The masterplan originated from the need to regenerate a historically industrial and abandoned area in Bratislava’s Chalupkova district. This area of the city, which for decades remained one of the largest abandoned areas in Bratislava, has gradually transformed into the Chalupkova development zone, dotted with episodes of contemporary architecture and a new urban landscape. The project, a 3-hectare area in the center of Bratislava, was developed by Stefano Boeri Architetti with the vision of transforming this neglected space into a vibrant, sustainable urban hub. Drawing inspiration from nature and community living, the design integrates residential, commercial, green areas and public functions around a central park, fostering biodiversity, social interaction, and environmental resilience.
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The central park reconnects the district with the city’s historic center by connecting a green ring that acts as a filter between the residences and the road, along the perimeter of the intervention. In addition, an element of implementation of urban forestry is represented precisely by the vegetal cover on green terraces and roofs. The project seeks to maximize the presence of living nature, implement local biodiversity and optimize the ecosystem benefits of urban greenery in connection with other green spaces in the city.
Due to the predominant role of pedestrian areas and cycle lanes, – within the park, the route winds through green areas and connects all ground floors – the project greatly favors sustainable mobility over car use, to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
By incorporating advanced systems and technologies, such as energy-efficient building design and de-impermeabilization of soil, Urban Oasis aims to minimize its environmental impact, promote a more sustainable way of living and the implementation of eco-friendly building practices. With the attention to mitigating the environmental impact of the neighborhood, solar panels occupy an area of about 4,600 sqm on the roofs of buildings to contribute to the energy needs of the neighborhood through the production of renewable energy. The project includes urban drainage systems to manage water runoff, through green roofs, permeable pavements and rainwater collection and management basins. The water will be a visible feature while contributing to irrigation and improving the local microclimate.
The project redevelops the area through a system of residential spaces, green areas and public functions with the aim of defining a new nucleus for the city.
The masterplan is spread over a triangular lot of 32, 500 sqm and includes five volumes - including a tower and 4 medium density buildings - developed around a new large public central park, open to all: a series of paths, open spaces and common areas cross the park, enriching the area with a new urban scenario that can be used by all citizens and enhancing the porosity and permeability of the district. The buildings have a variation in heights designed to maximize the entry of direct light into the park. The project frees up space for both public and private - terraces - designed as recreational and community engagement spaces. On the park, commercial spaces and public functions activate the ground floors, enhancing the dialogue between the public space and the residential dimension, with around 1200 apartments characterized by an important housing mix, with different cuts and expected utilities. The design paid great attention to the specific conditions of the lot, delimited on 2 sides by high-flow roads. The articulation of the volumes and the design of the facades, highly diversified to underline the dynamism of the district, define geometries characterized by irregularities and undulations that interrupt the propagation of sound waves, causing them to disperse and spread rather than propagate directly in the building.
“I am sure that the Chalupkova area, being one of the most prestigious places in Bratislava, certainly deserved the organization of an international architecture competition. I am glad that we return to this place in the capital with a new project bearing the signature of Stefano Boeri Architetti because I believe that together we will once again advance the quality and level of real estate development in the city by a few steps,” says Juraj Nevolník, Executive Director of Penta Real Estate.
Based in Milan, Shanghai, and Tirana, Stefano Boeri Architetti (formerly Boeri Studio) has been dedicated to research and design in architecture and urban planning since 1993.
Following the success of the Milan Vertical Forest, the Trudo Vertical Forest (Eindhoven, 2021) became the world’s first project to combine urban forestry with addressing urban housing shortages, offering rent-controlled social housing for young students and professionals. Similarly, the Wonderwoods Vertical Forest (Utrecht, 2025) represents the first mixed-use Vertical Forest, integrating residential, office, and public spaces while prioritizing community well-being and sustainable technologies to reduce energy consumption.
The studio’s design philosophy, Green Obsession— presented in the book Green Obsession: Trees Towards Cities, Humans Towards Forests (Actar, 2021)—was awarded the UN SDGs Action Award in the “Inspire” category in 2023 by the United Nations.