Slovak Radio Building
![]() | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (November 2010) |
Slovak radio | |
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General information | |
Type | Buildings |
Country | Slovakia |
Coordinates | 48°9′15″N 17°6′51″E / 48.15417°N 17.11417°ECoordinates: 48°9′15″N 17°6′51″E / 48.15417°N 17.11417°E |
Opened | 1967–1983 |
The Slovak Radio Building (Slovak: Budova Slovenského rozhlasu) is located in Bratislava.
It is shaped like an upside down pyramid. Architects of this project were , and and it was completed in 1983.[1] The project began in 1967. The building is 80 metres high and has a 522-seat concert hall with a large concert organ. The first test broadcast was made in 1984 and regular broadcasting began on 27 March 1985.
Architecture[]
The Slovak Radio Building belongs to one of Bratislava's architectural landmarks. It was constructed at a time when socialist realism was the official architectural style in Czechoslovakia. Nonetheless, the architects were afforded considerable leeway to experiment with the design of the building. One of the architects, , later observed that "during those years, architecture began to escape ideology, the stupidity of prefabricated blocks, and continued the pre-war tradition when we made good buildings comparable with developments elsewhere in the world".[2]
The architects were selected through a competition that took place in 1963. Although the competition was won by , the investor opted for the second-placed design by , and . The authors consciously sought to avoid replicating the predominant style of tall buildings at the time, which combined a low block with a tall office tower. The building was instead meant to be more expressive and carry a distinctive style.[2] was known to refer to the design as a "temple of word and music".[3]
The Slovak Radio Building was one of the first major buildings in Slovakia utilizing a steel frame instead of prefabricated concrete panels which were ubiquitous at the time. The lack of experience with steel negatively impacted the construction of the building, however.
While nowadays the building is located in the broader center of Bratislava, the location was peripheral at the time of its conception.
Reception[]
The Slovak Radio Building has divided public opinion ever since its unveiling. While some architects consider it one of the country's most important buildings conversant with contemporary architectural styles in the world,[4] others consider it ugly and synonymous with communist oppression.
The Telegraph included the building in a list of the 30 ugliest buildings in the world,[5] but this choice was criticized by a number of architects.[6]
In 2017, the building was declared a cultural heritage monument in Slovakia.
In popular culture[]
The exterior of the building was a filming location for the 2018 spy thriller film Red Sparrow.[7] The radio station in the video game Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic is modeled after the Slovak Radio Building.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Slovak Radio | Places".
- ^ a b "Slovenský rozhlas -- príbeh jednej budovy na jedno použitie". hnporadna.hnonline.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ "Ikony (Štefan Svetko)". rtvs.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ Garaj, Patrik (2018-02-08). "Keď rozhlas z pyramídy odíde, môže tam byť univerzita či byty, navrhujú architekti". Denník N (in Slovak). Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ "Are these the world's ugliest buildings?". June 6, 2017 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ "Slovak Radio Building Classed Among Ugliest in World". The Daily Slovak News.
- ^ "Red Sparrow 2018". Movie Locations. The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Slovak Radio Building. |
- Visualization of Slovak Radio building at the Wayback Machine (archived October 4, 2011)
- Architectural history
- Transmitter sites in Slovakia
- Buildings and structures in Bratislava
- Inverted pyramids
- Pyramids in Europe
- Buildings and structures completed in 1983