From Eclecticism to Brutalism…

...exhibition of architectural values explored between 2017-2022 (posted 18 March, 2023)

An interesting exhibition can be seen in the atrium of the Central Library of the Szabó Ervin Library of Budapest, entitled "From Eclecticism to Brutalism". The exhibition presents around 100 buildings - including many industrial heritage buildings - from the more than 340 buildings that the Municipality of Budapest has put under local protection between 2017-2022.

2017 was an important milestone for the preservation of Budapest's built heritage. Since 2017, the "Ordinance of the Municipality of Budapest on the protection of the townscape" has made it possible to protect architectural assets identified during explorations initiated on the basis of special professional criteria ex officio in addition to external initiatives or relevant to specific areas. In recent years, the Urban Planning Department has taken advantage of this opportunity to carry out thematic research by examining buildings and ensembles of buildings to be preserved in the capital.

The results of the thematic research are presented in the exhibition „From Eclecticism to Brutalism”, which also show the evolution of architectural styles as part of a time travel from the late 19th century to the early 1970s. They include eclectic buildings from the Great Boulevard area, industrial buildings from many parts of the city, exciting buildings from the interwar period showing a variety of stylistic trends and works representing the evolution of architecture in the decades after 1945.

The exhibition will be open from 2 March to 30 March 2023.

To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Professional and recruitment day at Óbuda Bus Garage…

… with display of new and vintage buses (posted 19 February, 2023)

On Saturday, 18 February 2023, a professional and recruitment day was held at the Óbuda Bus Garage. Óbuda Bus Garage started its operations in 1970 on a 72,000 square metre area. The site has a total built-up area of 12,500 m2 (maintenance hall, offices, vehicle wash building, diagnostic building) and was originally designed to operate, store and maintain 250 buses.

In 1979 the storage area was extended to accommodate up to 350 vehicles. Since 2007-2008, there have been several plans to close the Óbuda Bus Garage, but it is still in operation and plays an important role in the capital's bus transport system.

Visitors over 16 were welcome to attend the professional day. During the guided tour of the site, visitors were able to learn about the stages of drivers training, the preparation of shift schedules, the development of vehicle diagnostics, the tasks of the dispatcher and garage foreman, tasks of vehicle maintenance and logistics. Those with a driving licence could also try their hand at driving a bus. At the end of the programme, visitors were also able to see the new and vintage vehicles on display.

To see more pictures, visit our Facebook page.

Industrial Heritage building awarded…

...result of the 24th FIABCI Hungarian Prix d’Excellence(posted 15 December, 2022)

This year the Hungarian section of the world’s largest association of real estate experts – established in 1951 and having its headquarters in Paris – organised the Hungarian Prix d’Excellence for the twenty-fourth time.

This year, 43 facilities entered, which allowed the jury to award the best in each of the 9 functional categories, as well as in the Heritage Protection and Sustainable Construction Quality categories.

The first prize of the competition, the first prizes in the categories „Cultural development” and "Sustainable development" and the "Best project according to the vote of the applicants" was awarded to the House of Music Hungary.

We are particularly pleased that the first prize in the "Heritage Protection" category was awarded to an industrial heritage building, the Mohács Silk Factory.

The former Silk Factory or Silk Spinning Mill in Mohács was built in 1905 by the Schlauch and Károlyi company, based on the plans of royal engineer Ferenc Kalin. In the 1920s and 30s, the Silk Factory went through a series of crises, with production being repeatedly stopped and machinery dismantled and removed.

From 1935 until November 1944, the factory operated normally, but then the retreating German troops set up their positions in the factory, making it impossible to continue production. The factory building was damaged during the fighting. Reconstruction began in January 1945 and production resumed.

In the 1960s, major improvements were made, the buildings were upgraded and the weaving machine park was expanded. At that time, there were nearly 300 women working in the 150-metre-long production room on the first floor.

In 1996, the factory was bought by a British investor, but due to the significant loss of the market, the Mohács Silk Factory finally ceased operations a few years after the turn of the millennium.

In 2016, the southern part of the factory building became the property of the city of Mohács. The city won 800 Million Hungarian Forint for the rehabilitation of the brownfield areas of the Silk Factory from the Operational Programme for Spatial and Urban Development.

The plans for the renovation were developed in 2016-2018 and the construction took place between March 2019 and March 2021. The plans were drawn up by Dombaiterv Architects Studio under the supervision of Gyula Dombai, lead architect. The contractor was Munkás-Butykó Construction Ltd.

The project, -the Silk Factory Cultural Quarter- was awarded the ICOMOS Prize on 22 April 2022.

To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Applications for European Heritage Youth Ambassadors…

… are open and can be submitted by 13 January 2023 (posted 13th December 2022)

The European Heritage Youth Ambassadors Programme - run by Europa Nostra, European Students’ Association for Cultural Heritage (ESACH), and the European Heritage Tribune - is network of students and young professionals living in Europe who share their stories, experiences, and passion for heritage on online platforms. The Ambassadors act as bridges between students and young professionals and European heritage organisations for the realisation of youth-led initiatives related to heritage.

Applications for the European Heritage Youth Ambassadors Programme 2023 are open and can be submitted by 13 January 2023.

To learn more about the program, requirements, and benefits of being European Heritage Youth Ambassador, visit ESACH.

Industrial Heritage Hungary would support the Hungarian Youth Ambassador with news and information on industrial heritages in Hungary.

Rail4V4+V book is available online …

...and can be downloaded in pdf format (posted 5th December 2022)

The Rail4V4+V book is available online and can can be downloaded in pdf format from here.

We are proud to present the book of the Rail4V4+V project...

... studies and railway heritage descriptions on 180 pages (posted 2 December, 2022)

In the framework of the project "Rail4V4+V Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development", the book of the same title has been published. Editors: Anica Draganić, Szilágyi Mária. Publisher: Cultural studies platform CULTstore.

The 180-page book, illustrated with more than 100 pictures, is divided into two parts.

The first part contains studies by experts from 5 countries (V4 countries and Serbia) on the topics of industrial monument conservation, railway heritage tourism, preservation and revitalisation of railway heritage, and the role of communities and social initiatives in railway heritage sustainability.

The second part of the book presents the past, present and accessibility of the 25 railway heritage sites involved in the project, for promotional and educational purposes, allowing you to visit these exceptional railway heritage sites virtually or in person.

The images in the Facebook gallery allow you to take a look inside the book.
We will announce when the pdf version of the book will be officially uploaded on the project website.

The website of the Rail4V4+V project is up and running ...

... including a virtual route showing the railway heritages (posted 25 November, 2022)

The website of the "Rail4V4+V Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development" project is now practically ready, just a few more videos to be uploaded. The website presents the 25 railway heritage sites of the five countries (V4 and Serbia) with descriptions and hundreds of contemporary and historical photos. The website is available in 6 languages, besides the languages of the five countries in English as well.

