9. July 2026
The right bank of the Danube is now even more accessible to the public. A new nature park has been created between Old Bridge and Apollo Bridge, offering space for everyday walks, relaxation, sport and peaceful connection with nature. Developed in cooperation with the City of Bratislava, JTRE and Penta Real Estate, the project carefully opens up one of the most valuable natural areas in the wider city center.
The design by ZAAN architects is based on a simple idea: working with what already exists naturally on the site. Rather than introducing major construction interventions, it focuses on preserving the existing floodplain forest, opening it up to the public and complementing it with subtle elements that help visitors discover and experience the landscape more fully. The result is a public space where nature, the river and people are treated with equal importance.
The new park also forms a natural continuation of the gradual opening of the Danube’s right bank to the public. While the western part of the area near Apollo Bridge has already been brought to life in recent seasons through the activation phase of the Southbank project, the revitalized park opens up another stretch of the riverfront towards Old Bridge for Bratislava residents. Together, they create a continuous space for relaxation, outdoor activities and time spent by the river, even before the area begins its gradual transformation into a new city district.
Visitors will find a network of walking routes, relaxation meadows, seating areas by the Danube, picnic spots, fire pits, small architectural elements and a new signage and information system presenting the history of the area, its local fauna and flora, and the life of the river. Natural play elements and lookout points have also been added, encouraging visitors to explore the unique environment of the Danube floodplain forest at a slower, more peaceful pace.
A distinctive feature of the park is a set of four land-art works by Antonín Němec, Anton Čierny and Jaroslav Kyša. They were not conceived as standalone artworks placed within the landscape, but as something that grows naturally out of it. Using fallen trees, driftwood and other natural materials already present on the site, the works give them new meaning in a sensitive way. Here, art does not compete with nature; instead, it helps visitors perceive it more closely and from a different perspective.
Each work explores a different motif. The Sieve combines driftwood with river stones and invites visitors to become part of its gradual transformation. Anatomy of Silence turns a fallen tree into a space for reflection on time, landscape and the relationship between people and nature. The Lookout uses a shaped tree trunk as a place to rest, while its growth rings recall the lifespan of trees. Place and Time works with an uprooted tree as a symbol of the natural cycle of life, decay and renewal.
The project shows that high-quality public space can be created with minimal intervention in the landscape. By preserving the area’s natural character, respecting the existing floodplain forest and carefully introducing new functions, the project has created a place for relaxation, outdoor activities and the discovery of a unique Danube environment.
The new park is another joint step by the City of Bratislava, JTRE and Penta Real Estate towards making the Danube’s right bank a natural part of everyday life for Bratislava residents. It is a place where high-quality public space, nature and urban life complement one another, creating new opportunities to spend free time in direct contact with the river.
