The “Hybrid Towers” residential hybrid project represents a modern urban and architectural intervention
in Petržalka, responding to the need for the transformation of residential development. This
design combines a horizontal base with two high-rise towers, creating a complex urban environment
that supports ecological, social and functional sustainability. It focuses on creating high-quality public
spaces, improving transportation accessibility and develop community life. Sustainability is achieved
through innovative technical solutions. The project combines a wide range of functions, such as housing,
services, administration, sports facilities and community spaces, creating a multifunctional urban unit
that responds to the needs of contemporary society. This project demonstrates how urban transformation
can be a tool for creating a high-quality and viable urban structure, aligned with the needs of modern
society.

Urbanism
The urban development of Petržalka, as the largest housing estate in Slovakia, represents a significant urban phenomenon not only within Bratislava but also on a national level. In recent years, it has been undergoing substantial changes, gradually transforming from a monofunctional housing estate into a diverse and dynamic urban district. While standardized panel construction with minimal urban variability dominated in the past, the area is now evolving into a vibrant and sustainable urban environment.
Examples of this transformation include the development of zones such as Slnečnice and the areas surrounding Einsteinova and Panónska streets, which are becoming key pillars of Petržalka’s new urban identity. The proposed area is in contact with older housing structures, where the original urban layout left behind empty or neglected spaces, abandoned ground floors, unused terraces, and undefined areas. The new building actively addresses this situation and revitalizes the underused potential of the area through a new hybrid structure that not only responds to the existing development but also enhances it in terms of quality.
The neglected ground floor is replaced with an active public space, while new services and green terraces bring life to previously inactive zones, thus strengthening the continuity of the urban environment. The urban design of the project is based on the principle of vertical urbanity, where functions are layered at different height levels. The horizontal base acts as an extended public space, connecting the existing pedestrian infrastructure and creating new links and natural transitions between different parts of the area. It is conceived as an open and permeable base that respects pedestrian movement, encourages social interaction, and creates attractive public areas.
A pedestrian underpass runs through the center of the building, connecting the western and eastern parts of the site through an active ground floor all the way to the tram line and the cycling path. Greenery as an urban element plays an important role. Integrated green areas on roofs, in atriums, and in public spaces contribute to the ecological stability of the location, reduce the urban heat island effect, and improve residents' quality of life. In addition, they provide space for sports, relaxation, and community activities.
The project reflects the needs of the contemporary city, not only in terms of residential quality but also regarding the quality of public space. Transportation is addressed comprehensively, with an emphasis on environmentally sustainable forms of mobility. Parking is entirely moved underground, eliminating the visual and functional impact of cars on public areas. The project promotes cycling and walkability, contributing to a broader strategy of sustainable urban development.
The urban composition is both legible and logically organized. Clearly defined functional zones, comprehensible movement axes, and active ground floors form a modern structure — a “micro-city within the city” that naturally integrates into the broader urban context of Petržalka. The project respects the local context while enriching it with a new type of public and community space, fulfilling contemporary urban planning visions.

