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The Danube shore – a part of modern Bratislava

Like through many European capitals, a river also goes through Bratislava. But unlike London, Paris or Prague, Bratislava really had nothing to brag about until now.

Although the idea of starting development projects on the shores of the Danube was discussed back in the 1980s by the city's communist leaders, Bratislava had to wait until recent times to see major changes there.

In 2006, the construction of two modern city districts started, with residential buildings, office buildings, hotels and new shops going up on the left bank of the Danube, near the historic city center – changing the whole character of the shoreline. The area between the Nový most (New Bridge) and Lafranconi Bridge, before the summer break will be revitalized by the River Park project, on the other side of the river – between the Starý most (Old Bridge) and Apollo Bridge the Eurovea has sprung up – in a former industrial zone.

One of the most expensive sites in Bratislava was built by an Irish company – Ballymore Properties – and gradually became available to Bratislava residents in February of this year.

The Sheraton Hotel was the first to open its doors. The operator of the hotel is the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Company, which has more than 400 hotels in 75 countries around the world under the same brand. The Bratislava Sheraton is the fourth 5-star hotel in the capital; the fifth will come as part of the River Park. The opening of these hotels could help Bratislava become a place to hold congresses or major conferences. The Sheraton has the largest conference hall with an area of 300 square metres and hotel facilities make it possible to provide eight conference rooms. For the accommodation of guests, the Hotel offers 186 rooms and 23 suites.

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In the second half of March, the baton of opening new public shopping areas passed to the Eurovea Galleria shopping district. Visitors were attracted to numerous programs offered for children and adults, and in the course of three days, over 200,000 people could not stay away from the opening events.

In comparison with other shopping centres in Bratislava, the Eurovea Galleria has a more spacious and airier feel. Certainly, this is due to the large areas of the shops, bridges connecting several floors and the wide aisles not yet cluttered by potted trees and small retail stands. Another impressive feature is the dome roof made of 2,300 glass triangles, which thanks to the ample supply of light creates a multi-level street effect, and a covered courtyard with a water area.

The new shopping centre has added approximately 150 shops to the overall retail stock of the capital, several of which are in Slovakia for the first time – and around 30 additional restaurants, bars and cafes. Through the courtyard, containing the above-mentioned water area, people can access the adjacent building, which has a fitness center and 9-screen cinema. Shoppers can park in the largest underground parking lot in the city, with places for 1,750 vehicles.

The third part of the complex that is accessible to the public will be a two-hectare riverbank park, complete with a promenade, designed by a French landscape architect -Michel Desvigna.

On the quay, there will even be three observation piers with benches made of exotic wood and a square, which will connect the new Eurovea with the new Slovak National Theatre building – the dominant feature is the larger than life statue of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik and a pylon with the lion symbol of Czechoslovakia. Visitors are already using the promenade; it is only symbolically fenced off with portable barricades, waiting for its official inauguration. The official deadline for transferring it to the city is April 24, the date on which the government will hold a Bratislava-wide program for the public.

Eurovea though is not just for shopping and entertainment. In addition to the more than 24,000 square metres of office space, it offers a new standard of housing created by an international team of architects. Sales of apartments began in March 2008, the residential section being primarily aimed at well-to-do clients. Offered are 235 luxury apartments – New York-style duplex apartments, furnished transitional apartments, apartments with one to three bedrooms, and large duplex or single-floor penthouses with rooftop gardens. A fully furnished four-room apartment with an area of 150 square metres, two bathrooms, two bedrooms, children's room, spacious living room with kitchenette and balcony sells for 800,000 €. Despite the high prices, 65 percent of the apartments are already sold, mostly to Slovaks, only 10 percent of the buyers are Russians and Austrians.

Part of the area contains the renovated building of the Port Authority, known as Warehouse No. 7. This important architectural monument of Bratislava, characterized by two tall square towers and one round tower with a huge dome, was built in the middle of the 1920s in the functionalist style. Since March 2008, the showroom of the Eurovea project has been housed here – with a scale model of the entire project, with hotel room and apartment models available for viewing. In the future, this building will most likely serve as a new riverside cultural centre and gradually replace the Park of Culture and Recreation, which will probably be demolished.

The Eurovea has brought changes even to the city's in public transportation system – with two new stops in front of the complex, a number of new streets that are still waiting to be officially named and new flood protection structures. There is an underground reinforced concrete wall, which protects the area from the eternal waters of the Danube and which can easily be made higher by another 50 cm.

The construction of the Eurovea, for some Bratislava residents has left a bitter taste. Many, looking for a new modern building, recall that just four years ago there stood the Stoka – an experimental alternative theatre and a pub. The ramshackle transport company building, decorated with original „frescos“ made by local artists, was a meeting place for Bratislava’s students and artists.

In the fifteen years of its existence, the theatre put on 25 premieres, gave over 1,000 performances and a number of concerts. After losing its premises on Pribinova, the theatre group has not found a new place and is no longer putting on performances.

Eurovea is a famous place today. Not only because it is new and everyone wishes to see it. It really has some nice architecture, beautiful surroundings, and thanks to Eurovea, Bratislava has changed from being a city near the Danube – to the city on the Danube.