Dr Hrvoje Krstić

Osijek, Croatia

Dr Dina Stober

Osijek, Croatia

Since 2016, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek has been conducting undergraduate studies in architecture and urban planning, which have been completed by six generations so far. Initially, the programmes offered relied on external cooperation with teachers from Zagreb, Mostar, and the mobility of teaching staff to Ljubljana, Mostar, Pécs, Novi Sad, Zurich, etc, to ensure the quality of teaching, research and education. This international experience has enriched both the research and teaching oeuvre. The invitation from the Institute of Architecture from the University of Pécs, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology to participate in the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in the autumn of 2022, enabled a greater number of students to participate in the international multi-day programme and to establish stronger connections between the universities of Pécs, Dortmund and Osijek.

The pedestrian streets, the historic core of the city, an undiscovered garden, international collaboration, as well as the visits to key cultural destinations in Pécs and the surrounding area, organized by the

Dr Tamás Molnár and the Institute of Architecture, presented a challenging and attractive urban task for students from Osijek, who responded to the competition and applied for Erasmus mobility for the first time.

We gave presentations to students that were related to our research interests and urban planningenergy efficiency in urban areas and the historical genesis of Osijek. We thought that it was important to raise awareness that around 65% of global energy demand is generated in urban areas, and that urban areas are also considered responsible for approximately 75% of carbon dioxide emissions. In the future, large urban areas will need to take measures to deal with the growing energy needs of populations while maintaining and improving a healthy environment and decreasing climate change. The urbanization process should be seen not only as a thermal risk to the population and the environment but also as an opportunity to expand green areas and implement new green solutions. Therefore, it is recommended that urban landscaping and new green solutions be implemented primarily in the warmest urban areas. Currently, cities are mainly focused on improving energy efficiency, but the next step towards sustainable energy management will require a significant increase in the use of renewable energy. Achieving energy efficiency is an important precondition for the implementation and greater use of renewable energy sources. Using principles of nature-based solutions (NBS) provide possible solutions to these problems. NBS is the measure for urban ecosystems restoration and rehabilitation and is presented as an instrument for urban heat island (UHI) effects mitigation. Numerous studies have been published on the importance of green infrastructure as a tool for improving urban areas, and we presented key evidence and case studies so students could incorporate this into their urban solutions for Szepesy Street.

Our visit to the University of Pécs, also allowed us to see the technological results they have achieved, where we can see common topics and areas for cooperation. A large 3D print centre with state-of-the-art technology and a doctoral study programme in architecture are opportunities that we will try to use for our additional education, and more intensive cooperation through cross-border projects and joint teaching activities.

Basis

Pécs is one of the oldest towns in Hungary and one of the richest in listed historical monuments. It serves as both an administrative and cultural centre of the Transdanubian region. The city has a strong cultural importance for Hungary in music and fine arts. The current population is around 138 000, with a significant proportion made up of German and Croatian minorities, who play a determining cultural role in the life of the city.

The history of Pécs goes back to the ancient Roman times when it was called Sopiane and served as the centre of the province of Valeria in the Roman Empire. The main historical site of the city is the early-Christian cemetery where numerous burial structures originating from the 4th century can still be seen. The cemetery has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000 and is the largest early Christian burial site east of Rome. It is unique in that there are many different burial buildings and chambers within a small area. Some of the burial buildings, such as the Peter and Paul Burial Chamber, the Burial Chamber of the WinePitcher and the Early-Christian Mausoleum are also beautifully painted. King Stephen I founded the Hungarian state in 1000AD, and the bishopric of Pécs in 1009AD. The religious centre of Pécs is still located around the Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace. In medieval times, the city was called Quinque Ecclesiae referring to five churches. The first university of Hungary was founded in 1367 in Pécs. The remains of the medieval city wall can still be seen in many parts of the downtown area. One special part is the round bastion called Barbican at the former western gate of the downtown. During the Ottoman occupation of Pécs the main square was radically changed. On the order of Pasha Gazi Kassim, the former St Bartholomew church was torn down and replaced with a mosque. This mosque was extended in the 1930s according to the plans of Nándor Körmendy and now serves as a Catholic Church in the downtown.

In the 19th century, the city of Pécs became an industrial city with the founding of numerous factories, including the Zsolnay Porcelain Factory, a leather factory, and even a sparkling wine manufacturer established by the Littke family. The eastern part of the city became a centre for coal mining and the western part had a Uranium mine. New urban areas were built for the large number of mine employees, including the Szigeti-district and so-called Uranium-city. In the southern part of Pécs “gardencity” was developed that meant for the first time, a real suburban zone with detached houses and gardens. The area south of garden city was developed further with the construction of large numbers of prefabricated blocks of flats. At the same time, the city was spreading towards the Mecsek hills as well.

2010 marked a special year for the city, as together with Essen in Germany and Istanbul in Turkey, Pécs was designated one of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC). In connection with the ECoC several construction works were carried out in the city, including Széchenyi Square, which is the main square of the city, and other neighbouring public areas. The basic requirement for the renewal of the main square was to preserve existing values and to extend them to create a more usable public space. Water was introduced as a new element in the form of pools and fountains. The main square is well frequented by the city’s inhabitants day to day as well as being used for numerous public events. However, there is a lack of green areas in the main square.

