At the end of September, the international project City Memories concluded with a closing conference in Stockholm, in which KÉK participated alongside the Budapest Municipal Archives through the Budapest100 project. 

Supported by Creative Europe, the City Memories – Visualizing change in three European Capitals project involved experts from the city archives of Stockholm, Budapest, and Copenhagen. Its aim was to develop new methods to cater to the demand and modes of use for architectural plans and drawings, making them more accessible, comprehensible, and engaging for targeted user groups.

The Contemporary Architecture Centre (KÉK) has collaborated with the Budapest Municipal Archives almost since the inception of Budapest100: the archive supports and assists our researchers annually, providing copies of plans for the opening buildings, which are typically among the most striking elements of building history exhibitions. The City Memories project provided an opportunity to refine and renew the methodology through which building history research conducted during Budapest100 is integrated into the archive's collection in exchange for these plan copies. The research compiled by volunteers is continuously uploaded to the Budapest100 website, where it can be freely browsed, and as part of our collaboration with the BFL, these materials will soon be available on the Budapest Time Machine platform, allowing sources and derived knowledge to appear on one platform. The project also strengthened cooperation through the establishment of archival workshop systems – these sessions were supplemented with archival walks, sharing practical information related to research, making them even more enjoyable for volunteers.

During the project, BFL not only collaborated with KÉK but also with the Ybl Miklós Faculty of Architecture at Óbuda University. Architecture students create digital 3D models of Budapest buildings during their courses, utilizing plan materials available in the BFL. These models will also be featured on the Budapest Time Machine, offering users a closer look at historical buildings and aiding students in their understanding.

Following partner meetings in Budapest and Copenhagen last year, the project concluded with a three-day event in Stockholm, in which Sipos András, head of department, chief archivist, senior advisor, Telek Ágnes, chief archivist, advisor, Kún Emese, chief archivist, and Brunner Attila, deputy head of department, chief archivist from the BFL participated. Budapest100 was represented by current project leaders Grócz Bíborka and Szij Barbara (KÉK), as well as Szerencsés Rita, a former project leader and expert validated by URBACT.

On the first day of the three-day event, we toured the Stockholm archive's plan repository and became acquainted with their sub-project focusing on research into female builders through a methodological workshop. The second day featured the closing conference at the ArkDes building, where all partners reported on the achievements over the two years (Rita Szerencsés presented on behalf of Budapest100), the lessons learned from collaborative work, and future perspectives. The Copenhagen sub-project aimed to encourage architecture students at the Royal Danish Academy to utilize plan materials more extensively, thereby supporting sustainable design and urban development. The Stockholm sub-project focused on researching female house builders, enhancing their visibility within the database, and broadening the dissemination of synthesized information from diverse sources. The conference concluded with a celebratory dinner at Stigbergets Borgarrum. This museum, showcasing the lifestyle of a 19th-century bourgeois family through furnishings, was founded in 1929 by Anna Lindhagen, a Swedish social democratic politician and women's rights activist, and the house remains a venue for gatherings. On the third day, we explored Stockholm's iconic City Hall, followed by a city tour with archive staff responsible for educational activities, and lastly, visited the emblematic city library currently under renovation.

A detailed description of the project, the results of the Swedish and Danish partners, and the methodological guides created by the Budapest partnership can be accessed here.