Róbert Győri

Fel is út, le is út… (Városaink településhierarchiában elfoglalt pozícióinak változásai a 20. században)

In order to survey the changes in the settlement pattern, this essay compares the results of empirical hierarchy research carried out for the years 1910, 1965, 1995, 2000, with those of the analysis that was made for specifying the quantitative characteristics of urban functions. Considering the results, we can state that 20 th century urbanization did not result in a spectacular increase in the number of settlements with urban functions, and that the structure of the urban hierarchy appeared to be stable for the last century—even if the composition of certain hierarchy levels was altered. We called particular attention to the cities falling back in their hierarchy position (e.g. Satoraljaujhely, Balassagyarmat, Jaszbereny, Mako, Mohacs etc.) Industrialization, agglomeration and tourism were the three major incentives that caused rise within the urban hierarchy in the 20 th century.

A Kisalföld kereskedelmi vonzáskörzet-rendszere 1925-ben

In our study we made an attempt to restore the system of trade gravitation areas of the Hungarian Kisalfold between the two World Wars with the help of administrative papers. At the same time we analysed the change of the situation of micro centres and their role in the XIX century. We can state that the gravitation area map was more colourful in the past. There were many micro centres with a small gravitation area and all along the county borders there were remarkable extended areas that belonged to more than one gravitation centre. From the point of view of the trade gravitation areas the territory of the region was closed and centres beyond the regional border had an unimportant gravitation to the region. For centres in the lowest level of hierarchy the period between the two World Wars was a stabilisation phase. Their importance compared to the era of dualism did not decrease (that resulted only in the 60s and 70s).

Barnamezős területek rehabilitációja Budapesten

The brownfield belt of the Hungarian capital comprises an area of 68 square kilometres where once large industrial production sites were located. Some patches of this zone already show signs of rehabilitation, but generally speaking, any effort of the Budapest brownfield rehabilitation faces formidable challenges. The level of environmental pollution, including soil pollution, is high, housing estates are in bad condition, and the Hungarian state railway system still owns many unused, obsolete, empty and ruined buildings and other real estate within this brownfield area. Spontaneous functional changes are good signs, but they are not part of a planned process and represent often only interim solutions. In addition, they utilise only small parts of the brownfield area. However, this area could be promising for metropolitan development and become an important economic factor in the future. City planners and researchers agree that the time has come to find practicable solutions to change the colour of the brownfields.