{"id":31625,"date":"2026-04-17T09:47:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mib.sk\/?post_type=project&p=31625"},"modified":"2026-04-17T09:47:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T07:47:14","slug":"transformation-of-winter-harbour","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/mib.sk\/en\/projekt\/transformation-of-winter-harbour\/","title":{"rendered":"Transformation of Winter Harbour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Winter<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Winter Harbour is a historically significant industrial area of Bratislava, covering approximately 65 hectares, with several protected heritage structures. It currently operates as a cargo harbour on the Danube and is located in close proximity to the rapidly developing Mlynsk\u00e9 nivy district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Story of the Harbour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Bratislava Winter Harbour was in its time among the largest ports on the Danube in the Kingdom of Hungary and was established as a result of the river regulation of the Danube between 1886 and 1896.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction of the port in 1897 was linked to the development of the industrial district and the railway infrastructure, which is still present there today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ships
Ships in Winter Harbour_1922_Bratislavsk\u00e9 ro\u017eky zbierka J. Horv\u00e1th<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The character of the Harbour changed during and between the world wars and the transport began to decline after 1989, when river transport was largely replaced by road and rail freight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, however, its capacity has not been fully utilised. Today, the port operates at approximately 25% of its capacity and awaits its renewal. For this reason, the state \u2014 represented by the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic and the Public Port \u2014 has taken a strategic decision regarding the future development of this area. \u201cThe concentration of transshipment capacities in the ,P\u00e1lenisko\u00b4 area was a strategic decision by the state aimed at more efficient harbour operations and freeing up the Winter Harbour for new urban development. This step creates the conditions for transforming a currently closed area into a fully functional and accessible part of Bratislava. We see the vision as an important professional framework for further decision-making about the future of this site,\u201d<\/em> says Matej Dan\u00f3ci<\/strong>, CEO of Public Port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chief City Architect of Bratislava, Juraj \u0160ujan<\/strong>, highlights the importance of the area: \u201cThe Winter Harbour is a unique location close to the city centre that should become an integrated and accessible part of it \u2014 a district with high-quality infrastructure and a direct relationship to the river.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time for a change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step towards transformation of Winter Harbour is the Vision for the Development<\/a> of the Winter Harbour Area. The document was developed over more than a year in cooperation with experts, public institutions and international specialists. Its aim was to verify the urban, technical, economic and environmental feasibility of the transformation, including flood protection measures and the preservation of heritage assets.\u00a0\u201cDuring the preparation of the vision, we carried out surveys and analyses and developed an initial concept, which was subsequently consulted with key stakeholders and experts. After collecting feedback, this concept was refined into its final form,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0explains\u00a0Daniel Tomko<\/strong>, urban planner of the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on the client\u2019s request, the resulting comprehensive document will also serve as a basis for preparing Amendments to the City\u2019s Land Use Plan, given that the project represents a strategic state investment. \u201cThe vision defines the framework for what a vibrant part of the city in the Winter Harbour should look like. The task is to establish principles for future development\u2014creating an open and accessible waterfront district with high-quality public spaces, greenery, and respect for the site\u2019s industrial history. Examples from the transformation of other European harbours show that long-term professional consensus on these principles is crucial,\u201d<\/em> explains the vision\u2019s expert guarantor, architect Peter Gero<\/strong>, a co-author of a comparable district in Hamburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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International competition as the next step<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The vision was directly followed by an international, two-stage masterplanning competition, the outcome of which will be a comprehensive masterplan for the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More about competition<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The competition has been announced on 23rd February 2026 by the Public Port and the City of Bratislava, organized by Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava. The expert jury consists of internationally respected architects with experience of waterfront transformations across European cities. First-stage submissions are due till end of May 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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