Historical Industrial Architecture as Part of Future Research
Historical Industrial Architecture as Part of Future Research

Author(s): Martin Pilsitz
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: industrial heritage; sustainable architecture; energy efficiency; bionics; Kőbánya cellar system; historic breweries; malt house; climate change; functionalism; industrial archaeology
Summary/Abstract: The study examines how historical industrial architecture can contribute to future-oriented architectural research and sustainable construction practices. It argues that architecture should respond to social and environmental challenges, especially climate change and resource depletion. The author criticizes the modern construction industry for its high levels of pollution, waste production, and energy consumption. Using the historical brewery cellar system in Budapest-Kőbánya as an example, the paper demonstrates how industrial buildings once achieved remarkable energy efficiency without external power sources. The underground limestone cellars maintained stable temperatures and humidity naturally, while natural ice from the Danube was used for cooling beer storage areas. The study also presents the Haggenmacher malt house in Budapest-Budafok as an early example of process bionics in architecture. The malt house was designed to imitate natural germination conditions for barley through carefully controlled light, temperature, humidity, and ventilation systems. Its architecture combined functionality, construction technology, and biological principles in a highly rational and sustainable way. The paper emphasizes that historic industrial buildings should not only be preserved as monuments, but also studied as valuable sources of knowledge for future sustainable design solutions. Overall, the author concludes that the scientific analysis of historical industrial architecture can inspire innovative responses to contemporary environmental and energy challenges.

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