PHILOSOPHY
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN BOTH SPACE AND SOCIETY

The project site lies on the right bank of the Danube, between Janko Kráľ Park and the D1 highway on Einsteinova Street. This area possesses a mix of conflicting qualities and characteristics. The highway acts as a massive urban barrier, cutting off the city center from the southern part of Bratislava—Petržalka. The main theme of the project is “de-barrierization,” with a focus on removing the physical barriers within the area.

However, the concept of de-barrierization is approached on multiple levels—both tangible and intangible. The aim of the design is to remove barriers in the area around Einsteinova Street and to reconnect two parts of the city that were insensitively separated. The concept of "barrier removal" is approached on two levels. It deconstructs barriers physically by creating a green park over the highway, and it bridges intangible barriers between different social groups through a daytime multigenerational center. The center is intended for all groups of people — from seniors, children, young adults and working adults to individuals with physical disabilities or mental health challenges, such as burnout. Connecting people across age groups and social backgrounds brings mutual benefits and fosters community and social integration.

MASS CONCEPT
The architectural form was shaped by the idea of bridging the highway and addressing elevation changes—eliminating stairs and other physical barriers in the process. The massing consists of intersecting sloped planes that stretch over the highway, creating a series of walkable terraces. These terraces are sloped in a way that ensures continuous sunlight throughout the day, avoiding mutual shading. Because the bridge must also span a railway line, the structure of the park extends over the tracks and connects to green areas near local schools and kindergartens.

LAYOUT SOLUTION
The building is divided into three types of spaces: public, semi-public, and private areas.
Public spaces are located on the 1st and 2nd above-ground floors. At the highway level, these include parking areas, electric charging stations, a passageway, rentable spaces, and a bike station.
On the 2nd floor, there is a proposed event hall for city activities such as discussions, workshops, dance events, and more.
The main floor (3rd floor) is semi-public. It is intended for both visitors and members of the center. It features the entrance foyer, reception, café, center administration, a common room, a sports room with changing rooms, and a nurse’s office.
The 4th floor is dedicated exclusively to members of the center and their activities. These include a music room, an art studio, a model-making room, and a hall with a social purpose for film screenings, concerts, and interpersonal interaction.
This floor also includes service rooms for center members, such as a psychologist’s office and counseling spaces. It has direct access to the exterior and the gardens.
The top 5th floor is intended for individual relaxation with views of the city.
In the southern part of the building, on the 3rd floor level beneath the park slopes, there are public spaces such as a bistro and a gallery with direct access to the original terrain via an escalator, elevator, or pedestrian and bicycle paths.

ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION
The exterior appearance of the building is defined not only by its distinctive form but also by its façade design. The building is wrapped in shading louvers made from transparent colored solar panels, which both provide shade and generate solar energy.
These panels are installed at an angle, tilted away from the façade to optimize the incidence of sunlight.

STRUCTURAL SOLUTION
The building consists of two parts – the lower part is a reinforced concrete structure that spans across the highway. On top of it is a wooden structure of the day center made of CLT panels and glued laminated timber elements.
The surrounding slopes are formed from soil, which is used for planting both low and tall greenery as well as gardens. Some of the spaces beneath the slopes, which have a lower ceiling height or lack sufficient natural light, are used for technical systems (MEP) and storage rooms.