11.10.2024
What Architects win Slnečnice architectural competition
The last part of the Viladomy Zone (Villa-Houses Zone) in Slnečnice will be based on an architectural design resulting from an international public competition run by Cresco Real Estate. Five architectural studios took part: two from Slovakia, two from the Czech Republic, and one from Slovenia. The architectural competition was won by the Slovak studio What Architects.
The urban and architectural competition invited proposals for a modern residential district with local amenities at the location of Petržalka hill. This area aims to finish the Viladomy Zone in Slnečnice, where the construction of Bratislava’s largest contemporary residential district began a decade ago. The winning proposal showcases opportunities for rejuvenating the area, which for many years has been a mound of construction waste dating from the 1970s razing of the old Petržalka.“Our vision as the competition originator is to transform and sensitively continue the thriving Viladomy Zone in Slnečnice. Cultivating this area will bring added value to everyone - current and future residents of Slnečnice, as well as residents of the capital city and vicinity,” says Ján Krnáč, Cresco Real Estate’s CEO.
Five studios participated in the architectural competition: Studio Perspektiv, What Architects, Bevk Perović Arhitekti in collaboration with Superatelier, and Grido Architekti. Check out their competition designs in this article.
The jury comprised representatives of the developer, and independent architect and urban planner Juraj Benetin from Compass Architekti, which has been involved in Slnečnice’s urban planning for almost 15 years, has designed completed apartment buildings in the area, and appeared in this competition not as a competitor but as a committee member.
The jury unanimously agreed that What Architects met all the criteria. “They best perceived the current functioning of the Viladomy Zone, correctly evaluated the potential of the area under consideration, and projected all the information and their skills into a design that convincingly evoked how the area will function in the future. The design also creates potential for communities to grow, which we really appreciated,” says Ivana Jablonská, Cresco Real Estate’s development manager.
“Together with Matej Grébert, I think we succeeded in planning a balance between the urban and natural from the very beginning. What Architect’s winning design perfectly follows the first stage of Viladomy Zone and introduces something new, classy and timeless, which residents will love,” says Benetin.
The winning proposal brings new architectural approaches and a different approach to vehicles in residential zones, with the aim to bring more comfort and peace to Viladomy Zone’s last part. The proposal describes smaller height accents in two positions, one at the northern tip as a signal point at the entrance to the district, and the other at the end of the linear park by the planned square. "Our goal was also to create maximum potential for greenery, which will cool public spaces. We proposed rainwater management to retain moisture on the surface for as long as possible. The buildings are designed with green roofs to increase interior thermal comfort. We also used facades that provide natural shade," concludes Ondrej Kurek, What Architects’ CEO.
Slnečnice has a wide range of civic amenities. Last year, the developer completed the first part of Joseph Popper Park in Slnečnice, which when fully completed will cover 58,000 sqm (and become the second largest park in Petržalka after Janka Kráľa). The neighbourhood already has 8,000+ residents, and is approximately halfway through the planned construction. Slnečnice Nad mestom started construction last year. The latest approved projects are Slnečnice UNIQ and Slnečnice POP.