This paper focuses on the issue of urban sustainability with regards the new Urban Development Concept of Budapest. Author first introduces the concept of sustainability and investigates the question, how sustainability can be achieved by cities. A comparative analysis about the mechanisms of urban development, especially suburbanisation in the US, Western and Eastern Europe is provided. Finally, Budapest and its urban region are investigated and possible methods for diminishing the impacts of suburbanisation are formulated. In addition the Urban Development Concept of Budapest and its possible effects is also analysed.

Taking into account the most important lessons of urbanisation at international scale it is concluded by the author that most problems that challenge urban sustainability are caused by suburbanisation. This is also true for the East Central European post-socialist cities, where mass out-migration of people started after 1990. Most pronounced was the process in the East German federal states, but other cities Like Budapest, Prague etc. were also heavily impacted by suburbanisation. The questions are put forward how suburbanisation can be slowed down, and what can be the alternatives for suburban life. In this regards, the long term Urban Development Concept of Budapest also formulates several measures and possible strategies, which are introduced in the document.

Metropolitan Research - Városkutatás Kft.
Hungary
http://www.mri.hu
Mr. Iván Tosics (director), tel. + 36 1 217 9041

01/02/2004

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Mr. Iván Tosics

research

Urban Policy

Urban environment