Budapest Car-Free Day / European Mobility Week 2016

Budapest Car-Free Day:

This past weekend, my wife and I took our sons to Budapest's annual "Autómentes Napot" or "Car-Free Day" festival:

The centerpiece of the festival occurred Budapest's grand Andrassy Boulevard, which for the weekend is closed to cars and converted to a pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare:

For almost 2 1/2 kilometers, the beautiful street is filled with food, drink and fun and engaging activities and displays for the public that focus on methods for reducing energy consumption, emissions, and carbon footprint:

The event was a hit, with thousands in attendance:

In the month leading up to the festival, I had the opportunity to volunteer some time and help one of the main organizers, Zsolt Kovács of A-Z Produkció, to help design the arrangement of the exhibits and other facilities for the central area of the event:

Nemzeti Vágta:

Budapest's Car-Free Day coincides with the "Nemzeti Vágta" or "National Gallop" which occurs in the stunning Hero's Square at the termination of Andrassy Boulevard:

The square is closed to traffic and converted for the weekend with into a truly grand horse racing track featuring riders in traditional garb.  It is a spectacular example of how flexibly a well-designed public space can be used:

European Mobility Week:

Budapest's Car Free Day was just one event that was part of the much larger annual "European Mobility Week".   Over 2,000 cities and towns across Europe participated this year.  Hungary was one of the countries with the greatest level of participation, with 214 cities and towns taking part.

  
As described on the event's website, each European Mobility Week focuses on a particular topic related to sustainable mobility.  Local authorities are required to organize activities for their citizens based on this theme. They are also encouraged to launch and promote permanent measures that support the theme.

This year's theme is "Smart and sustainable mobility – an investment for Europe" and focuses on the connection between smart mobility and a strong economy. 

Interesting observations by the event's organizers include:

• Strengthening local economies is a universally popular goal, but one that many feel lies outside of our control as individuals or communities. Research shows, however, that by making smarter mobility choices we can notably boost public finances.
• Studies indicate that cities that promote sustainable transport are at a significant economic advantage over those that favor traditionally fueled cars. People who travel by active transport modes, such as walking and cycling, are not only more productive at work, they also take fewer sick days and spend less time on average in the doctor’s office.
• And the benefits go far beyond better health. Property values in cities with good cycling facilities and efficient public transport tend to be higher, while children who walk or cycle to school perform better in class.
• Prioritising sustainable transport also benefits the private sector. Reports reveal an increase in trading of up to 40 percent in areas where walking and cycling become the norm. In Copenhagen (Denmark), customers who travel to cities by bicycle spend €2 billion per year - more than those who travel by private vehicle.
• From a governmental standpoint, investing in infrastructure for active travel, encouraging public transport use to reduce traffic congestion, and supporting bike-to-work schemes can save public money and boost local commerce.

Summary Part 3: Similarity - Architectural Composition by John Beverley Robinson

Today, we continue our examination of the classic book Architectural Composition, 1908 by John Beverley Robinson.  We've previously discussed Robinson's observations about Unity, and Individuality / Continuity.

Robinson continues with the principle of Similarity - creating power in an architectural composition by repetition of a chosen shape or motif.

Robinson observes:

"To achieve unity, similarity of shape should prevail among all parts of a composition from greatest to smallest, from dome to door panel.  Even in a modest work, a line reflecting another in a different part of the composition, whether interior or exterior, will give a pleasing effect which no richness of adornment could produce.  Similarity of forms of different sizes in an architectural composition is analogous to corresponding musical notes of different octaves.  In the Classical and Medieval styles, this similarity of form is carried into the smallest details."  

Robinson notes that "Medieval uses the repetition of spire and pointed arch forms."  This can be seen in the Collegiate Gothic buildings of the Yale University campus designed by James Gamble Rogers (between 1917-1921) in New Haven, CT.  Here, even the forms of the main building masses repeat at slightly different sizes:

Robinson remarks that, by contrast, "Classical architecture uses regular rows of vertical columns contained by the horizontal lines of the stylobate and cornice. Flutings repeat the orderly line of the columns themselves. Each column is thereby itself colonnaded although with concaves rather than convexes. Every enriched molding is a repetition of vertical lines contained between horizontal lines."  The repetition of orderly rows of vertical elements that are  contained between horizontal elements above and below can readily be seen in facade of the Field Museum of Natural History designed by Daniel Burnham (in 1921) in Grant Park - Chicago, IL: 

Robinson observes that "less perfect styles also show repetition of motives throughout.  I.e. Rococo under Louis XV used the double curve in both plan and elevation."

Robinson notes an important design consideration to keep in mind is that "dissimilarity between parts that have substantially the same function is always disagreeable."  

He reinforces that "the effect of a building is improved if all of the openings are of the same sort, all linteled, or all round, or all pointed.  The same sort of line that is used in elevation i.e. curves or semicircles, may as a general rule be used in the plan to good effect.  Curved roof forms, accordingly, appear out of place over rectilinear plan forms."  Similar curves are repeated at different sizes in the various arched windows, dormers and curved corner facade of this grand apartment building along Andrassy Boulevard in Budapest, Hungary:

In closing, Robinson observes that, generally, "pitches of all roofs of a building should be of equal inclination (there are exceptions). Treatment of both main gables and dormer gables should be the same, at least in general impression." This repetition of roof forms can be seen in Grace Hopper Hall, anchoring a new neighborhood within Baldwin Park in Orlando, FL:

Amazon: Architectural Composition, 1908 (by John Beverley Robinson)