Crown Jewel of Urban Regeneration

Budapest’s southern waterfront has undergone a remarkable transformation with the creation of the National Athletics Centre, a multifunctional stadium that bridges elite sports, sustainable design, and urban regeneration. Commissioned by the Hungarian State and designed by NAPUR Architect Kft., this architectural landmark marks the starting point of the broader Budapest Southern City Gate development — a long-term urban planning initiative aimed at revitalizing the capital’s post-industrial landscape.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

A Vision Rooted in Legacy and Renewal

Rising from the site of the former Vituki industrial estate in Ferencváros, the stadium is a bold architectural statement and a civic gesture. Its form — inspired by the “crown” of athletics, often dubbed the “queen of sports” — reflects both grandeur and accessibility. Completed in time to host the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the stadium originally seated 35,000 spectators and was configured to contract post-event into a more community-centric facility.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

This dual-purpose vision was brought to life in 2024, when the temporary upper stands were dismantled, making way for the “Open City Ring” — a 15,000-square-meter public recreational zone featuring jogging tracks, street workout areas, and food stalls. This innovation transformed the elite arena into an “Open Arena”, the first of its kind worldwide, accessible 365 days a year to citizens and sports enthusiasts alike.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Sustainable Design at Its Core

The project is a benchmark in sustainable urban architecture. The stadium was built on a reclaimed brownfield site and now stands as a symbol of ecological restoration and public reintegration. Only 10% of its total floor space is enclosed and heated, reducing operational energy demand. That heating is provided exclusively through geothermal energy, further minimizing environmental impact.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Importantly, the structural design prioritizes material efficiency. The venue’s steel space-frame roof uses optimized geometry and tensile cable technology to create a floating, open-air effect — both visually striking and functionally efficient. The temporary seating from the 2023 event wasn’t discarded but reused for the 2024 Paris Olympics, demonstrating a commitment to circular construction principles.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Reweaving the Urban Fabric

Beyond the stadium, the development includes a pedestrian and cycling cable bridge to North Csepel, new embankment walkways, boat piers, and integrated flood protection. These enhancements form an ecological and recreational corridor connecting Rákóczi Bridge to Kvassay Lock, helping to stitch together fragmented areas of the city and expanding Budapest’s green infrastructure.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

This new “southern cultural and sports gateway” invites public interaction, fosters tourism, and encourages year-round use by the local population. Since 2025, residents have embraced the two-hectare leisure zone where grandstands once stood, using the site as a recreational haven along the Danube.

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Photo credit: Molnar, Jozsef

Global Recognition and National Pride

The National Athletics Centre has not gone unnoticed. At the 13th Architizer A+ Awards, a prestigious global architecture competition, the stadium won the Public Choice Award in two categories: Stadium & Arena, and Sustainable Sports & Recreation Building. Selected from among entries in over 80 countries, the Hungarian facility was recognized by both a professional jury and an international public vote, cementing its place among the world’s top-tier sports architecture. This double win not only highlights the architectural and engineering excellence behind the project but underscores its resonance with citizens around the globe — as a symbol of forward-thinking design, environmental responsibility, and inclusive public space.

NAPUR Architects Ltd

NAPUR Architect Ltd is a family-founded, (1992-) multi-generational intellectual and professional architectural workshop. Since its inception, the company has been involved in architectural design and has accumulated decades of experience as a lead designer in turnkey projects, from concept to completion.

The firm has numerous outstanding architectural works, has received many architectural awards, and is committed to architectural quality. Their mission is to execute the design of turnkey projects of unique, unrepeatable architectural appearance and function for both domestic and foreign clients.