How does the Chalupkova project turn a neglected 3-hectare brownfield into a vibrant, high-density residential district through porous massing and hybrid timber construction, expanding Bratislava’s new city center?

Design Concept

The design adopts a "porosity" concept to manage the large scale of the development and create a strong relationship with the human scale.

• Massing and Scale: Building scales are broken down into smaller, articulate elements such as loggias, balconies, windows, and recesses to achieve a human-scale feel and provide shadow and material quality.
• Urban Flow: The geometry respects mandatory constraints while enabling transversal, longitudinal, and diagonal movement across the plot through a network of internal courtyards and pathways.
• Retail Activation: Ground-floor retail spaces are integrated into all blocks, ensuring the area is relatively self-sufficient and acts as a point of attraction, effectively expanding the new city center and connecting it to the historical core.

Structure and Engineering

The project explores innovative and sustainable construction methods to meet modern building requirements, particularly fire safety and environmental impact.

• Hybrid Structures: The design specifies hybrid construction methods, coupling timber frames and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) with concrete layers to meet rigorous fire regulations.
• Material Application: Mass timber is intended for use in intermediate frames and elements like loggias.
• Site Remediation: Environmental remediation of the former industrial site is an integral part of the development process, aiming to mitigate the impact of past activities and improve the location's environment.

Sustainability (Regeneration/Resilience)

The Chalupkova project is positioned as an environmental and sustainable landmark, implementing modern trends in environmental engineering to enhance well-being and site resilience.

• Green Areas and Biodiversity: Extensive green areas are optimized within both public and private/semi-private spaces (including rooftops). This greenery promotes biodiversity and assists in temperature balance and cooling, enhancing the quality of life for residents.
• Water Management: All green surfaces are designed to function for water retention and runoff management.
• Mobility: The concept prioritizes green mobility, integrating a wider green mobility network that actively encourages e-cars, public transport, and cycling.

Urban Integration and Spatial Experience

The development is intended to transform a neglected zone into a highly desirable, functional extension of Bratislava's core, emphasizing a safe and comfortable pedestrian environment.

• Car-Free Zone: The design strategically separates traffic, reserving the inner neighborhood spaces exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists to create a safe, comfortable, and healthy environment for residents.
• Landscape and Flow: The landscape between the blocks is designed as a continuous flow with designated places for staying and outdoor experiences, recognizing the positive impact of nature on well-being.
• City Connection: The retail-activated ground floors and integration with the adjacent Chalupkova office building (C2+C2e) ensure the development functions as a unified entity, acting as a critical link between the new downtown and the historical city center on the northern bank of the Danube.