Logo Oventrop GmbH & Co. KG

Parliament Budapest
Budapest, Hungary

Description
Type Public building
Project New building
Execution 1885-1904
Architect Imre Steindl

The centre of Hungary

Budapest, Hungary's capital, is divided into two parts by the Danube River. The attractiveness of the city lies in the contrast between the hilly Buda district and the flat Pest, which are connected by the 19th century Chain Bridge, among other things.
The “Parliament Building” on the banks of the Danube is the seat of the Hungarian Parliament and also the city's landmark. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, making it not only one of the most imposing buildings in the city but in the entire world.

The impressive interior of the neo-Gothic Parliament Building was built between 1885 and 1904, modelled on the Houses of Parliament in London. The Hungarian architect Imre Steindl was entrusted with the construction management, but he went blind shortly before completing his masterpiece.

With a lenght of 268 m and a width of 123 m, it is the second largest building in the Hungarian capital after the Castle Palace. 40 million stones, including half a million decorative stones, were incorporated into the neo-Gothic façade of the Parliament. Its 365 turrets and numerous gables give the Hungarian Parliament Building an absolutely distinctive exterior, which miraculously suffered little damage during the Second World War.

Like St. Stephen's Basilica, the dome of the Parliament is 96 m high, so together the two residences of secular and clerical power hold the titel of the tallest buildings in Budapest. The Parliament can be entered through 27 different entrances. Among other things, 40 kilogrammes of gold were used for the classicist interior decoration of the 29 staircases and 691 rooms. Artful frescoes and murals tell the story of Hungary, and the largest knotted carpet in Europe - 7 by 21 metres, can also be found in an anteroom of the session hall. Under the dome, in the imposing domed hall, one of the most important imperial insignia is kept - the crown of St. Stephen, protected from theft by the Crown Guard in traditional uniforms. The precious crown still dates back to King Stephen I, Hungary's first Christian king.

Sophisticated technical solutions were in demand from the beginning

The architect of the Parliament Building already realised that the summer heat, averaging 28 °C in July and August, would cause problems for the MPs inside, so he put an ingenious idea into practice. Under two fountains in front of the building, hidden openings led into a tunnel system that transported cooled fresh air throughout the building. Today, some of the openings are still used, but the cooling is done - much more effectively - with ice.

During one of the many renovation measures at the end of the last century, the sanitary facilities of the Parliament were provided with protection against legionella. This technical challenge is no simple matter in a building that is well over 100 years old. With the Oventrop Aquastrom C static control valves and the Aquastrom T plus thermal circulation  valves, the system was upgraded with the possibility of thermal disinfection. 

For thermal disinfection to be effective, the installation must ensure that 70 °C hot water flows in the pipes. By opening the hot water draw-off points, the pipe and fittings are simultaneously flushed, thermally disinfected and any legionella present are killed. In normal mode, temperatures are guaranteed in the hot water network that prevent germination. This is achieved by hydronic balancing of the circulation flow.  

Oventrop Aquastrom C static control valves made of bronze are used in circulation pipes of potable water systems in the temperature range between -20 °C and +150 °C and also enable hydronic balancing of the circulation pipes among each other. Hydronic balancing is carried out by means of a reproducible presetting. All intermediate values are infinitely adjustable.

Further advantages at a glance:
– Easy to use thanks to the functional components located on one side
– Only one valve for 5 functions: presetting, shutting off, temperature display, draining, measuring (pressure test points see accessories)
– Infinitely adjustable presetting, press loss and flow rate can be checked via pressure test points (accessories)
– Drain valve for hose connection, plug, drain cock and pressure test points are sealed to the valve body with an O-ring. Additional sealing can be completely dispensed with
– With insulation
– Certifications: DVGW, SVGW, KIWA, ACS, VA and WaterMark

Location