The beginnings of modernism in the garden and landscape architecture and its development in Slovakia
By Katarína Kristiánová
Modernism appeared in the garden and landscape architecture as a reflection of modernist trends in art and architecture. In early 1900s and especially in the period in between the two World Wars, the garden design gradually changed under the influence of other artistic disciplines. However, this period does not only mark the start of Modernism in garden design; this was also the period when a new profession—that of a landscape architect—gradually came to life, being established between 1890-1940 both under the influence of Modernism and as a response to significant social and economic changes. Hence, landscape architects establishing their position vis-à-vis artists, architects or gardeners as a profession of its own, started to formulate their theories, desires and efforts with a view to influence the urban growth, to have their say in the land-use planning and to foster the landscape protection, and they attempted to define the meaning of Modernism in the garden and landscape architecture and design.
Modernism in the landscape architecture and design expanded in the 1930s in many a country and in numerous works of various authors. Likewise, the garden and landscape architecture concepts in Slovakia from the interwar modernism period are shown in works of art having various scales and taking varied typological design forms, ranging from gardens of detached houses and villas, through exterior landscaping designs for schools, sanatoria, or administrative and commercial buildings etc., up to the urban concept of garden cities and public urban spaces.
Invasive urban intervention: On account of urban space contribution to the urban space issue
By René Dlesk
Current development of our society, mainly driven by forces of economic efficiency, materializes in the built urban environment in specific spatial phenomena that stand beyond the scope of traditionally perceived architecture. The impact of architecture on the formation of urban environment has been constantly declining, thus it further amplifies the adverse effects of this development on spatial, functional as well as user environment of towns and cities.
The main objective of the article is to draw attention to the unexploited potential of those specific spatial forms of a contemporary city and to some means of their possible activation. The article presents a broader scope of opinions of several prominent authors and theoreticians on the necessity of revaluating the approach and eliminating prejudice and established models of behavior towards those specific urban territories. The author labels such territories generally as host structures, claiming at the same time that under certain circumstances, it is possible to transform and integrate them into the vivid urban tissue. To describe such circumstances, he introduces an abstract term of invasive interventions and defines a broader scope of its possible interpretations and meanings.
In general, it is possible to describe invasive interventions as initial impulses 1) to establish essential forms of urban life in host structures and 2) to enhance the quality of public spaces and public activities taking place in them. The article further focuses on such invasive interventions that emerge as an outcome of coordinated efforts expressing common ideas shared by multiple users of the city, usually neglecting previously mentioned models of economic efficiency and profit. This is commonly reflected in the physical form of such interventions: they are usually of temporary duration, executed with the support of volunteers, built of cheap or recycled materials using alternative construction techniques and, in the process of their authorization, they are usually burdened with less official requirements and complications.
The author considers those interventions to be particularly valuable for today’s city as they can play an important initiative role not only in the introduction of more permanent forms of public spaces in locations that we usually don’t link with urban qualities, but also in breaking down prejudice towards the conventional perception of diversity of forms of urban life.
Land-used planning in Bratislava in the 20th century: Impact on the development of urban structures of Dúbravka and Lamač
By Peter Horák
The twentieth century brought a number of twists and turns in the land-use planning of the capital city of Slovakia. The development of Bratislava was influenced by different political regimes. Along with economical changes, the regimes have left significant traces not only in the urban construction of the capital city, but also in the concept of land-use planning; thus putting into contrast the construction falling under the state control with the interests of private investors. The realized and/or failed implementations of the plans had a significant impact on the formation of urban structures. The reasons beyond were the lack of preparedness of the planning institutions, as well as economic pressure and ideological beliefs. The impacts of land-use planning have formed the shape of the capital city. The shortcomings in planning depended on the events of the 20th century, although the problems continued to appear after the year 2000. The article analyses the problems related to urban planning, highlighting negative aspects of the planning today, while using the historical context of urban planning as a supporting material. Two city districts, Lamač and Dúbravka, were chosen as examples for better understanding of this impact, shaping the urban construction of the capital city. These districts were significantly influenced by post-war planning. In conclusion, the article identifies available potential for the improvement of land-use planning documentations by pointing out the absence of zonal plans and the possible implementation of new principles in planning.