The 60,000m² project, on the site of Zváračák, a former Welding Research Institute in Račianska Street, will feature more than 1,300 apartments, around 21,000 m² of office and retail space, 198 student accommodation beds and more than 2ha of publicly accessible green space.
The London and Manchester-based practice won the competition in collaboration with local partner Superatelier.
More than 30 international submissions were made for the site. It was selected ahead of finalists: Dutch-based Benthem Crouwel; KCAP; Milan’s Stefano Boeri Architetti; Austrians Quercraft and Gro Architekti; and Slovakian practice Zeit Architects.
According to a statement from Studio Egret West, its design draws inspiration from the character of the site, respects its industrial heritage and will create conditions for a vibrant and sustainable urban environment.
A historical industrial hall with a unique vaulted geometry, formerly used as a welding laboratory, will be retained and transformed into one of the district’s main landmarks and an events venue.
Studio Egret West has also proposed reusing numerous other buildings and repurposing several fragments of the original industrial complex, which will be integrated into public spaces and landscape features. As a result, the site’s industrial heritage will become part of the everyday experience of future residents, the practice said.
The proposal also includes a network of squares, parks, community gardens, recreational areas, and pedestrian connections. Landscape design builds upon existing mature vegetation, site topography, rainwater management strategies and biodiversity enhancement, it added.
Several building typologies are included in the plans, ranging from a landmark high-rise tower and pavilion-style apartments to lower-rise homes.
Construction will be carried out in several phases. The first phase is scheduled to begin in 2028, and the overall project is expected to be delivered over a period of more than a decade.
According to the statement, the jury selected Studio Egret West due to its ‘sensitive approach to the territory, respecting its industrial past and ability to transform a closed area into a vibrant and open district’.
They said that the design brings a ‘thoughtful integration of housing, offices and public spaces with an emphasis on functionality and sustainability’.
From the very beginning, we were fascinated by the strong character of this place and its industrial history. When we first visited the site, we discovered the words “We Understand Welding”. This is a fitting mantra for a place full of character and memorable artefacts.
We look forward to welding together existing and new structures, landscapes, and neighbourhoods. Our framework unites these elements with a mix of living, working, and cultural programmes to ensure an authentic and sustainable ecosystem evolves over time.
David West, founder and director, Studio Egret West
The interior of the preserved Welding Lab
Source: SEW
Throughout both the architectural competition, our priority was to find a solution that would create long-term value for the city, its residents, and the site itself. SEW’s proposal delivers a balanced mix of housing, employment opportunities, services, green spaces, and high-quality public areas.
We believe the project will contribute to the continued development of this part of Bratislava while demonstrating that brownfield regeneration is the most responsible approach to urban growth, as it makes use of existing infrastructure and promotes sustainable urbanism.
Juraj Nevolník, member of the project’s investment committee
SEW’s competition-winning scheme for the Zváračák site, a former Welding Research Institute in Račianska Street, Bratislava, Slovakia – residential gardens