The menu system allows you to filter by country or by railway category (e.g. bridges, locomotive sheds, train stations, tunnels).

An interesting feature of the website is an interactive map based on Google Maps, where you can visit the railway attractions of each country on a "virtual journey". You can choose between "map" or "satellite" view, zoom or rotate the map as you are used to it in Google Maps. On the interactive map, pictograms show the railway attractions of each country.

By hovering the mouse over the pictogram, you have two options: (a) clicking on the pictogram will bring up the website of the specific railway heritage with descriptions, photos, and access details; (b) by clicking on the video play button above the pictogram will load a video of about two minutes from the project's Yotube channel.

Wandering along the "virtual route" and for example looking at the railway stations, you can see how similar are the buildings of a Czech, Hungarian or Vojvodina railway station built in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and how harmoniously the decorative motifs and material use of the region are applied.

Have a good roaming and discovery on this virtual journey....
To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

The Rail4V4+V project has been finished...

... with a formal project closure meeting in Novi Sad (posted 21 November, 2022)

On 1 December 2022, the project "Rail4V4+V Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development", will be officially closed. The project aims to present and promote the railway heritage of the V4 countries + Vojvodina through traditional and online solutions.
The official closing of the project took place on 17-18 November 2022 in Novi Sad with cultural events, formal and informal meetings.

On 17 November, hosted by the project leader, we visited the Petrovaradin Fortress and the city museum, made a trip to the historic Sremski Karlovci, visited the local Beekeeping Museum and the Zivanovic winery.

On the morning of 18 November we took part in a sightseeing tour of Novi Sad. Besides the city's attractions, we visited one of the Rail4V4+V sites, the Novi Sad Railway Station, as well as the exhibition of the consortium leader CultStore Cultural Studies Platform. We then travelled to the new cultural district of Novi Sad. In 2022, Novi Sad was one of the European Capitals of Culture and a former industrial complex was renovated as one of the venues for this event.

The closing events started in one of the renovated industrial halls with an opening presentation by project manager Anica Draganic (RS). Anica presented the main milestones of the project, the functions of the project website and introduced the book produced as part of the project. Afterwards, representatives of the consortium members - Károly Teleki (HU), Vladimir Hain (SK), Maciej Madry (PL), Lukas Beran (CZ) - presented their contribution, introduced the Rail4V4+V sites in each country and their proposals for the continuation of the project.

The event was finished with a film screening and a standing reception for the participants and invited rail and industrial heritage experts.

We hope that we will be able to continue the work in some form and present new railway and industrial heritage sites to the public.
See short video of the meeting. To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Winners of the 18th Media Architecture Awards announced...

...industrial heritage building among the winners (posted 14 November 2022)

On 12 November 2022, the winners of the Media Architecture Awards 2022, founded by the Építészfórum, were announced at a ceremony. The best building award was given to Váncza Művek for the Church of the Holy Trinity in Derekegyháza. The jury awarded the prize for the best architectural design to László Rátgéber for his plan to revitalise the cellars in Palkonya.

We are particularly pleased that the audience award went to an industrial heritage building, the Magtár event venue in Alsóbogát, designed by MM Művek. The audience award shows that there is a social acceptance for the tasteful renovation and transformation of industrial buildings. Congratulations to the winners and the organisers.

For more information on the 18th Media Architecture Awards, please visit the website of the Építészfórum...

The Pradiaren 1900 project wins the I.CON.A award...

... an outstanding monument of Hungarian-Slovak industrial heritage (posted 14 November, 2022)

On 10 November 2022, the winner of the I.CON.A (Industrial Conversion Award) in Slovakia was announced. The event took place during the Industrial Days at the Designfactory.sk headquarters in Jarovce, Slovakia. The event opened with a presentation by Eva Kráľová (Slovak Technical University, Faculty of Architecture and Design). This was followed by a panel discussion with Eva Kráľová, Benjamin Fragner (VCPD, Industrial Heritage Research Centre Prague), Zuzana Zacharová (Designfactory o.z.) and moderated by Vladimír Hain (Slovak University of Technology).

Afterwards, the 20 longlisted entries were presented and the winner of the I.CON.A 2022 Award was announced by Zuzana Zacharová and Martin Paško (Designfactory o.z.).

The winning application was the Pradiaren 1900 project, a renovation and office conversion of the main building and power plant of an early 20th century Bratislava thread mill. The plans for the conversion were drawn up by BOUDA MASÁR Architekti s.r.o., the authors being Juraj Almássy, Peter Bouda, Richard Cecetka and Ivan Masár. The design and renovation was carried out between 2018-2022.

The Hungarian Thread Factory in Bratislava was founded in 1900 by German and English investors Salcher & Richter and J. & P. Coats. The building was designed by Viennese architects D. V. Junk and K. K. Baurath. By 1902, the southern wing of the thread mill with the power station had been built, and following the success of the operation, the building was extended to the north in 1905. In 1912 another extension was necessary, the third floor was built and in 1920 three freight elevators were added to the eastern facade. Later, a number of annexes were added to the main building and the power station, but these were demolished during the conversion, creating a square on the east side of the building.

In its evaluation, the international jury found the project to be exemplary in terms of sustainability and historical authenticity, praising the balance between the modern and contemporary architecture of the building. It commented that from an architectural point of view, the conversion seemed to be overly cleansed of past manufacturing activity and traces of time.
The announcement of the results was followed by exhibition of longlisted projects, informal discussion and dinner, with musical accompaniment by cellist Jozef Luptak.
To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Industrial Conversion Award applications are evaluated...

… and the winner will be revealed on Industrial Days (posted 9 November, 2022)

IndustrialHeritageHungary’s founder Károly Teleki had the honour to participate in the international jury of the i.con.a Industrial Conversion Award. This competition in Slovakia was open to projects related to industrial building conversions carried out between 2005 and 2022.

The pre-jury selected 20 projects for the longlist, from which yesterday (8 November 2022) the international jury (V4 countries and Serbia) discussed 5 applications (shortlist) in detail and selected the winner. The award ceremony will take place on 10 November 2022 at the new site of one of the organisers, Designfactory.sk in Jarovce.

To see more inspiring industrial building conversions from the long list, visit our Facebook page.

Media Architecture Award finalists announced…

… including a nicely renovated and converted granary (posted 29 October, 2022)

Építészfórum – founded in 2000 – is one of the most popular online architectural magazines in Hungary. The Építészfórum organizes the Media Architecture Award – for the 18th time in 2022 –, one of the biggest and most outstanding architectural events of the country. From the 10 finalist buildings selected by a professional jury, media representatives will choose the winners in each category, and an audience prize will be awarded based on the votes of the public.

