Ozora needs more shade
This year was brutal when it came to the heat. It really feels like the climate is changing fast in Hungary, and summers with more frequent heatwaves and extreme drought are probably something we’ll have to deal with more and more.
So I think it’s time to think bigger about shade at Ozora. Instead of just adding a few more shade sails here and there, why not take inspiration from nature and try to create something like an “artificial forest” around the stages?
I made these concept images just to show the idea. Obviously the actual design could be completely different, but imagine modular artificial “trees” of different heights, with large permeable canopies providing shade while still letting air through. Place enough of them around the dancefloor, entrances and chill areas and you could create something that actually feels a bit like being under a forest canopy.
For me personally, the heat was just too much this year. Around 40°C with very little shade around some of the busiest areas made it difficult to enjoy the festival during the day. At this point I don’t think asking for significantly more shade is unreasonable.
Ozora is a huge festival, so I think some of the money should be reinvested into adapting the site to these hotter summers. They could even cooperate with festivals like Boom, Mo:Dem or others to develop a modular system together and share some of the development costs. If designed properly, the same structures could be disassembled, transported and reused at different festivals for years.