Historical storage cellars in Budapest : The architectural history and functional operation of an industrial building in 19th-century Hungary

Pilsitz, Martin and Nádasi-Antal, Zsuzsanna (2019) Historical storage cellars in Budapest : The architectural history and functional operation of an industrial building in 19th-century Hungary. Építés - Építészettudomány, 47 (1-2). pp. 169-188. ISSN 0013-9661

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Abstract

The Kőbánya district of Budapest is situated on the eastern margins of the Hungarian capital city. Beneath Kőbánya there is an extensive limestone layer, in which tunnels and passages have been made, ‍some of which appear to date from the 13th century. In the 19th century, the limestone caverns of Budapest-Kőbánya were used for the refrigeration of perishable goods in large quantities. The caverns‍ represent one of Budapest’s historical industrial landmarks, although their architectural history has not been documented in full. This article analyses the architectural development of these evidently low-tech‍ facilities, while also exploring their significant role in the city’s urbanisation. The technical functions and structure of the system of caverns may be useful as a resource for society in the future when the supply‍ of fossil fuels runs out. The effectiveness of the caverns as places for refrigeration can be demonstrated through climatic calculations. The cavern system has significant energy capabilities, given that there is a‍constant air temperature throughout the year. The vast amount of geothermal energy could be used to cool heat pumps or heat exchangers. The results of measurements taken in preparation for this article are‍ presented.

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