This year's finalists included an exemplary renovation and conversion of a derelict granary into an event space. Alsóbogát, a village of 200 people 20 km north of Kaposvár, also boasts two castles. The larger of the two, Festetics-Inkey Castle, was built around 1750. The castle had other auxiliary buildings, one of which was the granary, which, like the castle, was in a very dilapidated state. The roof had collapsed, the windows had been removed and the brick walls were damaged by frost.

Miklós M. Miltényi was commissioned to renovate the granary and convert it into a cultural and community events space. The owner's requirements were to retain the old structures, incorporate some contemporary architecture and ensure sustainable operation. The architect achieved this by retaining the walls, openings and internal timber structure of the granary and by adding a modern, 21st century shed roof with special insulated glazing. In addition, solar cells have been laminated into the safety glass panels, covering two thirds of the roof and providing adequate shading for the interior.

The contractor was MM Művek Architects Sudio , the glass roof was designed by András Reith. The renovated granary was awarded the Pro Architektúra prize in 2021.
To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Shortwave radio towers were demolished by controlled explosion...

… a sad end to a remarkable industrial heritage (posted 24 October, 2022)

On 20 October 2020, the tallest towers of the shortwave radio transmitter station on the boundaries of Jászágó-Jászberény-Pusztamonostor were demolished by controlled explosion. Following the construction of the shortwave radio stations in Székesfehérvár (1932) and Diósd (1949), the decision was taken in 1962 to build a new, high-power shortwave radio transmitter station. The shortwave transmitters were to broadcast Hungarian Radio's programmes abroad to various countries in Europe, North and South America, North Africa and the Middle East. After careful site selection and planning, the Y-shaped complex with 30 transmission towers was built between 1969 and 1974.

The towers varied in height from 25 to 156 metres. The official inauguration took place on 4 November 1974. The complex employed 85 people, half of whom were armed guards. The station was operational until 30 June 2010, when shortwave radio broadcasting from Hungary ended. In recent years the shorter radio masts have been demolished in the traditional way. However, towers taller than 100 metres could only be safely dismantled by demolition, which took place on 20 October 2020. According to our information, one tower will remain in operation on the site and the LPD 18 log-per antenna will be preserved as a memento for later generations. The owner intends to establish a solar park on the site.

For more information, watch this video and see the demolition.

To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Rail4V4+V project introduced on European Heritage Days...

… in Underground Railway Museum 17-18 September 2022 (posted 15 September, 2022)

The Rail4V4+V project will also be presented at the Cultural Heritage Days. The venue will be the Underground Railway Museum, which, together with the Millennium Underground, is one of the project's significant railway heritage sites.

In the exhibition space, a video film we shot in the museum and on the Millennium Underground is shown on one of the monitors, along with archive images and film clips from the period. The short film is followed by a slideshow showing the 25 heritage sites involved in the Rail4V4+V project.

To see some slides of the slideshow visit our Facebook page.

European Heritage Days…

...will be held on 17-18 September 2022 (posted 11th September 2022)

European Heritage Days will be held on 17-18 September 2022. This year is a special occasion as it also marks the 150th anniversary of the protection of Hungarian monuments. There are over 400 sites, programmes and guided walks to choose from on the Heritage Days website, and the number is still growing. I would like to draw your attention to a couple of railway heritage attractions.
First of all, the Underground Railway Museum, one of our most important railway heritage sites in Hungary, along with the Millennium Underground, which is also listed in the Rail4V4+V project. In the Underground Railway Museum, visitors can also see a small presentation of the 25 railway heritage sites of the 5 participating countries (V4 countries and Serbia) in the Rail4V4+V project. It is also worth visiting the Municipal Transport Museum in Szentendre or the Railway Almarium in Szolnok.
We also recommend a visit to the Ferenc Converter Station and the 150 years of GYSEV: the Sopron Railway History and Model Railway Exhibition and a guided walk from Sopron's Déli railway station.

For more information, please visit the official website of the Cultural Heritage Days...

Industrial Heritage and Tourism...

… the online seminar of Rail4V4+V project (posted 7 April, 2022)

The third knowledge sharing seminar of the project "Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development - Rail4V4+V" took place today (7 April 2022), organised by IndustrialHeritageHungary.com.
The seminar was opened by Anica Draganic, head of the Rail4V4+V project. The event was moderated by Károly Teleki, who made the opening presentation about tourism potential of Industrial Heritage.
Zoltán Erő presented challenges and plans for revitalisation of the Kőbányai út brownfields. György Jávorszky explained the functions of the Eiffel Art Studios and how it has changed the way the Opera works.

Gábor Zsigmond presented the portfolio of technical museums in Hungary, the concept of the new Transport Museum and international best practice examples of the functions and operation of transport museums
Stefan Berger from Germany made an international outlook how differently the memory of industrial heritages is dealt in different parts of the world.
István Bartók described the construction of large socialist buildings (e.g. power plants, factory halls) and which of them are still in use today.
Emese Meiszter presented the challenges and possible solutions for revitalising railway stations.

The presentations were accompanied by film inserts and a number of photos. The seminar was closed by a questions and answers session.
To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Free European course on industrial tourism…

...has just been launched by HECTOR (posted 4th April 2022)

HECTOR is a European Erasmus+ project. It aims to improve the employability of young Europeans (18-30 years) with a qualification in the tourism sector by providing them with core competences and specialisation in tourism for industrial heritage.

In the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme, a free European course on industrial tourism has just been launched.

For more information, please see the attached document

Industrial Heritage and Tourism…

…webinar of the Rail4V4+V project 7th April 2022 (posted 29 March, 2022)

From now, you can pre-register for the 3rd knowledge sharing webinar of the Rail4V4+V project, a Strategic Project of the Visegrad Fund. If your pre-registration is accepted, we will send you the Zoom login details on 5th April 2022. Please, check your spam/junk folder as well. For any reason you cannot attend on the seminar, please, cancel your Eventbrite registration to allow other to join the webinar.

To register visit Eventbrite. You can download the program from here.

Celldömölk railway station building renewed…

…and reopened to public on 25th March 2022 (posted 29 March, 2022)

The Celldömölk station building has been completely renovated as part of the MÁV railway company's "50 Renewing Stations" programme for its busiest stations. Work on the exterior facade of the building began last spring. The façade was completely re-plastered and repainted, new wooden shutters were installed, the tin structure was replaced and the two tower buildings near the main entrance were given new metal roofing. The interior lighting in the departure hall has also been upgraded and photocell doors have been installed, making access to and from the hall easier. The station was officially reopened to the public on 25 March 2022.

The Celldömölk Railway Station is one of the most important railway junctions in Western Hungary, connecting three major cities, Győr, Szombathely and Székesfehér. The railway lines were built by the Hungarian Western Railway Ltd. between 1870 and 1873. The opening of the section between Győr-Kis-Czell-Szombathely on 1 September 1871 was opened at the same time as the opening of the six-track Kis-Czell railway station, which became a railway junction of national importance with the opening of the Kis-Czell-Székesfehérvár line. In 1904, Kis-Czell was united with the neighbouring Dömölk under the name of Celldömölk, after which the station was also renamed Celldömölk.