The design area of the workshop is located in Szepesy Street. This street directly connects the main square to the Museum Street (Káptalan Street) and, further on, to the Cathedral. The street is a low-traffic zone that means that only residents, loading and emergency vehicles can drive into Szepesy Street, making it a pleasant and safe area for both pedestrians and cyclists. The area is mainly composed of public buildings on the eastern side of the street, starting with the Archaeology Museum, then a hotel, and finally a nursery and elementary school. There is only one private house. The western side of the area is characterized by the Vasarely Museum to the north and to the south it is defined by the building housing the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, with the project site located in between. The project site and building belongs to the Historical Department of the University Library. The building housing the historical collection of books was designed by József Piatsek in 1830 and it is one of the most beautiful Classicist buildings in the city. When it opened in 1832, this was the first public library of Hungary and housed a collection of books that was originally established by Bishop György Klimó in 1774. There is also a large garden that belongs to the library. These inner gardens are one of the hidden treasures of Pécs, and historical maps from the 19th century show many green areas around buildings in the downtown area. Some of these former private gardens are now open to the public but most of them not. The garden of the University Library is one of the largest among these green areas, and due to its proximity to Széchenyi Square, it could be used for different purposes, extending the public services that are already available in and around the main square.

The workshop focuses on the large, green garden area of the University Library building and Szepesy Street. The main square of the city is Széchenyi Square to the south, and another important area of the historical downtown is Káptalan Street, which has the nickname Museum Street, due to the large number of museums located in or around it. Most of the museums are part of the Janus Pannonius Museum as well as collections belonging to the Bishopric of Pécs.

Two roads connect the main square and the Museum Street. Nowadays, Hunyadi Street is primarily used, even though the footpaths are relatively narrow and there is car traffic. The other connecting axis is the Szepesy Street that has a similar pavement to the main square. The stone cladding symbolises that this small street belongs entirely to the pedestrians. Unfortunately, the Szepesy Street is not really used by the people who are crossing the downtown. The street is generally quiet, even on hot summer days. There are rarely cars using the street. There are public buildings along almost the entire length of the street. The 19th century Classicist building of the University Library, designed by József Piatsek, is located halfway up the street. The building houses the so-called Klimo collection that is the historical library collection founded by Bishop György Klimó in 1774. The history of the University of Pécs dates back to 1367 and the university is planning a University History exhibition in the building in the near future. The garden of the library is only occasionally used, for instance, during the Light Festival of the city. Previously the employees of the library tried to establish a herb-garden and later there was a plan to have different urban furniture in the courtyard for reading. The other building facing the garden is nowadays used as a storage room and a maintenance workshop. This building was originally a greenhouse and also the bookbindery was located here at one stage. The plot has an entrance from the library building but it also has a separate entrance from the Szepesy Street too. There are many challenges but also many possibilities associated with this location.

Main questions to be answered by the design proposal:

• What kind of architectural intervention would encourage people to use Szepesy Street more frequently?

• How can the visibility of the University Library and its courtyard be increased?

• How could the courtyard of the University Library be turned into a lively place that is used almost continuously by the students, lecturers and community?

• Could the courtyard of the University Library be a place where the important partners of the University have their own area?

• How will it be clear that the courtyard is open and accessible to everyone?

• Is there a possibility to design a new museum axis that connects the already existing museums with each other?

A good final project can turn out to be the right element of the Cultural Puzzle of the historical downtown of Pécs.

23.10.2022 - Arrival

Arrival to Pécs

24.10.2022 – Introduction, lectures, site visit and sightseeing

25.10.2022 – Lectures, group formation and sightseeing

Opening

UP-FEIT Dr Tamás Molnár, chief organizer

UP-FEIT Prof Dr Gabriella Medvegy, dean

UASA-FHD Prof Dr Reinhild SchultzFölsing, vice-dean

Prof Dr Helmut Hachul

JJSUO Dr Hrvoje Krstić, dean

The downtown of Pécs and the project area

Dr János Gyergyák

Guest lecture of FH Dortmund

Prof Dr Helmut Hachul, Prof Dr Reinhild Schultz-Fölsing

Walk to the project site

History of Pécs

Dr Krisztián Szigetvári

Guest lecture of Josip Juraj

Strossmayer University of Osijek

Dr Hrvoje Krstić

Group formation

Basic discussions about the task

Travel to Orfű by bus

Sightseeing in Orfű

26-27.10.2022 – Workshop teamwork

Teamwork of the student groups

Consultations with the lecturers

Sightseeing in the downtown – EarlyChristian Mausoleum (UNESCO

World Heritage), Cathedral and Cathedral Museum

Guide: Dr Tamás Molnár

28.10.2022 – Final preparations, presentation, evaluation

Final preparations of the presentations

PowerPoint presentation and a single poster

Presentations of the groups

Evaluation by the jury Award ceremony

29.10.2022 - Departure

Pécs