Kulturpark Košice open for art and light

Author: Zerozero, Ing. arch. Irakli Eristavi, Ing. arch. Pavol Šilla, Ing. Gabriel Boženík,
Dr. Art. Marcel Benčík, Ing. arch. Milan Vlček, Ing. arch. Silvia Šillová
Location: Košice
Photography: prof. Ľubo Stacho, Robo Kočan



By reconstructing the former barracks from the 19th century and transforming them into a Kulturpark, the residents of Košice gained a new center of culture, relaxation, and education near the historic center. The main idea of opening the complex to people and art was emphasized in the design by a greater penetration of daylight into the interior. Rays of light penetrating through skylights and light tubes bring more openness and a new aesthetic dimension to the room. 

The revitalization of the extensive area of the former supply barracks of the Austro-Hungarian army was the largest investment project of Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013. The central theme of the reconstruction was to open the complex towards the city and its people. The authors of the project achieved this by removing the original wall around the entire perimeter of the complex and creating a new urban space – a square as a space for art, democracy, encounters, and social interaction.

New solutions respecting history
The architectural concept of revitalization was primarily based on a thorough examination of the original historical buildings and the beautiful park and on respect for them. The original complex was supplemented by eight new pavilions, which support the expansion of activities from the main buildings into the public space and park. More pronounced interventions into the original structures primarily involved creating passages and opening up the space to ensure that the entrance areas and subsequently other gathering places gained the necessary dimensions, quality, and light.

The atmosphere of the interior is enhanced by the play of light
More light in the interior creates a sense of openness and freedom, supports creativity, and simultaneously facilitates contact with the unique surrounding environment. The art in the interior is also connected with the surrounding world through VELUX skylights and light tubes, which were the automatic choice during the implementation of the new roof structure on the reconstructed Bravo building. In the new pavilions, the penetration of light into the interior is solved using a structural façade. In Slovakia, these façades are unique in that they also have a load-bearing function, as they support the ceilings of the pavilions.

Skylights enhance the quality of spaces
The new skylights on the Bravo building significantly improved the quality of the attic spaces fulfilling gathering functions. VELUX skylights in multifunctional attic halls create a healthy environment filled with daylight. They also allow natural ventilation and exhaust of heated air from the interior space. Remote control of the windows increases comfort in ensuring effective ventilation.

New constructions reflect the objects and events in the surroundings
The new single-story pavilions are simple cubic structures whose outer shell represents a combination of transparent and reflective surfaces. Thanks to the use of a transparent structural glazed façade, the processes occurring inside them are visible to passersby. The solid parts of their shell are made of highly polished supermirror stainless steel, which gives these structures a certain ephemeral quality. They reflect the original architecture, century-old chestnuts, original buildings, and passing people.

VELUX Products:
VELUX wooden roof windows 1340/1400 mm with remote control
Light tubes with a diameter of 350 mm
More information at www.velux.cz

This extraordinary reconstruction won in the CE∙ZA∙AR 2014 expert competition and thus received the award from the Slovak Chamber of Architects for architecture.

It has also recently received the ARCH 2014 award.