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Railway Heritage and New Reuse...

… the online seminar of Rail4V4+V project (posted 9 March, 2022)

The second knowledge sharing seminar of the project "Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development - Rail4V4+V" took place today (9 March 2022), organised by our Czech partner Research Centre for Industrial Heritage FA CTU Prague. The presentation was opened by Anica Draganic, head of the Rail4V4+V project. The event was moderated by architectural historian Irena Lehkoživová.

The seven speakers were Benjamin Fragner, Lukáš Beran, Jan Červinka, Robert Kořínek, Petr Prokeš, Radek Kubala, Jan Zikmund. The presentations covered problems, positive and negative examples of railway heritage conservation in the Czech Republic. The presentations were accompanied by film inserts and a number of photos. The next Rail4V4+V seminar will be organised by IndustrialHeritageHungary.com on 7 April 2022.

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Dreamers of dreams revisited...

… exhibition on the history of science at Millenáris (posted 16 February, 2022)

One of the most exemplary and internationally recognised brownfield projects of the turn of the millennium was the revitalisation of the Ganz factory site and buildings in Budapest, which resulted in a new public park and community spaces. In 2001-2002, the exhibition "Dreamers of Dreams - World-renowned Hungarians" was opened in one of the factory halls, presenting the most significant personalities and achievements of Hungarian science and innovation. The exhibition had 800,000 visitors.

Twenty years later, this time organised around six themes - and taking into account the achievements of the last two decades,- the exhibition "Dreamers of Dreams 20 - World-renowned Hungarians, Hungarian inventions" opened yesterday (2022-02-15). The exhibition presents the works and inventions of about 600 Hungarian scientists, inventors and other geniuses in an interactive way, over 6,000 square metres and a 1.5 kilometre trail.

The spectacular exhibition presents a vast amount of knowledge in an authentic industrial setting. The exhibition has a strong emphasis on interactive elements, with more than 30 interactions, over 150 digital and around 6.5 hours of projected content to help you absorb the vast amount of information. For more information and images, visit the exhibition website or our Facebook page.

Railway Heritage and Tourism...

… the online seminar of Rail4V4+V project (posted 27 January, 2022)

Yesterday (26 January 2022) was the first knowledge sharing seminar of the "Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development - Rail4V4+V" project, organised by our Polish partner. The presentation was opened by Anica Draganic, head of the Rail4V4+V project. The opening presentation and moderation of the seminar was given by Prof. Piotr Gerber of Wroclaw University. Speakers included Maciej Madry (director of Zinc Rolling Mill WALCOWNIA), Bartosz Walczak (prof of Łódz University of Technology) and Howard Jones, railway heritage expert, director of Wolsztyn Experience course.

The presentations addressed and discussed problems, solution scenarios and best-practice examples of industrial and railway heritage protection. The presentations were enriched by several photos, some of which are presented here. The next Rail4V4+V seminar will take place in February 2022.

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Results of the Rail4V4+V international student design competition …

… which showed a high level of creativity (posted 19 November, 2021)

The international competition of the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the Slovak Technical University (STU) received 23 entries, 7 of them from Hungary. The entries were evaluated by a jury of renowned experts (see picture, click to enlarge).

During the evaluation, all entries were printed in a uniform format and displayed in alphabetical order according to the authors' surnames. After the preliminary evaluation, eight applications were sent to the next round. In the second round, the potentials and limits of the proposals were compared, as well as the elaboration of the proposals. On this basis, the committee selected the three finalists, whose applications were discussed in detail and, following a vote, a final ranking and a proposal for the awards and competition winner were established. The proposal of the evaluation committee was approved by the project consortium without changes.

Winning application - József Gábos - Budapest

The Commission underlined the simplicity and clarity of the application - "the author has successfully dealt with the difficult task and interpretation of the rather complex RAIL4V4 + V name".
"The graphic clarity and the informative value allow high degree of applicability in various forms and scales of presentation in an international context. The logo is clear, legible and easy to identify. Congratulations to the winner."

2nd place - Nina Tahy - Bratislava
3rd place - Nóra Bognár - Budapest

The Commission's assessment of the competition as a whole:
"We saw a high degree of invention and diversity of opinion, which the participants presented to us. There was a lot to choose from. Young designers had a great opportunity to combine study and practice and to compete internationally. They will be able to use this experience in the future and we believe that this whole initiative and the new visual design will help to promote the railway heritage among the younger generation."

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all participants. To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Fort Csillag is open to public from today…

… to showcase the plaster casts of the Museum of Fine Arts (posted 8 October, 2021)

Fort Csillag is part of the Fort System of Komárom which consists of three modern age forts on the right side of the Danube (Fort Monostor, Fort Igmánd and Fort Csillag). Fort Csillag received its name after its star-shaped layout.

In 2013 the government decided to renovate and revitalise the fort and to move the plaster (gypsum) casts of the Museum of Fine Arts in a new exhibition hall to be built inside the fort. A 6 billion Forint budget was allocated to the project. Fortunately, the plans of the fort were found in the military archives of Vienna so -where was possible- the fort was restored based on original plans, using 115,000 recycled bricks. Renovation completed in September 2019.

In the past two years work continued inside the fort. Nearly 300 outstanding pieces from the Museum of Fine Arts' neglected collection of plaster replicas were transported to the fort, were renovated, and installed. Copies of outstanding works from the world of sculpture from antiquity to the Renaissance found a new home.

Renovation of the Fort Csillag received Construction Industry Award in 2020.The designer of the reconstruction was Mányi István Architect Studio. Watch this video to see the steps of renovation.

To see more pictures, visit our Facebook site.

Call for student design competition …

… to design logo, info boards, visual style for Rail4V4+V project (posted 8 September 2021)

Background

In June 2016, the “Rail4V4 + V - Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism” project, a Strategic Project of the Visegrad Fund has started. The name of the project Rail4V4 + V indicates that we will present the railway heritage of the V4 countries and Vojvodina using online and traditional tools. In the first phase of the project, we will present 5-5 (25 in total) railway heritages and monuments of the participating countries.

Competition

Aim of the competition: to design the visual style and logo of the project, as well as the information boards and visual elements to be placed at the railway heritage sites

Announcer of the competition: on behalf of the project, the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the Slovak University of Technology (STU)

Application deadline: November 1, 2021.

Applicants: secondary school, university students and young professionals from V4 countries and Serbia, max. 30 years of age

Language of the application: English

Awards: winner EUR 250, second EUR 150, third EUR 100

Yo can access the "Call for student design competion" here or you can download the "Call for student design competition in pdf format" from here here...

