Masterplan of Petržalka Housing Estate Project

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P E T R Ž A L K A A N D T H E F U T U R E O F S O C I A L I S M H O U S I N G E S T A T E S

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STUDIO PROJECT

Matúš Peklanský

2017

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Project deals with specific housing estate Petržalka, with which it works as with complex organism. Based on Petržalka's own authentic identity, project implies a network of “veins” - circulatory system pumping new urban blood into suffering organism.

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Notoriously known city district of Bratislava called Petržalka, is the “flag ship” of mass housing construction of socialism era, in Czechoslovakia. Building appetite of communistic party was not demonstrated in such a radical, and acquisitive way, in any other project, as in the case of Petržalka. Result became the biggest housing estate in middle Europe. The remains of this utopia on the right bank of Danube river are alive until now. “Paneláky” is the name for panel concrete housing block towers. Basic unit of each socialist housing estates in a cities, of post communism regimes. Nowadays its a part of our everyday life. They are memorials of controversial past, which is reminded today. That’s also a reason why they are confronted with negative connotations and critiques. The historical and architectural urbanistic value is invaded by modern trends. Socialism housing estates are degrading because of unqualified interventions. Panel housing estates are present today, but it’s future isn’t clear, and not so certain.

The main idea of this project is a reaction to non functioning housing estate ensemble. Unhealthy „Organism“, in which the environment is not fully working. There is no life circulation in it. For its creation, it is needed to intervene. However past interventions, inflicted more harm than good. Other interventions even seconded the negative factors of socialism housing estates.

My urban intervention reacts. It takes the housing estate as whole unit, organism. Each housing estate differs from another. Differences between them are created by the set of characteristic features, which creates „Identity“ of housing estate.

Features of identity are hidden in monotony of panel houses. Which is not the real problem itself. Identity features, are named “Uniques” of housing estate. Buildings authentic by its placement, appearance, containing uniqueness of one-shot story. Inhabitant can identify with them. Uniques are a extracts of original proposals of, many times, not finished projects of socialistic housing estates. Despite of its controversy, uniques are opposition of improper present interventions.

This project proposing an “Surgery” of housing estate. Operation of unhealthy, lifeless organism, with aim to cure and revive. It concentrate on public spaces, and environment.

In accordance with Identity it implies a new circulatory system - life creating, activating “Veins”. Veins are designed and planned with collaboration of inhabitants, and their preferences. Formation of routes is created, sensitively respecting identity of housing estate. Placement is consensus of specialists (architects, urbanists) and public realm.

To network of veins are completed by functional-estetic objects “Plug-ins”. Their purpose is to permanently enhance circulation in the circulatory system. The result is the network of veins, circulatory system, in which the blood streams, in a form of active life of inhabitants of housing estate.

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Masterplan of Petržalka Housing Estate. Map is showing the result of project’s purpose. Surgery of housing estate. Creation of circulatory system for this organism. Network of activating, life making veins. Based on identity’s Uniques. Added and enhanced by Plugins.

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There is selected areas in masterplan which are closely zoomed. Zoom is there for an explanation of a concept. It’s not a final project design. It illuminates the idea of the project, into a graphical representation of axonometry, situation, and section. Circulatory system of housing estate is created by activating veins. There is four categories defined. Each category has distinctive character, set for better clarity, and effectivity. Characters determination were influenced by Uniques. Their goal is to fullfill the needs of housing estate. Cultural vein, Commercial vein, Civic vein, and Spiritual vein.

Vein is not monotonously defined route. It’s divided by segments. In that way, veins can interact more flexibly with surrounding. Urban segment, Nature segment, Composition segment and Plugin segment.

Project documentation is only visual help for understanding of architectural intention.

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