two powers in the government structure of the country can work together and create a strong nation. This was achieved through the international guests they had, i.e. Ambassadors, Representatives, etc.

The processions of the festivities had taken place mostly outdoor.

  • Firstly it started with the street parade of the representatives from different counties, all in their best dresses and genuine costumes. The common use space served as a media where access is granted through many ways and the spectators were enjoying the processions from the side. They would gather on Heroes’ Square, which was built in honouring the ten great Kings of the nation.[1]

  • The festivity moved to the inner part of the castle, where they hosted an exhibition called the Hall of Industry.[2] This is again a show case of advances that were achieved during that period of time by the nation. This hall was a part of the whole huge scale exhibition that was performed during the celebration. The World Exhibition left a legacy of several permanent structures, including Vajdahunyad Castle (a copy of the original in Transylvania) now the site of the Agricultural and Transportation Museums and the first electric subway line in Europe.[3] The Mûcsarnok (Exhibition Hall), beside the Városliget (City Park), which had been the site of the erstwhile national exhibition, was restored for the occasion, and hosted an exhibition conjuring up the varied faces of its outdoor neighbour a hundred years ago.[4]

  • Out side, in the city park built by János Jankó[5], the parties were also held as the contribution to the wide range of society. This park is inherited by the inhabitants of today as a jewel in their urban fabric, which served as their public and urban space. The spaces they used were as a matter of fact had a more grandeur then its regular elegant character. On that day, everything looked overwhelming. The quality of the spaces created was in the standard of a high level society; therefore the magnificence and brilliance of the space lied in the monarch tradition and culture.

    budhapest.jpg


 

[1] Sisa, Stephen. The Spirit of Hungary

 

[2] http://www.c3.hu/scripta/books/96/04/02lovei.htm

 

[3] ibid 10

 

[4] From Varga, Katalin (ed.), 1896: Magyarország az Ezredévi Kiállítás tükrében (1896: Hungary as Reflected by the Millennial Exhibition). Budapest: Atlasz Publishers, 1996.

 

[5] http://www.neprajz.hu/english/muzeum/index2.html

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