Architecture
The proposed residential hybrid “Hybrid Towers” consists of two main massing elements. The base mass is a horizontal podium composed of two above-ground and two underground floors. It serves as a platform for public life and connects various levels of urban space. Its primary function is to establish a strong ground-floor presence and a contact zone with the surroundings. The podium connects to the existing panel building and revitalizes its deteriorating ground floor and underutilized public spaces, especially the neglected terraces. This creates an active node that integrates old and new architecture into a unified functional whole.
The central compositional element is a passage through the podium, four modules wide. This arcade-like opening connects the eastern and western parts of the site, brings in natural light, and enables pedestrian movement between the tram line, bike path, and new public areas. It also creates a covered green space with seating and relaxation zones for all visitors.
Above the podium lies a walkable green roof, publicly accessible and equipped with recreational areas, community gardens, sports and children’s playgrounds, a running track, and zones for relaxation. The greenery helps mitigate noise from nearby traffic routes (Panónska Road, tram line), which could otherwise negatively impact residents, and it also improves the microclimate and promotes biodiversity.
The podium provides the base for vertical growth. The high-rise towers, with 26 (94 m) and 37 (122 m) above-ground floors, create a vertically articulated structure and a new height-based landmark in the area. These towers contain the residential portion of the project. Apartments are designed using a modular grid of 8.1 × 8.1 meters, allowing for high flexibility in layouts and long-term adaptability to residents' changing needs. The design ensures quality lighting, natural ventilation, and adaptability over time.
The modular principle also extends to other functional parts of the building, including rental units, community spaces, and services. The towers feature shared spaces such as coworking floors and a fitness center, contributing to a comprehensive living environment that goes beyond traditional housing. The tower tops include walkable rooftops offering stunning views of Petržalka, Draždiak Lake, the Old Town, and the Little Carpathians.
Vertical circulation is organized into six cores. The project is designed as a functionally diverse whole, offering a wide range of services, creating a micro-city in a metropolis.
Architecturally, the building emphasizes clean lines, horizontal and vertical accents, and sustainable design. Rhythmic window and opening patterns soften the scale of the building and contribute to its urban readability. The architecture reflects current trends in sustainable construction, while also respecting the local context and residents' needs.
The building does not create barriers, but rather functions as an open system, featuring permeability, a community center, and integration into the surrounding urban infrastructure. Sustainability is a central theme, not only through passive features but also by actively supporting a healthy lifestyle. The design includes a wide range of sports and recreational elements: a hall, fitness center, running tracks, sports grounds, children’s playgrounds, and an extensive green system.
The building is directly connected to a tram stop, cycle path, parking structure, and bike-sharing station, creating a new multimodal transfer point within the area.

Structural and Technical Design
Given the building’s height parameters and the characteristics of the subsoil, the foundation structure is designed as a combined slab-pile system. A three-meter-thick reinforced concrete foundation slab ensures even distribution of the load from both high-rise towers onto 20-meter-deep piles, which transfer the load to a load-bearing soil layer. This robust system is designed with safety, stability, and long-term durability in mind.
The load-bearing structure of the building consists of a reinforced concrete skeleton with a regular modular grid of 8.1 × 8.1 meters, providing flexibility in spatial planning. This modular grid is applied across all functional parts of the building—from residential to leasable areas—allowing for easy adjustments and reconstructions in the future. Columns are designed with a rectangular cross-section of 600 × 1000 mm, and in the underground levels also with a circular cross-section of 500 mm in diameter, offering greater variability and a more open layout for parking.
The floor slabs are made of reinforced concrete, with thickness ranging from 200 to 400 mm, depending on the span and load. The floor-to-floor heights are differentiated according to the function of the levels: In the underground levels: 2,800 mm, On the ground and second floors (for services, sports, and administration): 5,350 mm, meeting technical and daylighting requirements, On the residential floors: 3,000 mm, ensuring a comfortable interior ceiling height.
Vertical circulation is provided by six reinforced concrete cores, each containing a pair of type-C escape staircases (including scissor stairs) and four elevators, one of which is an evacuation lift, dimensioned for use by persons with reduced mobility.
From a material perspective, the building is designed to reflect the functional and spatial orientation of each facade surface. The residential facades emphasize privacy and shading, using a combination of clear and frosted glazing in light gray aluminum frames. The administrative and public zones are designed to be more transparent, with large glazed surfaces to enhance openness and visual connectivity with the city. The entire building is glazed and oriented in relation to the cardinal directions, ensuring optimal daylighting and compliance with regulations requiring at least one-third of residential areas to receive direct sunlight.
In line with the sustainability concept, the building is equipped with a comprehensive building services system (HVAC, BMS, etc.) that reduces energy demand and improves the microclimate in the urban environment. A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery ensures continuous fresh air supply to both residential and commercial spaces without thermal losses. Combined with smart environmental controls, this optimizes user comfort and energy efficiency.
Photovoltaic panels are installed on the rooftops, covering part of the energy consumption for common areas and technical equipment. A rainwater retention system is proposed for the collection and reuse of rainwater for irrigation and cleaning of public areas. Heating, cooling, and ventilation are managed via a central thermal hub using a hybrid heat pump system that draws energy from geothermal boreholes or external air, depending on seasonal needs and system demand.