Slovak architecture successfully established itself in London

Three Slovak architects have developed several successful projects that have been implemented abroad. Their architectural ideas have appeared in the United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Croatia, and even in China. Slovaks also enjoy the creativity of the young architects – one of their projects is the interior of the new Bratislava airport terminal. Boris Schultz from Bratislava, Peter Lunter from Banská Bystrica and Richard Baláži from Nitra own one of two thousand design studios in a Mecca of architecture – London. We talked with Peter Lunter about architecture, the Slovak design studio Milieu Architects and the company’s projects.

You arrived in London as a student in 2000. Did student mobility change your life? Did London provide you with the development that you had not received in Slovakia?
I went to the United Kingdom with Boris through the student programme Erasmus. We studied architecture not far from London, at Luton University. During our study, we were working in different London studios. Within some time, we found that study in the UK is much more interesting. We prolonged our stay until we completed our study and then stayed forever. We met Richard a little later, but it was during our student times. We were attracted to London by the job offers that we received. In Slovakia, it was difficult to find a job in that period. Suddenly, we arrived in a country where architecture boomed and offered great opportunities.

Do you receive offers from other countries? What projects are you working on? Which of previous projects was the biggest challenge for you and what are your ambitions for the future?
We are currently working on several new projects and are resuming work on some projects that were suspended due to the economic crisis. We are the most successful in Croatia, where we concentrate on resort construction projects. The crisis caused the projects approved by the investor to be implemented slowly. Some of them are postponed for years and are awaiting financing. In England, we are working on designs of exclusive family houses. From our previous projects, we are most proud of the ecological apartment house, because it is difficult to create a functional eco-housing unit, from the financial and design points of view. Some of our projects have already been approved and are waiting in a drawer. Of course, we continuously receive new offers.

In Western Europe, the so-called ecological aspect of housing is popular. You and your colleagues are co-authors of an eco-project for the revitalisation of dwelling units in London. What’s the revitalisation all about?
Many urbanised districts are going through revitalisation – so-called regeneration of residential areas. These peripheral city zones then become attractive again, because the quality of the housing in revitalised zones has improved. A new trend in urbanism is the polyfunctional character of residential areas – they are used for both housing and work. A by-product of revitalisation is the ecological aspect. In the UK, 50 per cent of emissions are produced by households and, therefore, the requirements for the quality of the materials used in construction are tightened every year. The government also endeavours to popularise the ecology by the implementation of an intensive campaign. The politicians and celebrities always attract media attention when they promote and have an ecological lifestyle.

When do you expect the ecological type of housing to arrive in Slovakia? Are Slovak investors interested in eco-projects, or is it a „pie in the sky“?
In the UK, the standard in housing construction is already very high. Slovakia will have to raise it in the future, because we are bound by the EU standards. The requirements for the construction of eco-buildings also come from Slovak investors, but it is about awareness rather than about economy. The payback period of such an investment is several tens of years, in the best scenario. The upper classes start to show interest in the ecological aspect, besides for the luxury. Demand for ecological projects will certainly grow, but at present we are not concentrating on this special type of projects in Slovakia.

You are a co-designer of the interior of the new Bratislava airport terminal. What were the reactions from Slovakia following its opening to the public?
The reactions were mixed because the design was only implemented up to fifty per cent. The interior works were carried out well, so we received positive reactions. The terminal looks modern, interesting and fresh. The evaluation of the overall functioning of the terminal is less positive, because the project has only implemented fifty per cent so far. The terminal is not fully operable, and so it reminds one of a „half-baked cake“. The project is in a temporary phase that may become the final phase for an indefinite period. The improvement of the airport from the technical aspect is not as it might be. Everything is prepared for completion, but we will see what decisions the new government will make. The fact that people fly less than in the past will also influence its decisions. At this moment, it is not necessary to double the airport capacity, so the project stands still.

Your colleague Boris Shultz is a manager of the Slovak branch of your company. What is the difference between work in London and that in Bratislava? What is the standard of the „architectural craft“ in Slovakia?
As far as work is concerned, we feel hardly any difference. What is different is the amount of paperwork and the adaptation to the requirements of the market. Slovakia is a small country, so the market is naturally weaker. The standard of the „architectural craft“ increases because of the generation exchange that is currently taking place. However, Slovakia still does not have the typical seal. For example, Czechs have a distinguishable style. When I look at a building, I can say whether it is Czech architecture or not. That is because they have their own signature, unlike Slovakia. Communism, however, is not the reason; I would rather search for the reason in the fact that Slovaks historically were not inclined to architecture. The aristocracy hired architects from Hungary, Austria, or Italy. Paradoxically, the economic crisis may be helpful because many Slovak architects working abroad will return to Slovakia, in turn bringing extensive experience and a great overview with them.

Author: Nina Klusová
Photo: Milieu Architects

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