Days of Architecture in Bratislava 2012: Expedition Panelstory

Architecture Days 2012

Expedition Panelstory: By bicycle through the abstract landscapes of Bratislava's housing estates

Mass residential construction was one of the most ambitious and simultaneously most problematic projects of modernism. In European terms, Bratislava is a unique example of concentrated and extensive realization of collective housing. It has implemented the largest number of urban planning concepts, tested the most types of panel prefabrication, and realized the largest number of panel apartments, where almost 80% of the city's residents lived 20 years ago. Bratislava's housing estates represent a heritage that provokes with its monumentality, monotony, generation of social problems, but also with vitality and ability to transform.

Architecture Days 2012 will provide a historical, somewhat romantic, and mainly dynamic and free perspective on mass residential construction in Bratislava. Through bicycle excursions, they will unveil the history of the construction of individual neighborhoods, draw attention to their urban structure, public spaces, parks, artworks, and architectural gems hidden in the anonymity of serial construction. At the various stops of the bike excursions, architects, urban planners, artists, and other guests connected with the theme of Bratislava's housing estates will speak.

Architecture Days 2012 is the jubilee tenth edition of this event. For this reason, a few interesting surprises await active participants.

PROGRAM:

June 1, 2012


18:00
 Bicycle ride through the non-existent boulevard of Petržalka (in cooperation with Critical Mass/ cycling coalition Bratislava)

Meeting place: SNP Square, 18:00

19:30 – 22:00 
Grand Opening of Architecture Days 2012

Place: under construction metro depot Janíkov dvor Petržalka. 19:30

June 2, 2012


10:00 – 12:00 
Housing estates in the west: vertically segregated Karlova Ves – the Dlhé Diely experiment - the unbuilt Podhradie

Meeting place: Jurigovo Square. 10:00

13:00 – 16:00 
Housing estates in the east: history-rich Ružová dolina – the most popular Ružinov – the utopia Between the ditches

Meeting place: Miletičova Street 47, in front of the library. 13:00

17:00 – 19:00 
Housing estates in the northeast developmental direction: consistent estate Hostinského - the first and the best Februárka

Meeting place: Hálkova Street, in front of OD Slimák. 17:00

19:00 
Grand Closing of the Event
 (supported by the mayor of the Bratislava - Nové Mesto district)

Place: Račianske Mýto park


The expeditions will be led by:
 Henrieta Moravčíková, Marián Potočár, Peter Szalay, and Mária Topolčanská
For more information, visit: 
Architecture Days, 
SAV or
 Facebook.

Note: 
Participation in the event is free of charge. It is not necessary to register in advance for the event. Visitors are recommended not only to have basic bicycle equipment but also to wear a helmet or reflective gear. Everyone participates at their own risk.
Program changes are reserved. 
In case of prolonged rain, excursions will be canceled or modified.

Contact person: Peter Szalay