Nearly 300 people completed our questionnaire about creating school spaces in front of the Deák Diák Music Primary School and Secondary School and Budapest School at II. János Pál pápa tér.

Since 90% of respondents support the project, the Józsefváros Municipality has decided to implement both school spaces this autumn.

The project is part of a broader traffic safety programme:

• In spring 2026, a 30 km/h speed limit will be introduced in the Csarnok and Népszínház neighbourhoods.
• This will be followed by road narrowing measures at intersections around II. János Pál pápa tér to improve pedestrian safety.

The survey ran from 9 February to midnight on 4 March 2026. A total of 285 people responded:

• 89.5% support the school space in front of Budapest School
• 90.2% support the school space in front of the Deák Diák Music Primary School and Secondary School

Among residents living on the square and in the surrounding streets, support exceeds 80% for both locations.

You can read the full analysis of the survey here.

What is Tactical Urbanism?

The areas in front of the schools will be redesigned using low-cost, flexible solutions, allowing us to adjust the layout later based on real-life use.

Tactical urbanism is a fast and adaptable approach in urban development that allows cities to test ideas before implementing more complex, long-term changes.

A good example is Bacsó Béla Street, where we first introduced planters, movable chairs, and painted surfaces. The current fully redesigned public space builds on the lessons learned from these earlier interventions.

Green Areas and Street Furniture

Respondents suggested planting trees and creating in-ground planting beds at both school locations. While this is not possible within the current project, we will install planters filled with a variety of perennial plants. These will not only improve the appearance of the area but also provide habitat for pollinators.

Parking

There are currently around 500 parking lots at II. János Pál pápa tér. Due to the school space developments and traffic safety improvements, approximately 20 lots will be removed.

Although most respondents own a car, the majority arrive at the square on foot or by bicycle.

Some respondents suggested removing surface parking entirely, while others proposed restricting car traffic in front of the schools.

Several respondents highlighted recurring parking conflicts during performances at the Erkel Színház. In the evenings, theatre visitors occupy most nearby parking spaces, making it difficult for residents returning home from work to find parking until late at night.

One proposed solution was to introduce residential parking zones—similar to other parts of the district—to prioritise local residents and encourage the use of public transport. However, it is important to note that the square and its surrounding streets are owned and managed by the Municipality of Budapest.

Other suggestions included using the theatre’s service parking area and relocating buses to the parking lane in front of MVM, where there are no residential buildings. This could free up more parking spaces for residents along Luther utca.

Proposals for a comprehensive redesign of the square’s traffic system will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

What’s Next?

The layout of the school spaces and the pavement designs will be developed together with students from the two schools. RÉV8 is currently working on this process. Final plans are expected by early summer, with construction likely to begin at the end of summer.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@rev8.hu.