Old Warehouse Caught Fire …

… in Budapest on Sunday night (posted 09 August, 2021)

Sunday (8th August 2021) night around 10.30pm an old warehouse building caught fire at Kerepesi út 15 in Budapest, near to Aréna Mall. Twenty fire engines and near 100 firefighters were working to extinguish the fire. After 12 hours fight the fire brigades put out the fire today around noon.

The old warehouses used to belong to the first taxi company in Hungary and Budapest, which was established in 1913. According to Blikk the warehouses are used nowadays by film makers, who usually store sets and props in the old buildings. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

125th anniversary of the Budapest Underground …

… temporary exhibition at BKV Underground Railway Museum posted (6 August 2021)

The Budapest Underground Railway (M1 Yellow Line), which many refer to as the Millennium Underground Railway, or as a “small underground”, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. On the occasion of the anniversary a new temporary exhibition was opened in the Deák Square Museum of BKV.

The Underground Railway Museum commemorates the first underground of the continental Europe, handed over on 2nd May 1896. The museum was established in an authentic setting, in the tunnel section of the Millennium Underground Railway, which was closed down during the construction of the East-West Metro Line (M2 Red Line) in the 1950s.

In addition to the vintage railcars, the exhibition showcases material heritage, original documents, blueprints, maps, photos and models throughout Millennium Underground Railway’s 125 years history.

The temporary exhibition complements the collection of the permanent exhibition with several interesting information, stories and images. Among other things, we can get acquainted with the London underground which served as a model for the Millennium Underground, the person behind the idea, the millennium events which promoted the construction, the architectural and technical innovations of the underground, the vehicles, and we can get an insight into the world of contemporary drivers, conductors and inspectors.

The permanent and temporary exhibition well worth a visit for a price of a bus ticket (350 HUF appr 1 EUR).

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Inota Thermal Power Station …

… derelict but astonishing (published 31 July 2021)

We have visited Inota Thermal Power Station on a guided tour organised by Túrajó Egyesület. Inota power plant was built between 1950-1954 as a greenfield investment near to Inota village. Its trial operation started on 7th November 1951, that’s why it was named “7th November Thermal Power Plant”. (For younger generation, the Great October Socialist Revolution started on 7th November 1917 and people in the Soviet bloc had to celebrate the anniversary each year until the change of regime). The power plant was connected to the national grid on 6th December 1951.

The chief architect of the power plant was Gyula Mátrai, the internal construction works were supervised by Károly Mokk. When completed in 1954 the plant had 7 boilers and 6 steam turbine generators. Total capacity of the six electric generators was 120MW.

The power station was using lignite from the Várpalota mines. In 1954 a cableway was installed between the S.II. Várpalota mine and the power plant, but its transport capacity did not cover the needs, so the coal needed for production had to be supplied by rail from other mining plants.

In the 1970s it became evident, that peak power plants should be added to the network to satisfy peak demand in electricity. Construction of “peaker” proved to be the most economical at the Inota, 7th November Thermal Power Plant site. Two gas turbines with a nominal capacity of 100 MW each were authorised and purchased from the Soviet Union.The gas turbines were connected to the national electric grid on the winters of 1973-74 and 1974-75.

There were two major reconstructions at Inota power station. As part of Reconstruction I, boilers 3 to 7 were renovated between 1975 and 1986. The steam energy produced by the boilers was utilized by the aluminum smelter, and the thermal energy provided heating and hot water to the city. During Reconstruction II, in parallel with the boiler renovations, fly-ash separating electrofilters were also installed until 1990.

In 1991 Ajka Thermal Power Plant Company and 7th November Thermal Power Plant Company merged, and later in 1992 the merged company was transformed into a joint stock company Bakonyi Power Plant Plc. In 1998 Bakonyi Plc. was privatised. By this time the Inota Power Station was in a bad technical condition, several boilers and generators were dismantled either for material fatigue or for making space for new technology. The capacity of the power station has been reduced to one tenth of the original. In the autumn of 1999, Hungarian Electrical Works cancelled the planned long-term power purchase agreement, and closure became inevitable. The Inota Power Plant finished operation end of 2001 and officially closed on 1 January 2002.

In the following months and years, the equipment was dismantled and some of the buildings and the chimneys were demolished. The closed down power station is utilised for film making (e.g. Red Sparrow) or photo and urbex tours, the cultural center used as retro theatre or event venue.

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Once there was the Északi …

… the story continues (posted 25 July 2021)

We have visited the temporary exhibition of the Hungarian Museum of Transport. The new home of the Museum of Transport is expected to open to the public on the former Northern Train Maintenance Depot (Északi Járműjavító) territory in 2026. With the temporary exhibit, the museum aimed to demonstrate how the new home would look like.

Beside showcasing historic locomotives and train cars the exhibition wanted to show the history of the Northern Train Maintenance Depot, and present what life and work were like at the formerly largest railway maintenance depot in the country.
Visiting the exhibition, you can see see the first of the iconic steam engine 424 (001), the Árpád railbus, as well as the futuristic steam engine with the nickname Szellem (Ghost), which is the speed record holder among steam engines in Hungary and the V60 electric locomotive designed by Kálmán Kandó.

You can also see design plans of the new Transport Museum, watch videos of the cultural life of the Északi, learn how the public transport network developed in Budapest.

To see more pictures visit our Facebook page.

Celebrating 175th anniversary of the first Hungarian railway line …

… with opening of temporary exhibitions in Göd and Budapest (posted 15th July 2021)

On 15th July 1846 Hungary’s first railway line was handed over. The 33km line between (Buda)Pest and Vác was privately financed and operated, It was the first steam-powered railway in Hungary. (The first horse-drawn railway between Pozsony-Nagyszombat /Bratislava-Trnava/ started operation in 1840.)

Celebrating the anniversary, a memorial plaque was inaugurated at Göd station and a temporary exhibit was opened.

The Hungarian Museum of Transport has also commemorated the 175th birth anniversary of the Hungarian railway and opened a temporary exhibition (from 16 July till 31 October 2021) at Northern Train Maintenance Depot.

You can see vintage trains and buses at Lake Balaton …

… on the weekends 10-11 July and 6-8 August (posted 07 July 2021)

This weekend (10-11 July 2011) you can see several vintage trains and buses on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. MÁV Hungarian Railways together with Volánbusz a Hungarian coach operator will organise a so-called “Retro Weekend”. Volánbusz will operate shuttle buses between Balatonföldvár and Tihany, Tapolca and Szigliget, Badacsonytomaj and Salföld, Zánka/Balatonakali and Hegyestű. You can travel on legendary Ikarus 55, Ikarus 66 and Ikarus 266 buses (see schedule here).

MÁV will use vintage locomotives such M40, M61, M62 on different lines, for timetable and details visit this site.

If you missed this opportunity, MÁV and Volánbusz plan to organise the next “Retro Weeekend” at Balaton on 6-8 August 2021.

Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development Rail4V4+V …

… project kickoff was held online on 28th June 2021 (posted 5 July 2021)

On 28th June 2021, the Kick-off meeting of the project Railway Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development - Rail4V4+V was held online. This long term Visegrad Fund Strategic Project is going to last for 18 months and engage five partners from Serbia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The project aims to highlight the tourist potential of the railway, particularly through its history and heritage, recalling the role that rail has played in creating the Central European collective identity. In line with the aim of the European Year of Rail and strategic priorities of the Visegrad Group in 2021, the main goal of the proposed project is to raise awareness about the role of railways for V4 sustainable tourism development, through unique branding and presentation of railway heritage, in situ and on a digital platform.

At the Kick-off meeting, five partner organisations: Cultural studies platform CULTstore, Novi Sad (SRB), Industrial Heritage Hungary (Aviscon Ltd.), Budapest (HU), Research Centre for Industrial Heritage FA CTU Prague (CZ), the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Faculty of Architecture and Design (SK), and Foundation for the Protection of Silesian Industrial Heritage, Wroclaw (PL) planned and prepared detailed framework of activities and agreed on common goals and results. Partners discussed and talked through various parts of the project, including research, student design competition, workshops, dissemination of the results, evaluation of the activities. Although there were only a few hours and many topics to discuss, partners came back with new ideas and motivation and hope to keep up with such good work. The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.  

Temporary exhibition of Transport Museum …

… open from 16th July till 31st October 2021 (posted 1 July 2021)

The Hungarian Museum of Transport in Városliget (City Park) was closed on 15 April 2015 for renovation, as part of the large scale Liget Budapest Project. The museum will move to the Northern Train Maintenance Depot in Köbánya (10th disrict of Budapest) into the Diesel Hall (built in 1962), a 22,000 sqm large workshop. To design the museum building and amenities an international design competition was announced on August 9, 2018. The winner of the competition was Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The award ceremony took place in the Diesel Hall on 28 February 2019. The Transport Museum planned to be opened with significant delay in 2026 (instead of 2022).

After the third wave of the covid pandemic a temporary exhibition will be open from 16th July to 31st October at the new premise. In the temporary exhibition not just the famous steam (424 and 242) and electric (v60) locomotives and railcars will be showcased, but the plans of the new museum and the infrastructure (rails, gantry cranes, walls, and pipes) of the the Diesel Workshop can be studied as well. You can buy tickets here, and see short introduction video below (for English part go to 00.50) 

You find updated information of the Transport Museum here...

Old mill in Géderlak renovated …

… and transformed to a luxury family house (posted 3rd May 2021)

The old mill in Géderlak (a small village North from Kalocsa) was built around the turn of the 20th century. After terminating the milling operation, the mill was used as a granary or warehouse. Since the 1950-ies the building was unused and degraded see Googlemaps photo from 2011. The mill is a listed architectural heritage of Géderlak.

István Tóth Managing director of Dunativ FM Kft. fall in love with this industrial heritage building and decided to save and restore the mill. At the beginning he was thinking to transform the building to a workers’ hostel, but the structure was so exciting, so he decided to rebuild it to a luxury home.

The facades and roofing were meticulously renovated, and interior architecture turned the indoor industrial spaces of the old building into liveable housing. The house is also equipped with all facilities to be a “smart home”. Planned completion of the project is September 2021. Architect: Róbert Kernya. Interior design: Plan-E Art Studio. Furnishings, visual design: Flóra Orosz.

For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post and on the website of Becsemalom.

BIVAK studio won International Architectural Design Competition …

… for the renovation and redevelopment of Wholesale Market buildings (posted 29 April 2021)

BFK Budapest Development Agency announced an Open International Architectural Design Competition on 17th December 2020. The goals of the competition included the preparation of plans for the renovation of industrial heritage Wholesale Market buildings, the identification of their new functions, as well as the design of the first student housing of the Budapest Student City, the development of the immediate environment of the buildings and their integration into the envisaged new university district.

The jury evaluated 23 applications and announced the winners on 27th April 2021. The first prize was awarded to BIVAK studio Kft, a “young architecture practice based in Budapest characterized by an experimental attitude and a flare for manual techniques”

Redevelopment of the great hall building of the Wholesale Market would include auditorium, sound studios and rehearsal rooms, fitness & bodybuilding studio and handball/basketball courts on the basement level and multifunctional spaces, marketplace, sport and dance facilities, shops, bars, restaurants on the ground level. On the gallery level restaurants, cafes, meeting rooms and various sport facilities -including a 500m long running track- would be developed.

The jury emphasised that the plans preserve the industrial and architectural values of the buildings while adding new functions to them. The dormitory building’s façade is in harmony with the Klinker-bricked heritage office building.

For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post.

New hopes for saving Wholesale Market buildings …

… and revitalising a 135 hectares brownfield (posted 28 April 2021)

On 3rd July 2018 KKBK Centre of Key Government Investments Nonprofit Plc. announced an International Master Plan Design Competition to develop a master plan for the Budapest South Gate (BSG) priority project. The goal of the project is to revitalise a 135 hectares brownfield area near and around the Wholesale Market by the construction of a student city for 12,000 university students and sports facilities including an athletic stadium with a capacity for 15,000 spectators.

Out of 17 applications the winner of the Master Plan Design Competition was the joint application of Snohetta Innsbruck and Verkehrsingenieure Besch und Partner. You find details of their Master Plan on Snohetta’s website and on the BSG Project’s website.
Since the power plant has not seen any major renovations for a half century, low efficiency, poor technical condition, and requirement for ensuring long-term operability demanded renovation and modernization of the power plant.

The refurbished Wholesale Market and adjacent office building would be an integral part of the Student City, they would be used as event venues, canteens, community spaces, sport facilities, pubs. Additionally, a spacious public plaza would connect these historical relicts to the river.

Since the announcement of the winner of the Master Plan Design Competition on 19th December 2018 not much was heard about the Budapest South Gate project. Until mid-April 2021, when it was revealed that construction of the Fudan University campus would take place at the site of the Budapest Student City – Southern City Gate Development Program. The Fudan University project supported by the government is criticised for its financial structure and for various political reasons.

For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post.

Mártély Train Station Nicely Renovated…

… …but its sustainability is a question (posted 17 March 2021)

In the third wave of the Covid pandemic it has not received much media coverage, but the renovation of Mártély train station was completed in January 2021. The Mártély railway station is situated along the Szentes–Hódmezővásárhely HÉV railway line (HÉV is Railway of Local Interest), which was built in 1894. The Mártély station building was erected in 1900 based on the type plans of MÁV Hungarian Railways. The building nicely combines the traditions of vernacular architecture with the functions of a railway station.

In the 1980-ies the passenger facilities were modernised, and a covered porch in similar style was attached to the building. The Mártély train station is one of the loveliest railway stations in Hungary, and its 1:25 model can be seen in Mini Hungary Model Park.

