Kelenföld Powerplant – We Have Visited One Of The Most Beautiful Abandoned Power Station In The World
Who are we ?
We are two 22-year-old twins brothers from France, Anthony and Florent. We are both Master’s students at a business school. Passionate about travel and atypical places, it is quite naturally that we discovered urban exploration. This passion grew up after our first exploration in a former sanatorium. It was a real revelation. Today, we travel all over France and Europe to be able to rediscover a once sparkling heritage. It is also to find ourselves in a parallel universe conducive to questioning and wonder. Our project is called “Symphony of Decay”
The taste for photography came to us 3 years ago. We started with our smartphones. We then perfected our skills until we bought an DSLR camera. Today, we own a Canon 700D and a Sigma 10-20mm f4.5-5.6 ultra wide-angle lens.
Last year we have spent 10 months in Budapest as part of an erasmus program. This old power station has been making us dream for years. So we took the opportunity to try to visit it. After a first unsuccessful attempt, we finally succeeded 5 months later. A moment that will remain in our memories for a long time
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More info: symphonyofdecay.com
Kelenföld Powerplant – An Abandoned Industrial Art Deco Gem
Inaugurated in 1914, the Kelenföld power plant located in the Hungarian capital was one of the most advanced power station in Europe.
Designed and built by two talented architects (Kálmán Reichl and Virgil Bierbauer), the power station, despite its industrial vocation, soon became a veritable palace of esthetics. In fact, it is one of the most remarkable examples of “Art-deco” masterpiece. A true love story between design and technology is transcribed throughout the entire plant, reflecting the optimism of the electrical era of the early 20th.
Thanks to its historical value, the traditional parts of the power plant are protected by the Hungarian law. Thus, it is safe from demolition. However, this also means that a potential restoration is impossible, leaving this gem to deterioration.
The site supplied energy to the city of Budapest until 2007, when the oldest part of the power station was closed. Since then, the slow degradation of the building has only increased its mystical aspect.
Today, closed to the public, the control room is frequently used for movie sets. Recently, as a torture room in the Netflix film “6 Underground” or as a feeding room in the NBC television series Dracula.
Coveted by urban explorers from all over the world, the plant was easy to visit for a short period of time during which guided tours were regularly organized. However, this is now over. It is in this context that the place has gain a reputation of being “difficult and risky” in terms of exploration. Indeed, today, being able to stand inside this architectural gem is often an achievement.
In order to have the chance to visit this place, we had to be patient and clever. Indeed, guarded and monitored, a preparation beforehand was more than necessary.
Thus, on a right day, we were ready to make one of our dreams come true. It is after long minutes of hesitation that we decide to go for it. Ensued, hours of searching within the complex in order to find the famous control room, which had then turned into a real grail for us.
It is with suspicion and excitement that we finally arrive at the heart of the complex. These feelings were quickly replaced by wonder.
Above, you will find some of our pictures of the 100 years old power station
The Control Room back in 1927
The control room of Kelenföld Power Station, architect: Virgil Bierbauer, 1927–1933
(photo: Tivadar Kozelka; MÉM Borbíró-hagyaték)
One of the side of the Control Room
The atmosphere inside this room is pretty unique. From every point of view, the room is impressive.
The Basement of the Powerplant built with long corridors
Control Panel of the Power Station
The ceiling of the room is a perfect example of Art Deco Architcture
Another point of view of the control room
The exploration of this place is still one of our best memories
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