Bratislava – public river spaces

Tomáš Hanáček

SUMMARY

We expect four two different scales in the waterfront environment assessment in the urban structure (XL, L, M, S). The interdisciplinary research in the Bratislava public space potential, problems and individual quality help us improve the conceptual development coordination. In the complex land‐use planning process, however, it is also necessary to know everyday residents and visitors’ requirements to the site and the local community. The concept of participatory planning method of URBAN WALK aims at mapping of the small-scale urban structure (S- scale). The knowledge of human needs, a research of their activities in the space and time, as well as uncovering of the historical context and the space predisposition are some of main results of this method.

The problematic aspects of the waterfront regeneration illustrate the current status of the Danube waterfront area in the middle urban scale. The built-up aspect compares two waterfront sectors walkability in the historical city centre. The fragmentation of Bratislava blue-field area into segments, sectors and zones is based on a pedestrian walking net and the main public spaces. The comparison of the active waterfront line from Vienna, Bratislava to Budapest refers to the waterfront potential and an opportunity to create a base urban identity and to create a progress of the whole city (L- scale) and Danube region (XL- scale).

The unexploited blue-field areas inside the city centres require appropriate public attention. They have a potential to restart social and economic city development. The regeneration of such process increases the rate of collective knowledge and creates the new specific solutions for the urban environment and its inhabitants.

Keywords: Bratislava, urban design, mapping, city, public space, river