Twenty-six teams submitted entries for the Revitaliser idea competition designed to develop and reward ideas for the touristic reuse of abandoned areas and properties that lost their original function. The joint competition of Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) and CheckINN Turisztikai Innovációmenedzsment Kft. encourages Hungarian university students to pick a rust zone spot or building that is not in use and reinvent it around their own lifestyles and creativity. 

The goal of the Revitaliser idea competition is to provide a building or even the entire plot with a new look and function while preserving its original values. Another important consideration is to help the site to be developed integrate back into modern urban or country life and gain long-term local and touristic significance aligned with the principle of sustainability.

Teams from several universities applied, including the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, the Budapest Business School, Corvinus University of Budapest, ELTE, Budapest Metropolitan University, the University of Debrecen and the Hungarian University of Fine Arts. 

The over 25 entries featured a wide range of ideas from all across the country, such as Pécs, Nyíregyháza, Lillafüred, Visegrád, Veszprém and Eger. A large number of the concepts focused on Budapest, in particular on Újpest, Népsziget, Csepel and other suburban areas, including several event centres, outdoor event venues and gastronomy and accommodation facilities. 

Five entries were submitted in the ‘Area/Plot’ category, and 21 in the ‘Building’ category, and featured several heavy industrial factory buildings and plots, railway facilities and mining areas. There were also some highly unique concepts, such as a boat trip down the Danube with a route covering several rust zones in Budapest, thematic museums and exhibitions, a diver base, as well as a memorial house facilitating social dialogue.  

Ten projects will be selected for the shortlist by CheckINN and MOME’s professional jury, and will be developed in more detail in the second round with mentoring support from tourism and architecture professionals. The two winning concepts after the second round will be awarded with a grant of HUF 3 million each by CheckINN.