The new urban layer of Bratislava: Synthesis of housing, work and public space
Sky Park in the heart of Bratislava represents a key shift in the way architecture connects to the urban fabric. In the middle of a white field of a former industrial zone, Zaha Hadid Architects and partners are developing a complex, mixed-use program that blurs the boundaries between housing, work, and community.
Historical and urban context
- Located on the site of the former Jurkovič heating plant from 1942, now a national cultural monument, the revitalization project brings the old industrial structure back into urban life as a gallery, coworking center and café.
- By cleaning and decontaminating more than 30,000 m² of land affected by wartime destruction, the project faced the challenge of restoring the city's historical layer.
Urban development and program
- Extent: 5.5 ha with 20,000 m² of public park, more than 700 residential units, 55,000 m² of offices and commercial facilities designboom.com+1archdaily.com+1.
- Construction sections:
- Phase I saw the construction of three residential towers (105 m, 31 floors) and office space, completed by 2020.
- Phase II will see the construction of the fourth tower (2021–2024), a residential tower Sky Park Tower (119 m, 33 floors, under construction until 2027) and additional office/retail facilities
Architectural design and parametrics
- Zaha Hadid Architects used parametric design to create fluid buildings, designed with an emphasis on the continuity of facades, integration with the landscape and optimization of structural efficiency.
- Facades made of GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) were developed using parametric models, which enables a light, sustainable and visually refined finish of the mobile form with a layered bronze tone effect.
Public and natural dimension
- The park integrates a running track, sports fields, a dog area, children's playgrounds, green cascade zones and an amphitheater - a project by Landscape architects Townshend and Igor Marko pentainvestments.com.
- An ecological strategy was developed, which includes green roofs, perforated facades and the preservation of old trees in the network of public green areas.
Technical and certification aspects
- Skyscraper Sky Park Offices (79 m, 18 floors) was completed in 2021 and is LEED Gold and WELL Gold certified, confirming its commitment to healthy and environmentally friendly working conditions
- Similarly, the renovation of the heating plant retains more than 31,700 original bricks, structures and roof installations, while ensuring the authenticity and sustainability of the reconstruction.
What makes Sky Park important?
- Transformation of industry into an urban community – with not only a residential, but also a public program, Sky Park is becoming a new city center.
- Parametricity in practice – digital tools have enabled the creation of complex, road-integrated structures adaptable to the environment and construction.
- The end of Zaha Hadid's legacy – Sky Park Tower will become the last implemented ZHA project in Slovakia, and one of the last overall, with expected completion by 2027.
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