Renewal of Sopron’s Historic City Centre – Reconstruction of Streets and Squares

The renewal of Sopron’s historic city centre was carried out under the Modern Cities Programme, with approximately HUF 1.98 billion in government funding. The project aimed to modernise the streets and public spaces around Fő tér (Main Square), renovate the ageing utility networks and preserve the character of the historic townscape. More than 10,000 m² of street and square paving was renewed, including Templom utca, Fegyvertár utca, Szent György utca, Bünker köz, Orsolya tér and the Hátsókapu area.

The first phase of the reconstruction involved upgrading the water supply, wastewater and stormwater drainage networks, followed by the renewal of public space paving. Natural stone materials were used to complement the historic surroundings, including small granite and basalt setts in the streets and larger stone setts in prominent squares. The development also included the modernisation of public lighting and the restoration of the ornamental fountain in Orsolya Square and the 1848 Memorial in Fegyvertár Street.

We provided technical supervision services during the construction phase of the project. Our responsibilities included monitoring the technical compliance of utility and paving works, verifying conformity with the approved designs and inspecting the quality of completed works. The project presented particular challenges due to the densely built-up, heritage-sensitive environment, where successive utility and paving works had to be carried out while taking into account the everyday functioning of the city centre. Maintaining pedestrian access and access to properties required particular attention throughout construction.

The development resulted in modernised utility networks, energy-efficient LED street lighting and renewed public spaces designed to harmonise with their historic surroundings. The reconstruction contributed to preserving Sopron’s architectural heritage, improving the usability of public spaces in the city centre and enhancing the city’s appeal as a tourist destination.