We are a bit concerned about the sustainability of this renovation, since the service of the station was terminated on 11 December 2020. For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post.

Kelenföld Station Building will be refurbished…

… and will serve as an exhibition venue for the Transport Museum (posted 11 February 2021)

The Kelenföld Railway Station is among the 4 busiest stations in Budapest. It was built in 1876, but after the inauguration of the Southern Railway Bridge in 1877 its traffic was increasing rapidly. So, in 1884 a new station building was erected, which area was twice as big as the type plans of standard stations buildings of the era. During the past 137 years the building has not undergone any major renovation work, and in 2019 it was closed down. On 9th February 2021, the Hungarian Government declared the refurbishment of the Kelenföld Station Building a priority project (55/2021. (II. 9.) Government Decree).

Based on the concept of the Hungarian Museum of Transport, the Kelenföld Station Building will be renovated and transformed to a railway exhibition venue. The main attraction of the railway history exhibition will be a model railroad table covering several hundreds square meters. The building will also contain a bistro and a so-called train spotting terrace. Landscaping around the station building will include a train themed playground, open-air movie and exhibiting a 100+ years old locomotive.

Renovation of the industrial heritage building and adding new functions to the building and its neighbourhood will be done based on the plans of Építész Stúdió an architect studio. For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post.

Gibárt Hydropower Plant renovated and upgraded …

… by ALTEO Group with an 1,2 billion HUF investment (posted 16 December 2020)

Gibárt Hydropower Plant is situated in N-E Hungary at River Hernád near to Encs. The plant was built by Baron János Harkányi who wished to supply with electricity his holdings and the neighbouring settlements within 30-40 kms. The diversion-type hydroelectric power plant was designed in 1901, built in 1902 and put into operation in 1903. The plant was built on the site of a former water mill, so the power plant could use the diversion channel of the mill.

Demand for electricity was growing fast, so in 1907 a new 294.4 kW turbine and three-phase generator was added, and in the following years another 294,4 kW turbine and generator was installed, replacing the original low-capacity equipment. The Gibárt plant was connected to a 12kV/3kV grid. The generators and the turbines were made by Ganz and Partner Plc. Though the generators were re-wired to 400V in 1958 and 1959 and the Francis turbines’ runners were replaced due to wear, but this setup was in operation till 2019. The Gibárt Hydropower Plant and its surrounding were classified as historical monuments in 2005.
Since the power plant has not seen any major renovations for a half century, low efficiency, poor technical condition, and requirement for ensuring long-term operability demanded renovation and modernization of the power plant.

The hydroelectric power plant is owned by Észak-magyarországi Áramszolgáltató Nyrt. ALTEO Group is the lessee and operator of the plant. In 2019 ALTEO started the renovation and upgrade of the Gibárt Hydropower Plant. One of the key elements of the 1.2 billion HUF investment was the replacement of the turbines with state-of-the-art high-efficiency turbines that provide higher water yield and have a capacity of 5.75 GWh/year, representing a 70% increase in performance. The lifetime of the plant is extended by an additional 35 years. The renovation and the modernization were completed during 2020 and the new technology was put in operation in October, but official inauguration will be after the pandemic.

The modernization enables the monument character and status of the power plant to be preserved and showcased in the long-run. The old turbines, generators and other equipment removed from the facility will be put on display for the public.

For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post.

Industrial reuse project receives Construction Industry Award 2020…

… for transforming industrial building to dance theatre (posted 11 December 2020)

Ganz Electric Works -which history dates back as far as 1878- was a prestigious company producing generators, transformers, electric motors, and power plant supplies. After successful decades, the company was nationalised in 1946, and its workshops in Buda ceased operation around the 1990s. The rehabilitation of the industrial area started in 2000. During the process, the former industrial buildings were turned into public buildings and spaces with cultural and entertainment functions. The brownfield revitalisation project also created a new public park called Millenáris Park, a nice example of landscaping.

In 2001 Building “E” -the transformer workshop- of the Ganz complex was converted to an event hall and theatre called Millenáris Teátrum. In 2014 a government decree was issued, to relocate the National Dance Theatre from the Buda Castle to the building of the Teátrum and transform the building to a state-of-the-art dance theatre. ZDA Zoboki Design & Architecture was mandated to prepare the plans. Construction started by internal and external partial demolition works in March 2017 and the building was inaugurated on 15 February 2019. Budget of the investment was 4.6 billion HUF.

As the National Dance Theatre introduces its new home: “The 6950-square-meter building received a new main façade and lobby, and a large auditorium with a capacity of 368 seats, a small auditorium with 120 seats, two rehearsal rooms, a chamber room, together with the related service rooms and changing rooms. There is also a recording studio in the building, which extends the artistic possibilities of dance productions. Specially designed for dance performances, the main building meets the most modern technical requirements and has a special stage of 16x24 metres. The café, which is constantly open in the new lobby independently from the theatrical season, also serves the concept of creating a new community space.”

For more photos and additional information, see our Facebook post. Details about the building and stage technique you find in this pdf magazine (in Hungarian only).

Open Factory Weekend at the Csepel Works …

… organised by KÉK on 3rd October 2020 (posted 4 October, 2020)

The Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre - KÉK is an independent professional organisation founded in 2006 with the aim of opening new perspectives in architectural and urban thinking in Hungary. Yesterday (3rd October, 2020) KÉK organised its second Open Factory Weekend at the Csepel Works. Though, because of the coronavirus epidemic only a few manufactures, workshops opened their gates to public but the many open-air programs (guided walks, techno-party, factory tours, open-air exhibitions, dessert tasting, talks) attracted hundreds of urban explorers, industry and industrial heritage enthusiasts.

At Carborobot Kft. – producing multifuel boilers – we could visit the workshop, where several vintage metal fabrication machines (lathes, milling machines, drills, shearing machines) from the 1950-1960ies are still in use. In the workshop of Iamart Manufacture we could see the full cycle of cement tiles’ production (mixing, moulding, pressing, drying and QC). We hope next year the tradition continues and we can visit the Open Factory Weekend the 3rd. time.  

You find more photos of the Art Studio at the Open Factory Weekend here...

Travel limitations to Hungary …

… because of the coronavirus pandemic (updated 09/11/2020)

Update 09/11/2020: New measures to take effect at midnight on November 11: A curfew will be instated between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. All forms of assembly will be forbidden. Restaurants must close, but food delivery will remain possible. Shops and services (e.g., hairdressers) must close by 7 p.m. Hotels may only host business travelers. There will be a general ban on events.

Update 04/11/2020: Government is reintroducing the state of emergency in connection to the coronavirus epidemic. Curfew restrictions between midnight and 5 am. Closing of entertainment venues (bars, dance clubs). Free parking. Distancing in theater, cinema, stadium.

Update 28/08/2020: BREAKING - New travel restrictions to take effect starting September 1: No foreigners are allowed entry to Hungary... The travel restriction measures will stay in force for at least a month...

