Roof of Iconic Budapest Building Set to Collapse – Photos
Budapest’s Biodome Faces Uncertain Future as Heating is Cut Off
The Biodome in Budapest, known as one of the most unique buildings in the Hungarian capital, is facing an uncertain future due to financial constraints. The city of Budapest has been unable to secure enough funding to complete the project, forcing the government to freeze all financial support. As a result, the heating for the building has been shut off, which poses a risk of the roof collapsing.
According to Anett Bősz, the deputy mayor delegated by DK (Democratic Coalition), the municipal government will no longer cover the expenses for the Biodome. The lack of support from the government has left the city unable to continue funding the project. The Budapest Zoo, which oversees the Biodome, has revealed that between November 2022 and May 2023, the maintenance costs for the Biodome exceeded HUF 500 million (EUR 1.3 million), despite its minimal usage. In contrast, the income generated from the Biodome amounted to only HUF 36 million (EUR 93,000). Although the state initially initiated and financed the Biodome project, they have yet to complete it. The estimated cost of completion is approximately HUF 60 billion (EUR 156 million), a sum that Budapest currently does not have available.
The potential collapse of the Biodome’s roof looms as a consequence of the decision to halt heating. Originally designed to replicate the subtropical environment of the Pannonian Sea, the Biodome’s fate now hangs in balance. In 2022, the Budapest Zoo attracted one million visitors.
As previously reported, the unfinished Biodome has put Budapest at risk of bankruptcy, despite winning a prestigious award in 2018. The city’s financial struggle to complete the building raises concerns about its ability to sustain other projects as well.
The energy bills of three major companies in Budapest, operated by the municipality, have also experienced an increase of HUF 19 billion (EUR 49 million) despite efforts to reduce consumption. BKV, the city’s transport company, BDK, the public lighting company, and the Municipal Water Works have successfully reduced their gas consumption by 46%, central heating consumption by 28%, and electricity consumption by 5% between the last quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of this year. However, their energy bills still amounted to a total of 37 billion forints during that period. Deputy Mayor Ambrus Kiss stated that the amount would have been much higher if they had not chosen the riskier option of paying for energy based on daily spot rates rather than fixed contract prices.
The future remains uncertain for Budapest’s Biodome, as the city grapples with financial challenges and the possibility of the iconic building falling into disrepair.
