Rév8 — the organisation implementing the urban development plans of the Józsefváros Municipality — commissioned us to redesign a series of raised beds on Krúdy Street. 

the street and nearby Lőrinc Pap Square were rebuilt to create a greener, more pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood. The existing 11 planters, made from wooden planks, had deteriorated over the years. The brief was to create sturdier versions and incorporate seating, transforming them into small social hubs along the lively pedestrian street.

Together with Rév8, we held workshops to explore design ideas and material options. In the end, the best solution was right in front of us. During construction, the old basalt cobblestones from the street were piled up, waiting to be removed. We decided to reclaim them on site to build the planter walls. Basalt cobblestone is a material strongly associated with Budapest, making it a perfect fit for the historic downtown. At the same time, reusing it reduced the carbon footprint of the project to almost zero and extended the stones’ lifespan with a new purpose.

It was a small intervention, but a meaningful one for us — a chance to leave our tiny fingerprint in the heart of the city. Since then, it’s been lovely to see people enjoying the benches.