The Bethlen Square Theater is being renewed
International cooperation for more livable cities
The Erzsébetváros Local Government has joined the international project “LIFE BauhausingEurope”, launched in 2023, in which participating local governments, universities, professional, cultural and community development organizations jointly explore ways to renew urban buildings and public spaces. Partners from four EU member states – Croatia, Hungary, Latvia and Spain – take part in the project.
Objectives in Erzsébetváros
The aim of the project is the technical modernization of the Bethlen Square Theater building, including upgrading its heating and ventilation systems, renovating and making the service areas accessible, and aesthetically renewing the theater’s community spaces. The interventions are expected to save 30% in energy.
Greening the theater’s immediate surroundings and creating a community space are also important elements, which is a real challenge in a densely built-up neighborhood with very little green and community space.
The developments will be planned and carried out together with those most affected – the theater and its audiences, local residents, local civil organizations, institutions and businesses – taking their needs and ideas into account.
The long-term goal is for the renewed theater to become the cultural center of the neighborhood and a welcoming community space for local residents, students studying here, local small businesses and visitors from further afield hungry for culture.
Long-term goals
The project, based on international and local cooperation, goes beyond renovating a theater: it puts into practice the long-term European goals of renewing the urban environment in a comprehensive way that is sustainable environmentally, economically and socially. Locally, it will mean lower emissions and lower energy bills, while we gain more beautiful, friendlier and more usable spaces and the local community grows stronger.
Last but not least – as with all similar pilot projects – it is also important that the partners share the knowledge and experience gained with other stakeholders and with European Union decision-makers.
“Beautiful, sustainable, together” – about the New European Bauhaus
The project to renew the Bethlen Square Theater is part of the European initiative called the New European Bauhaus (NEB), which supports local, small-scale, cost-effective, inclusive and sustainable solutions that involve local people, small communities and resources.
The “LIFEBauhausingEurope” international project in numbers
·57 000 European citizens will use the renovated, more attractive, more comfortable, energy-efficient public buildings
·76 000 European citizens can relax and recharge in renewed outdoor environments
·4 067 m2 of old buildings are renovated in 5 cities in an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly way
·With the developments, the partnership saves a total of 572 GWh of energy per year (enough to light the district’s streets for 570 years, or to heat the district’s public institutions for 13 years)
·115 tonnes less greenhouse gas enters the atmosphere each year.
·Nearly 80 GWh of renewable energy will be produced each year.
·Total cost of the project: EUR 4 624 142, 60% of which is financed by the European Union’s LIFE program
·Of this, the cost for Erzsébetváros: EUR 502 097
·Total duration of the project: 2023-2027 (48 months)
PARTNERS
EuroVertice Consultores (ES) – Coordinator https://www.eurovertice.eu/
Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (ES) https://www.upct.es/
Ekodoma (LV) https://www.ekodoma.lv/
Pro Progressione (HU) https://proprogressione.com/
Croatia Green Building Council (HR) https://gbccroatia.org/en/
Municipality of Cartagena (ES) https://etsae.upct.es/
Municipality of Blanca (ES) https://blanca.es/nuevaweb/
Municipality of Adaži (LV) http://www.adazi.lv/
Erzsébetváros Local Government (HU) https://erzsebetvaros.hu/
Municipality of Varaždin (HR) http://www.varazdin.hr/
Development agency North – DAN Ltd – Affiliated Partner https://dan.hr/
Regional Federation of Municipalities from Murcia Region (ES) – Associated Partner http://www.fmrm.es/
Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia – Associated Partner (ES) http://www.carm.es/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE program under grant agreement No. 101113886. The Bauhausing Europe project is solely responsible for the content of this document, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
