Marriott Residences Budapest

Fully enclosed protection system enables safe and controlled high-rise demolition

The demolition of Budapest’s iconic Körszálló (“Hotel Budapest”) represents one of the most technically demanding high-rise deconstruction projects in Hungary. The cylindrical geometry of the tower, combined with its dense urban surroundings, required a demolition concept focused on maximum safety, controlled workflows, and minimized environmental impact throughout every project phase.

To meet these challenges, the project team implemented the Doka Xclimb 60 protection screen system as the central safety and operational solution. The hydraulically operated, segmented protection screen creates a fully enclosed working zone around the active demolition levels, enabling controlled dismantling operations while significantly reducing the impact on neighboring residential areas and public spaces.

A key engineering challenge was the building’s circular façade geometry. Thanks to the modular adaptability of the Xclimb 60 system, the protection screen could precisely follow the curved structure while maintaining a continuous enclosure around the tower. This allowed demolition activities to progress safely and efficiently floor by floor without compromising access, visibility, or worker protection.

The protection screen system fulfills several critical functions simultaneously. It provides collective fall protection for workers, contains falling debris, and significantly reduces dust emissions generated during demolition works. In the confined urban environment surrounding the Körszálló, these protective measures were essential for ensuring the safety of both the workforce and the surrounding neighborhood. For the enclosure, Xbright mesh elements combined with internal protective layers made from formwork sheets and polycarbonate panels were used. This configuration created a highly durable and adaptable protective barrier capable of withstanding the demanding conditions of high-rise demolition while still allowing controlled ventilation and visibility where required.

One of the project’s most remarkable technical features is the self-climbing top-down demolition procedure. Unlike conventional climbing applications used during construction, the Xclimb 60 system follows the demolition process downward in carefully coordinated stages. Multiple screen units operate simultaneously around the building perimeter, maintaining a continuously protected demolition zone as the structure is dismantled level by level. The total screen height covered several floors at once, ensuring uninterrupted protection across the active demolition area and the levels directly below it.