Debrecen4U
June 15, 2026
Online Survey Launched on University Square Redevelopment
The Main Building of the University of Debrecen and the park in front of it will celebrate their centenary in six years’ time, with preparations for this milestone already in progress. As part of these efforts, the façade renovation of the Main Building is currently underway; work on the eastern and southern façades has already been completed, while refurbishment of the northern façade is in progress and will be followed by work on the western side.
The upper section of the square was transferred to the University some 20 years ago and is home to the statues of István Tisza and Kunó Klebelsberg. Interestingly, apart from the small stone-paved surface, the driveway in front of the University was originally surfaced with asphalt. The lower park section remains city-owned, although this month the University was granted an indefinite asset management right following several years of negotiations and a unanimous decision by the municipal assembly.
In its statement, the University emphasised that it intends to redesign the square ahead of the approaching centenary and better meet contemporary needs. The plans aim to improve accessibility, making it easier for people using devices such as pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles to move through the area. The intention is also to create an environment where people will enjoy spending time throughout the year—during autumn, winter and spring, and, depending on temperatures, in summer as well—while preserving the visibility of the University’s Main Building.
The park also includes the tree-lined walkways outside the tall hornbeam hedges. These areas will remain unchanged and may even be enhanced with noise-buffering vegetation and shaded seating along the Dóczy Street side. After restoration, yew trees that have been damaged in recent years by chlorinated water from the fountain would be relocated to sections of the park further away from the fountain.
The University stresses that the refurbishment is subject to significant restrictions because the square forms part of a protected heritage environment. As a result, the original French-style garden character must be preserved.
A French formal garden is based on symmetry and geometric design principles. Its defining features include carefully clipped hedges and shrubs, orderly pathways arranged along horizontal and vertical axes, and decorative fountains, statues and flowerbeds. Consequently, it is not possible to introduce woodland areas, additional trees, pergolas or other structures into the square, as the long-distance view of the iconic Main Building from University Avenue must be maintained. The amount of green space cannot be reduced, nor can the extent of paved surfaces be increased. Refurbishment falls within the framework of Hungary’s Act LXIV of 2001 on the Protection of Cultural Heritage and is subject to a heritage notification procedure regulated in detail by Government Decree 449/2025 (29 December) concerning heritage protection rules.
Following extensive consultations with the City of Debrecen as the owner of the park area, a conceptual development plan has been prepared. Under this approach, the refurbishment could be carried out in several phases while allowing other parts of the square to remain in continuous use. The statement further highlights that, in line with both the City’s requirements and the intentions behind the project, no extensive concrete paving will be introduced. Instead, permeable surfaces made from natural Hungarian stone aggregates are envisaged across most of the area.
“This is not a multi-billion-forint reconstruction project but rather a refresh of the space. Even so, it represents a significant investment. The University’s own landscape architecture team will carry out the main works, just as it already manages the park’s maintenance,” the statement notes.
With considerable interest and debate sparked by published visualisations, the University of Debrecen is launching an online survey to gather a larger volume of statistically reliable feedback. All are encouraged to spend around ten minutes completing it so that their views can be taken into account when final decisions are made.
The online questionnaire is available in Hungarian via the link provided by the University.
Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen városa (Facebook)
