City of Bratislava

The City and its environment

Bratislava, the capital of the recently independent Slovak republic, is situated on the Danube in a well connected triangle with the Vienna and Budapest close to the Austrian and Hungarian borders. While the natural environment is favourable for recreation, the region is highly effected by emissions from industry, energy production and transport. The function and structure of the culturally important historic city centre was affected by demolition and modernisation until it regained acclaim after the 1970s. The construction of large housing estates began east, west and south of the city centre adjacent to former rural villages which, however, have changed towards housing areas. The capital city presently hosts many political, administrational and scientific institutions with the respectively educated workforce. The versatile industry is dominated by chemistry, machine and other production.

The city's planning department is involved in complex analysis and planning for the new functions of a national capital on the waterfront and in finishing and adapting the existing housing areas to the city development.

Housing situation and large housing estates

79 percent of the present housing stock was constructed after 1945, in he majority after 1960, when building 16 large housing complexes began with 2.500 to 40.000 inhabitants each, of which Petrzalka is the largest. Whereas the old city centre and pre-war housing areas as well as older single family housing areas play a limited role in housing provision, the large estates, mostly produced with pre- cast concrete panels are the main factor of the local housing system. Building was a state enterprise and, while the decisions about the privatisation of the newer state owned or co-operative dwellings is under consideration, the restitution of the older stock is already under way.

The large estates have the character of districts and were planned with all amenities. However, often the new centres were unfinished and are only slowly attracting investment. All new districts are well connected to the centre and industrial areas in the region.

The housing stock is administered by the respective owners, i.e. in the majority the city and housing co-operatives. Projects for new types of management are under way (with assistance from USAID and the Slovak Institute for Housing).

A majority of recent new housing in the Bratislava region consists of private single family homes, but the city, co-operatives and private corporate investors are entering the construction of smaller developments.

Problems and areas requiring action

• Adopting to a new legal situation of land ownership, urban planning, home ownership, housing administration
• Rising prices for energy, water, rents and taxes threaten the continuation of life-styles
• Defects on roofs, windows, insulation, technical infrastructure; inadequate funds for repair
• Monotony, small flat sizes further the polarisation of the housing market which demands increasingly (smaller) luxury flats and decent cheap lodgings.
• The changing demographic situation requires a more differentiated housing stock
• Anonymity and resulting vandalism, safety, criminality drug, trading (and use)
• Lack of leisure and recreational facilities
• Inefficient housing services
• Lack of parking space and deficient public transport system, the capacity of roads is fully used
• Shortage of jobs leads to ”artificial” traffic and consequent pollution

Actors and activities

The state is still funding social housing to some degree and assists the cities and co-operatives in energy conserving measures. However, most new building is carried out by the private sector at high prices. A savings system is emerging to assist young families in acquiring new housing. The main developing actor in the large housing estates are the city and private and co-operative administrations and management organisations working in maintenance of buildings and the improvement of heat insulation. Local and district self government is still developing as a basis for planning and change.

”Petrzalka” Estate

The estate was planned as a transdanubian city extension for app. 100.000 inhabitants and built in the 1970s and 80s in three zones as an independent district. An secondary axis parallel to the Danube and a north-south main axis were expected to provide the backbones to a flexible and adaptable urban structure. The original concept envisaged an integrated district of housing, work, education and the appropriate social infrastructure. Different quarters were to become architecturally versatile and a step by step system of construction was expected to prepare the emerging new district as flexibly responding to new demands. However, the main function is still that of a highly uniform dormitory town expecting completion of central areas.

Among the most important assets of Petrzalka are the location near the Danube and adjacent meadows and wetland-woods as well as good sports facilities.

Physical and ecological situation

• good connections towards the natural environment
• disturbance through urban and interurban traffic
• plans for a subway system to city centre uncompleted

Problems

• Unsolved land and flat ownership; consequent management problems
• Lack of ample employment opportunities near the estate and in general
• Security problems, lack of leisure and cultural amenities and consequent problems of civil behaviour
• Inefficient middle-school provision for the large young population
• Improving public and private traffic links to the city

Strategies

• City and district priority in maintenance is on energy efficiency:
  ”Finishing” along the lines of the original drafts and enlarging and improving the function of this major new pert of Bratislava, development of detailed plans.
• Planning and building a subway-line passing the district and leading to the old city centre and a new hyper market
• Developing the vacant corridor for the planned subway-line as an attractive urban centre with commercial and cultural facilities.

Source: EA.UE: A future for large housing estates, Berlin 1998

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