SAS Architects and citizens: Welcome to the future, Petržalka!
The central theme and the name of the next of regular discussions on the architecture in the Jurkovičova hall of the Slovak Architects Society (SAS) last week on Wednesday became the future of Petržalka. This most interesting, important and highly topical issue raised in a wider angle of coverage the member of the Bratislava regional council of SAS – the architect Tomáš Augustín, who at the same time sat down in the moderator chair. After his entry the main architect of Bratislava professor Štefan Šlachta summarized overall problems on development and prospects of Petržalka to the bearing issues. The architect Jozef Vasek, the deputy of the city-planning scheme of Petržalka department then approached individual projects, which the authors then presented by individual presentations.
Functions of urban and above-urban importance
The first presentation devolved to the Municipal
centre Bratislava – Petržalka with the total area of 40 ha. The position is
defined by the space between Starý most (the Old Bridge) and Prístavný most
(the Port Bridge) in connection to the Danube meander in the northern part and
to the highway communication – the bypass – on the southern part. However,
very interesting and precise urban concept, which was in this form essentially
finished in 2006, is currently in the deadlock, because the problem originated
with the settlement of the urban lands and their new owners, who had probably
another idea about their utilization.
Martha Kropiláková the architect from the implementation team of MARKROP defined three main principles of this project. The first speaks about a clear urban structure that is created in the Danube meander involving its arms and greenery in the blocks – opposed to the urban structure lying on the opposite shore. The second strictly follows the implantation of the existing and proposed green vegetation to the new structure (with the contact to the existing Sad Janka Kráľa – Janko Kráľ Garden), while the axis of perception provides a nice view of the Bratislava Castle in particular formations. The third principle defines the function, so that there is a segregation of semantic spaces. In the central part there are placed civic amenities of urban and above-urban importance (here it was also considered the multifunctional hall), in tangent spaces with a bypass then with mixed build-up of housing and classical urban functions.
The need to define high-dominants
With another project the discussion penetrated more
into the municipal district. In contact to the Chorvátske rameno (the Croatian
Arm) in the northeastern position of Petržalka is determined the Petržalka
City project, which we approached thanks the member of authors team
– Professor Tibor Alexy. He also defined the main principles of the concept,
which are the creation of the block urban structure with the active involvement
of Chorvátske rameno incentive. He most of all highlighted the need for
defining height dominants, physical definition of squares and mainly the
classical urban boulevard – aspects that Petržalka is absolutely
lacking.
The height dominants are „a general problem“ of Petržalka. Professor Alexy draw attention to it also in connection with the fact that they proposed 40-storied building (totally three height objects) in the contact to the Starý most (the Old Bridge), it means at the entrance to the City part, but Petržalka local authority wanted to reduce the number to 25 up to 30 floors.
At the end of the presentation Alexy remarked that particular projects of Petržalka parts are acceptable, but lacking the sort of kneaded elements, thereby he also indicated the need for total solutions approach to this part of town.
New insights into the former area of Matadorka
The western part of Petržalka was probably always
talking about at least – mainly because once upon communism it was, due to
its location, near the „problematic“ western border (the so-called Iron
Curtain) actually, in terms of its development, a full taboo. Therefore, the
third presentation of the architect Ivan Kočan – the project of the former
factory Matador conversion to a new urban structure – generated increased
interest. This 12– hectare area originally bought the Italian manufacturer of
rubber products and planned to produce these products in the reconstructed
halls. Thereafter, however, he found that such production on the site would not
be so beneficial for him, so he started with the already-mentioned proposal for
the conversion and the construction of the new urban structure by recovery of
former production sites, respectively by their rebuilding.
Kočan emphasized savouriness of the throughout
situation, because the investor is not a classical developer. He also
highlighted the location of the site – as a strategic point at the entrance
to the city, with excellent connections to the existing transport and rail
networks. Overall, it is expected the creation of up to 600 thousand m2 of
useful area for housing and civic amenities and 12 thousand parking spaces,
while the territory is defined as mixed, with production services. The urban
study and the project for the land decision have already been processed. Since
the area is defined as the production one in the Bratislava city planning
scheme, it will need to approve the amendment to a mixed function. The architect
Kočan also, similarly as professor Alexy, stressed the need to address the
overall concept solution and composition of height dominants in the municipality
of Petržalka and he presented it in his project. It was really interesting to
know the possibilities of new perspectives creation on the arrival from the
western side to the former Matadorka area.
The vision – quality urbanized environment
After Kočan performance fruitful discussion
occurred. The moderator had, given the limited time, „a small“ problem: to
satisfy all discussing, among which was not missing the Petržalka mayor Milan
Ftáčnik or the architect – urbanist Bohuš Kováč. Became a pleasant the
discovery that presents person were not only architects, citizens – residents
of Petržalka, representatives of municipality and magistrate, but also young
people – artists and designers, who really took this topic. In the discussion
were, of course, also displayed other projects (Petržalka – South city,
Municipal forest-part– Draždiak or Aquacity).
It therefore only hope and believe that our greatest urbanized environment, where live more than 150-thousand people, will get with its projects to the high level of urban conglomerate, which will provide an excellent space for people living there as well as visitors from the city or abroad. To do so, it will be devoted much creative effort of all concerned, but now it is clear that the chosen path is good. Welcome to the future, Petržalka!
Photo – author
1– Chorvátske rameno (Croatian Arm) – Petržalka City
2 – City forest park Veľký Draždiak
3 – New and original structures near tangent
4 – New structures – a new centre (background left)
5 – View from the Matador area to new height dominants
6 – View from the future City to high-dominants
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