From new buildings, Bratislavans are especially bothered by skyscrapers

Bratislava - In recent years, a number of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings have risen in the Slovak capital, although many residents of the city disagree with this. The blame for the uncoordinated construction is most often attributed to the unapproved urban plan of Bratislava. A new plan is expected to clarify the construction; however, when it will be adopted is still unknown, said the chief architect of the capital, Štefan Šlachta, to ČTK.
    Among the most controversial buildings, financed primarily by private investors, are the high-rise building on Šancová Street and the Aupark Tower administrative complex in Petržalka.
    Construction of the eight-story building on Šancová began in 2003 by the company Istoreal. However, the investor initially requested an increase to 34 and later at least 22 floors. The regional heritage conservation office rejected this increase because the building was located in a protected zone. As the Slovak construction inspection found out, the company had already been making stronger foundations for a taller building at that time.
    The then-Slovak Minister of Culture, František Tóth, reduced the protected zone in October 2005, thereby indirectly allowing for the building's height increase. Despite protests from local residents, architects, and heritage conservationists, Istoreal received permission to build 22 floors.
    The tower is currently under construction and is owned by the company Stelo, which requested permission at the beginning of this year to increase the building by another 11 floors. However, it has not yet received this approval. The developing urban plan for the Central City District-Northeast anticipates that buildings in the area can have a maximum of eight floors. "Conservationists have submitted a request for a construction freeze. For this reason, the work is halted, and the building authority is not processing the request. However, the previously approved 22 floors of the building on Šancová and other constructions are not affected," said Alena Kopřivová, spokesperson for the Old Town district, to ČTK.
    The construction of the twenty-two-story Aupark Tower, located next to the Aupark shopping center in Petržalka, has also sparked public debate. The company HB Reavis Group received a building permit in mid-January 2005. The city council attempted to achieve a reduction in the number of floors by unsuccessfully offering compensation to the investor in the form of lucrative land on the Petržalka side of the Danube. However, the price that HB Reavis was willing to pay seemed too low to Mayor Andrej Ďurkovský.
    Part of Bratislava's architects also opposed its construction, arguing that the tower would overshadow the city's natural landmarks, such as Bratislava Castle and the SNP Bridge. "I do not agree with the Aupark Tower. The building is absolutely inappropriate for the environment in which it was built," thinks Šlachta.
    Currently, the rough construction is completed. "The tower has 22 floors and will be finished no later than January 2008. The space designated for rent will primarily be used for administrative purposes," said Miroslav Sedlák, spokesperson for HB Reavis Group, to ČTK.
    While skyscrapers are a reflection of technical progress, experts believe they should only be built in selected locations. Concerns about high-rise construction come not only from heritage conservationists, but also from traffic engineers, sociologists, and doctors. There are also worries from firefighters; in the event of a fire, escape from a skyscraper is difficult.