Southern suburbs and the Old town waterfront

Bratislava

The design concept is based on an understanding of the urbanized part of the city with the newly proposed waterfront. The intention was to look at the waterfront in a holistic way. Therefore, in a broader context, the importance and need to engage the waterfront from the Lafranconi Bridge to the Winter Harbour is also addressed. The creation of a complete Bratislava waterfront allowed to integrate developments such as FTVŠ, PKO, River park, Zuckermandel, Eurovea, Eurovea 2 into a functional waterfront that functions as a system of public spaces. The spatial solution consists of respecting the urbanised buildings, which are connected by a network of public spaces, parks, quays, promenades, squares and embankments, which are linked to the concept of the soft and hard banks of the Danube. The alternation of these two principles has proven to be the right step to create a coherent waterfront. Eurovea 2 - Passenger port uses the soft bank where the park is located. In the passenger harbour - River Park, we use a hard bank which has an urban character and in the River Park - FTVŠ, we use a soft bank where we take care to preserve the natural character which is complemented by the newly proposed parks. The unifying element of the concept is the waterfront promenade linking the entire waterfront. This begins in a natural form at the Lanfranconi Bridge, where it is subsequently transformed into an urbanised form that continues all the way to the Winter Harbour. Along the promenade stretches a park with a wide range of activities, divided by various public spaces. The focal area is the Old Town waterfront, whose revitalization aims to improve the quality of life, offer direct contact with the water, and make all adjacent public spaces more attractive. Along the waterfront, a waterfront is proposed, accessible to people with various functions, e.g. a boating club, cafés and others that can be in direct contact with the water. The waterfront begins at the River Park residential structure and ends at the Propeller Café. We consider the location of the U.S. Embassy at Hviezdoslav Square to be the greatest constraint within Old Town. Therefore, we propose to move it away from the historic core. According to various information, the US has bought the building on the corner of Olejkárská and Dostoevsky Rados, so we are working with this information as one of the options.

studio: Mooods

team: Patrik Domanický

scope: Competition proposal

area: 2

client: Old town, Bratislava

year: 2022

locality: Old town, Bratislava

Masterplan

Leveling the board

Exterior areas of art

Residential staircase

Landscape redesign

New trees

Ecological approach

Unification of trams + greenery

New cycle paths

Materials

The concept of broader relationships

The area in question is situated in the southern part of Bratislava. The Old Town waterfront is an important area for the whole Bratislava. To the north, the area is bordered by a busy 1st class road, which also forms a barrier between the Old Town and the Embankment. The southern side is bordered by the Danube water surface with a dynamic waterfront edge. The west of the area is defined by the SNP Road Bridge and the public space under the SNP Bridge. The exceptional position of the Old Town waterfront, which is connected to the Old Town, is part of a larger whole waterfront concept along the Danube bank. This higher context gives the chance to activate the whole Danube waterfront, from the Lanfranconi Bridge to the Winter Harbour, in which the Old Town waterfront could play the role of a central waterfront that is seamlessly connected to the green ring of the Old Town, passing through Šafárik Square - Landerer Park - Hviezdoslav Square, and culminating in a waterfront with a unique 'Life by the Water' atmosphere.

Bird's eye view of the waterfront

The forecourt of the National Gallery

Rázus Square, view of the public space in front of the National Gallery

THE FUNCTIONAL USE OF PUBLIC SPACES

The connecting motif of the waterfront is a generous public space activated by several atmospheres and their programme. The public space of the waterfront is currently relatively homogeneous. The aim was to design a new system of public spaces. The system is designed on the principle of A-B-A-B alternation. We started from the existing spaces, which we tried to make more attractive, and we always placed parks between the spaces.

System

Rybné námestie - Park - Rybárska Dedina - Park - SNG exhibition forecourt - Propeller connected with Ľ. Štúr - Park - Boat Harbour - Park - Danube Pool - Park Parks are mostly dedicated to sports, relaxation, recreation and children. The waterfront can be a popular area for young people, beach users, a relaxation area for mothers with children or for the elderly. Along the seafront there is a proposal to plant new trees that would form the basis for future parks, which include areas for outdoor sports.

Masterplan

Axonometry

Section - old

Section - new

Fish square connected to the embankment and the SNP bridge sub-bridge

We conceived the revitalization of Rybný náměstí as a residence-transit public space where people can relax and use the café facilities of the Park inn hotel. The idea was to plant trees in the grill to regulate the temperature and prevent overheating of the surfaces. The design of a fountain in the pavement, which is wheelchair accessible, creates a place for a multi-sensory experience. We designed the connection between Fish Square and the waterfront with a wide pedestrian crossing and traffic calming on the Rázus embankment. The extension of Rybný náměstí allows us to reach the Danube thanks to the residence stairs. On the embankment there is a boating club with a pier, which serves primarily for the Vienna - Bratislava transit traffic. We see the possibility of connecting boat transport with bus transport as a benefit.

Fishing village

The proposed public space adjacent to the public transit stop allowed for the creation of a permanent, leasable space for operations that is primarily used for community development. Opportunity to sit by the waterfront and look out over the river with the SNP Bridge.

Masterplan

Axonometry

Section - old

Section - new

Exhibition space of the National Gallery

Extending the existing public space within the SNG courtyard to the edge of the waterfront, with the involvement of art, struck us as the most attractive form of presenting outdoor art.

Mostova Street

By removing traffic from Bridge Street, we have a residential street that primarily serves people. The extension of the Bratislava Corso from Michalska Gate to the Danube has been achieved by calming the street, which directly connects to Ľ. Štúr.

Connecting Ľ. Štúr Square with the Propeller

Revitalisation of Ľ. Štúr Square was completely eliminated from car traffic. The tram lines were unified. The public transport stop adds life to the public space and ensures the constant arrival of people to this zone. New green areas have been created in the square and a new event space has been created. The functioning of the Propeler café will be restored, making the whole area more attractive. Residential stairs allow us to move to the embankment where we can experience the touch of water.

Ľudovít Štúr Square

Mostová - Ľudovít Štúr Square

Masterplan

Axonometry

Swimming pool on the Danube

The newly proposed structure on the Danube allows for human swimming in the natural part of the waterfront. The whole zone around the Danube pool is designed as a relaxation and recreational green area where people can relax, if they take advantage of the swimming pool facility for swimming. On the northern part we propose the continuation of the promenade from the Eurovea, where the newly proposed establishments are being built.

The forecourt in front of the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University

The space is designed as a multifunctional space that can change for the needs of the users: parking, concert, foodcourt, summer beach, festival. It also connects the waterfront with Šafárik Square and Landerer Park.

Embankment

From our perspective, the most valuable public space designed. People can walk by the Danube and experience the power of the river. Getting closer to the Danube River is the greatest value of the proposal. The embankment is located at a height of + 0.650 m from the Danube surface.

Section - old

Section - new

Fajnor's Embankment - view of the park

Fajnor's Embankment - swimming pool on the Danube

Detailed masterplan - Námestie Ľ. Štúr

Detail of surfaces

Detailed masterplan - Pre-gallery area

Propeller - connecting public space