15. August 2022
We are launching an international architectural and urban design competition, the aim of which is to find a future solution and form of development of the area near the southern bank of the Danube river, in the area between Bratislava’s Old Bridge, the Apollo Bridge and the Harbor Bridge. The competition is open, three invited international architectural studios will also participate.
For decades, the city of Bratislava has been planning to transform the area between the two bridges on the southern bank of the Danube River into a new city center. This area is considered strategic in terms of city’s development plans with the intention to create a compact city by the river. The site in question is one of the most valuable building lots suitable for development in the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava, thanks to its proximity to both, the historic city center, and the new downtown as well as its position on the southern bank of the Danube River.
The main goal of the competition is to bring high-quality architecture to the site with an area of 85,000 m2. Project will include residential and commercial development as well as high-quality public spaces and greenery. The project also includes construction of complete public amenities in the given location and will meet the highest energy requirements with a positive impact on the environment. The area of the development does not include inundation areas or the protected area Soví les, protection of which will be one of the priorities of the competition.
“I am convinced that the „Southbank Bratislava“ project defined not only by its excellent location, but also by its scale, has a strong potential to become a full-fledged part and complement to the Bratislava’s city center and at the same time an attractive and comfortable place for life, work and free time activities. We consider the architectural competition as the most suitable way to find the best and highest quality concept for this area. I believe that by combining the participation of international as well as domestic studios, we will find an unique architectural solution”, says Juraj Nevolník, Country Managing Director of Penta Real Estate Slovakia.
The competition is divided into two rounds. First round is an open, pre-qualification round, from which three proposals, selected by the expert jury, will advance to the second round, where they will compete with three invited architectural studios. Invited architectural studios are Zaha Hadid Architects, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). In the second round, the jury will evaluate six proposals, selecting a winner of the competition. Results of the competition will be announced on February 28, 2023.
Proposals will be assessed by a 9-member expert jury. Five members of the jury as well as one alternate member are independent experts – architects and urban planners, another four members of the jury and one alternate member are representatives of the Penta Real Estate.
Independent jury members:
- Prof Ing. Arch. Eva Jiřičná, CBE, AI Design (architect and designer)
- Ing. Arch. Juraj Benetin, Compass (architect and urbanist)
- Igor Marko MA Arch ARB, Marko and Placemakers (architect and urbanist)
- Dipl. Ing. Peter Gero, Peter Gero Consulting (architect and urbanist)
- Ing. Arch. Ján Doubek, Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava, Department of Architectural Competitions
- Ing. Arch. Kornel Kobák, Vice-Chairman of the Slovak Chamber of Architects, AVK architects, FORFORM (architect and urbanist) – alternate
You can find more information about the competition on the website www.competition.southbank.sk