Bratislava’s Jurkovič Heating Plant is reborn as a giant culture hub

An iconic piece of Bratislava’s industrial heritage has been transformed into a centre for art and commerce, with a new glass skeleton to complement its concrete interiors.

The Jurkovič Heating Plant dates from 1944 and is deemed a national cultural monument in the city’s Sky Park development. This swathe of formerly industrial land is now home to houses, offices and a park, all designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

Architect Martin Pasko and his DF CREATIVE GROUP led the heating plant’s adaptive reuse, aiming to preserve as much of the original red-brick industrial architecture as possible. A new interior glass facade creates the layout for a set of coworking spaces, while the building’s various parts are now accessed by raised metal walkways.

These additional elements stand alongside Jurkovič’s concrete hoppers, as well as the pre-existing windows and skylights. As well as offices – with hot desks starting at €160 per month – the culture hub houses a restaurant, cafe and art gallery, and space to host conferences.

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