Hild Prize – György Alföldi

György Alföldi was awarded with the József Hild Prize by the Hungarian Society for Urban Planning (MUT) for his innovative promotion of hungarian urban rehabilitation practice. The award was presented by Géza Salamin, President of the Hungarian Society for Urban Planning at the XXVII. National Urban Planning Conference in Debrecen on the 22nd of October 2021.

György Alföldi is an influential, epoch-shaping, school-forming figure in both the theory and practice of urban studies. His work has led to the implementation of good practices in social urban rehabilitation and comprehensive urban reconstruction in partnership with investors, which has served and continues to serve as a model for urban rehabilitation efforts. The operation of Józsefváros [8th district of Budapest, HU], from the district development concept to the renewal of the Corvin and Magdolna quarters, to public participation among disadvantaged residents, is an excellent example of how a well-conceived concept can facilitate effective multi-stakeholder, integrated urban development work. His work as a company director to regenerate several districts with very different characters is a rare example in our country of how a professional toolkit, applied in a planned and consistent way, can radically change the disadvantaged and low-prestige of a district even in unfavourable circumstances.

His academic teaching and leadership, based on both his practical experience and theoretical preparation, has produced promising results in the field of urban planner education, and his professional and public communication activities raise hopes for a more focused and successful urban planning education and professional practice.