Update 11/04/2020: the government is extending indefinitely restrictions on movement introduced in Hungary on 27th March 2020 to combat the novel coronavirus epidemic...

Update 27/03/2020: today morning PM Viktor Orbán has announced curfew between March 28 and April 11...

Cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Hungary. The Hungarian authorities have introduced a number of measures to limit the spread of the virus.

The Hungarian Prime Minister announced on 16 March that Hungary would close all borders to foreigners at midnight on Monday 16 March. Only Hungarian citizens and EEA citizens (including UK nationals) holding a Permanent Residence Card or a Registration Certificate and Address Card will be allowed to enter the country.

The restrictions will remain in effect indefinitely, until revoked. Further restrictions to daily life may be announced over the coming days and we are monitoring the situation. The situation may change rapidly, including in neighbouring countries, where some airports have closed or ceased direct flights to the UK, USA, Canada and other countries.

A case study of Industrial heritage in the Ruhr Area …

… online event organised by CEU (posted 09 July 2020)

Happy to share with you the invitation of CEU Central European University to their online event „Benefits and Disadvantages of a Unitary Mindscape? A case study of Industrial heritage in the Ruhr Area. In memoriam Dr. Dagmar Kift”. The event is scheduled at Friday, July 10, 2020, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm.

You can find details of the program and link to the online platform here.

In Memoriam Cattle Slaughterhouse…

… near 150 years old industrial heritage demolished (published 26 February 2020)

Cattle Slaughterhouse was one of the most significant food industry heritages in Budapest and Hungary. It had a major role in Budapest’s food safety and hygiene reform to fight against epidemics. Its story started in 1868 when the city council decided to terminate the operation of the private slaughterhouses in Pest and would build and supervise a public slaughterhouse. Construction works of the Cattle Slaughterhouse started in spring of 1870, and the opening of the 14-hectares complex took place on 27th July 1872.

The Abattoir complex had an impressive main entrance: 28.5 m wide and decorated by two sculptures (a bull and a buffalo) of Reinhold Begas. Opposite of the entrance was the most impressive building of the slaughterhouse complex; the water tower, attached to it the trial slaughter chambers, inspection laboratories, boiler room, and the engine room, where the steam-powered pumps were operating. Left and right from the entrance were standing the slaughter, splitting and wholesale cutting as well as the cold chambers. These meat processing buildings were especially valuable from industrial heritage point of view. They were very modern at the time of construction: for example the cold chambers had steel ceilings with ice holding trays, which cooled down the air temperature to 2C.

Now, everything is demolished: only the gate, the water tower (but without its wing buildings) and an office building (left to the gate) are standing.
A large-scale real estate development is ongoing, which “would transform a derelict former slaughterhouse complex into a dynamic residential and office district with complementary retail and leisure provision and two underground levels of parking”.
Chapman Taylor’s London and Brussels studios created the masterplan concept on behalf of APD Real Estate Kft. for this project. APD Real Estate Kft. is owned by Turkish businessman Adnan Polat who has excellent connections with high-ranking Hungarian and Turkish politicians. Not surprisingly, the investment enjoys a privileged priority project status.

According to Chapman Taylor’s: “The historical structures on the site – the Bull Gate, the water tower and the two main elevations of the old slaughterhouse buildings – are sensitively incorporated into the masterplan design.” And this is what the visualisation of the plan foreshadows, but in fact the side buildings of the water tower and both slaughterhouse buildings (the facades as well) and all other buildings of the complex are completely demolished.

Architects, heritage conservation professionals have serious concerns what will happen with this iconic industrial heritage, since the visualisations of the master plan has disappeared from Chapman Taylor’s website, but still available here.  Unfortunately, the Cattle Slaughterhouse was not classified as an industrial monument, however enjoyed some type of local protection.

CEU course on Industrial Heritage revitalisation …

… to be held in Budapest 6-15 July 2020 (posted 01 February 2020)

Central European University (CEU) is organizing a Summer University course on “Industrial Heritage as a Source of Social Empowerment and Economic Revitalization” in Budapest, Hungary, 6 July – 15 July 2020.

Through this course, you can learn how an industrial site can be converted from a problematic legacy into a social and economic resource. The multidisciplinary faculty includes practitioners and academics, featuring researchers, policy experts, spatial planners, managers, cultural actors, and artists. Based on their personal experience, they will present model projects such as ExRotaprint in Berlin. The course will look at tangible and intangible heritage – landscapes, buildings, industrial equipment and artefacts, practices, knowledge, and social structures – linked to industrial areas.

The course is composed of three modules focusing on three broad areas connected to industrial heritage as a social and economic resource: value assessment; policies including spatial and urban planning; best practices (as well as problem cases). Industrial Heritage site visits in Budapest and a field trip in Northern Hungary are integral parts of the course.

First application deadline: February 14, 2020. You find more information on the course and application on CEU Summer University website. You can download the course flyer here.

Buda Roller Mill (Budai Hengermalom)

... in the Spotlight in 03/2018 (posted:27/03/2018)

The history of steam mills in Budapest started in 1839, when the Pesti Hengermalom Részvénytársaság (Pest Roller Mill plc) was established based on the proposition of Count István Széchenyi, who was also a shareholder of the company. Though the first steam-driven mill in Hungary was put in operation in 1836 in Sopron, actually, the Pest Roller Mill was the first steam mill using state of the art machinery of cylindrical rollers (the mill in Sopron was using traditional stone milling technology).

The Pest Roller Mill was built on an estate between 1839-1841 in Lipótváros, which was mostly an industrial area that time, and in the following decades another six mills were put in operation in Lipótváros and Újlipótváros. The Pest Roller Mill was standing just few hundred meters NE from the Parliament building (built 1885-1904). Since Budapest was growing fast around the Millennium, the factories, steam mills in the area had to cease operation and they were closed down or moved to other locations.

In 1907 the shareholders’ meeting of the Pest Roller Mill plc decided to build a new roller mill on the Buda side at Lágymányos, which was an unused, underdeveloped area at the turn of the century. The flour mill was constructed between 1909-1910 and commenced full-scale operation in 1911. The same year the mill in Lipótváros was demolished.

The mill was using the most up-to-date technology and grain was stored in steel reinforced concrete silos designed by Szilárd Zielinski.

Due to high construction and investments costs, and the decline of the mill industry in the 1910s, the Hengermalom mill was partially (1916) then fully acquired by Első Budapesti Gőzmalom Részvénytársaság and merged into it in 1928.

The mill was nationalised in 1948 and was in operation as a state-owned company under the name of Budai Malom (Buda Mill). After the change of regime (1989) in Hungary the Budai Malom was privatised in the 1990s and was working as Budai Malomipari Kft. until 2005 when it terminated the milling operation. Currently the buildings of the mill are utilised for office and warehousing purposes.

See more photos here...