Renowned KCAP architects wins JTRE international competition for new Bratislava skyscrapers
Two towers, both articulated not as a single volume but rather a bundle of slender towers, each ending at different points, adding to the richness and complexity of the skyline and working in balanced composition with Eurovea Tower forming a fine grained cluster of verticals. This is how globally renowned Dutch architectural studio KCAP envisions new skyscrapers in the Bratislava downtown. An expert jury selected this vision as the winner of the JTRE-led international urban-architectural Eurovea City Concept Design Competition.
In a competition that attracted leading studios, KCAP beat market leaders including Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (Austria), Dominique Perrault Architecte (France), Gensler (U.S.), and AE7 & GFI (Dubai-Slovakia). All proposals were presented in October to an expert jury in Bratislava chaired by Michal Sedláček (professor at the Institute of Architecture of Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology and the former chief architect of Brno), and other members including Juraj Šujan (head architect of Bratislava), Hadi Teherani (renowned German-Iranian architect), Pavel Pelikán (executive director of JTRE), and Ľuboš Kaštan (Eurovea Tower project manager).
"The winning design stood out with its innovative concept, aesthetic value and sustainability. The jury highlighted its harmonious blending with the existing urban environment, while enriching that same landscape with contemporary and functional features. The proposed high-rise buildings will greatly enhance Bratislava’s skyline, bolster its visual identity, and promote its European architectural prestige. A higher profile will in turn increase the city’s standing and attractiveness for investors and visitors: these buildings will become symbolic of Bratislava, representing a purposeful and progressive approach to urbanism," Michal Sedláček explained the jury's decision.
“We’re excited and honoured to win this competition. With our proposal, we set out to create a project that redefines Bratislava’s skyline while reflecting its unique identity. This vision was enabled through incredible teamwork and collaboration, combining architectural ambition with sustainable innovation to shape a vibrant and forward-looking addition to the city,” said KCAP Partner Jeroen Dirckx.
And in KCAP’s own words: the project will imbue Bratislava’s skyline with two iconic residential towers reaching 260m and 184m, with over 1,000 housing units they will constitute two of the tallest residential buildings in the EU. The towers will form a dynamic composition of slender volumes with distinctive stepped crowns and terraces, and panoramic corner windows for all-round views. The warm metallic façade captures and reflects light in subtly refined ways, shifting the towers’ expression with the changing daily weather. Connected by glass base pavilions with amenities and spaces for casual gatherings, the project integrates a lush green landscape inspired by the Danube’s flowing forms to create a harmonious balance between architecture and nature. With sustainable systems that reduce concrete use, optimise construction, and minimise carbon emissions, the project shall set a new benchmark for high-rise living in bustling Bratislava.
The international competition set out to envision how the new skyscrapers could complement Bratislava’s hitherto rather monotonous cityscape. The two towers (180m and 260m) will stand shoulder to shoulder with the existing Eurovea Tower (168m) to create a balanced height gradation composition as envisaged by the Bratislava’s Urban Study of Height Zoning. As the second tallest building in the EU, the slender skyscraper would act as a high-profile local and city landmark that attracts the plaudits of experts and contemporary architecture aficionados.
Two additional high-rises in the Eurovea City area will also serve to strengthen residential stock in a location with excellent civic amenities and accessibility, including public transport connections. Compared to the originally planned development, it will also provide for a larger 7,300sqm green area.
"We invited world-renowned architects with experience in designing high-rise buildings to submit entries. They presented attractive and wide-ranging proposals that highlighted the need to boost Bratislava’s urban profile with new high-rise landmarks, and their seamless integration into an active and sustainable urban district," added Pavel Pelikán.
The winner of the competition, world-renowned KCAP (based in Rotterdam, Zurich and Paris), collaborated on the design with Buro Happold, the British engineering company. KCAP comprises 100+ experts in urban planning, architecture and landscape design from 25+ countries. The studio focuses on enhanced living in the world's ever-growing cities, and transforming buildings, neighbourhoods and urban regions.
