Bratislava urban design school: Alexy – Kavan – Trnkus

Henrieta Moravčíková

SUMMARY

The author of this study analyses the work of three architects – urban planners: Tibor Alexy, Ján Kavan and Filip Trnkus , in context of their time. She points out the significant impact of their work determining the research, education and design work in the field of urban planning. It also presents their international importance related to the major urban planning completions in the late 1960s. Based on considering their theoretical work and their urban design work, the main features of their approach have been identified. It is characterized by the belief of logical expressions of urban structures with emphasis on dynamics, morphological and functional hierarchy of urban structures and their overall composition with respect to unique local features.  From the perspective of architectural historiography in context of urban planning development in Slovakia she specifies three essential directions in work of Alexy, Kavan and Trnkus: new satellite settlements, interference into existing historical structures and their transformation and finally adjusting modern concepts of urban planning by humanizing the existing housing estates. In the final part the author focuses on the heritage of the trio Alexy, Kavan and Trnkus for the contemporary academic environment. Its fundament is in a productive connection of theoretical research, design work and teaching.

Keywords: Alexy, Bratislava, Kavan, urban design, Trnkus, creation, architect, school