Famous architects will bring luxury design to Bratislava's slender towers

Nehnutel'nosti.sk magazine, which brings interesting facts from the world of real estate, paid attention to the original concept and architecture of the Portum Towers residential project.

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN DAYS
Ferdinand Leffler, ATELIER FLERA - Landscape Architecture

TOP ESTATES development group introduces Ferdinand Leffler, landscape architect and founder of Atelier Flera studio. For PORTUM TOWERS they designed the inner block and the park "Under the Treetops".

How did they think about the whole concept of the green space and the park in contrast to the modern architecture of the project and the site?

Architectural studio A1

Portum Towers presents the main architects of the project, who have been successfully contributing to the development of Bratislava and the modern architecture of the city for a long time. Architects Braňo Kaliský, Miroslav Vrábel and their colleagues Martin Maršala, Lubomír Kružel and Juraj Pařil.

How do they think about architecture?

"We are constantly looking for inspiration in the most diverse spheres of human knowledge. We believe that they influence and enrich each other, even if they are distant at first sight. Thanks to inspirational influences, architecture can always surprise again."

"Architecture is not just lines and walls. It is mainly what remains untouched in between - the space for life. It is blending into the environment and shaping an unmistakable atmosphere. Merging the material world with the world of thoughts, ideas and feelings."

"For us, the most beautiful rewards are the moments when people look at an awe-inspiring natural or urban scenery and consider our architectural solutions as a natural part of it. Good architecture is when people feel comfortable, even if they can't put into words why that is, and they want to be a part of it."

Do you want an insight into the process of Portum Towers' origin?
See more in the video ...

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN DAYS at PORTUM TOWERS

The unique handwriting of the leading architectural studios from Slovakia and the Czech Republic has contributed to the original designs of buildings, design apartments, entrance lobbies and common areas, including exteriors.

The common architectural idea was to perfectly integrate the project into the surroundings, to build a unique address, to offer future residents timeless layouts and exclusive design of apartments with a choice of premium materials.

In the following days, we will gradually introduce you to all the personalities and interesting facts about the creation of the project.

The Portum Towers Architecture and Design Days are just beginning...

TREND Magazine: Portum Towers creates a new standard of luxury living in Bratislava's downtown

Dušan Dvořák and Petr Teplý from the Top Estates Group in a new interview for TREND.sk magazine revealed when they fell under the spell of Bratislava and decided to invest here, what makes the Portum Towers project exceptional and the cooperation with Eva Jiřičná and other great personalities of Czech and Slovak architecture.

Are you interested in more?

Wondering how the special Experience Over the City evening went?

Watch the video of the event on the occasion of the official presentation of the Portum Towers residential project and the opening ceremony of the showroom in Bratislava.

Ceremonial presentation of the project and opening of the Portum Towers showroom

A few days ago, we inaugurated a generous showroom and officially introduced the Portum Towers residential project. See what the special evening Experience over the City brought in this report.

The investors of the project presented their visions, plans and the development company. A1 Architecture presented the architectural concept and the guests were also impressed by the technological innovations of the buildings and the exceptional standard of the apartments.

The new retail outlet is located on the 15th floor above the site of the future buildings, which will be built at the intersection of Košická, Chalupkova and Landererova streets. We have also shown an exceptionally elaborated architectural model, which conveys an authentic view of the planned multifunctional complex directly in the context of this exclusive location in the modern centre of Bratislava.

PORTUM TOWERS will meet the highest demands for comfort and quality of living. The high standard and quality of construction is characterized by TOP ESTATES, which entered the project with a whole team of professionals with experience from all over the world and the tallest buildings in the Czech Republic.

Key personalities and partners of Top Estates and Portum Towers Dušan Dvořák and Petr Teplý answered why they were interested in Bratislava and the Portum project:

Dušan Dvořák:

"Bratislava enchanted us 4 years ago, when Petr and I were walking through the city at night and saw great potential in it. Then we said to ourselves that this is the place where we would like to build and we started looking for a project. Portum Towers was the second project that was presented to us and we were approached by the initial emotion of the two slender towers and the exceptional location. It was a big challenge and there was still a lot of work to be done, but we entered the project at the right time from our point of view, when we were finishing and changing a lot of things."

Petr Teplý:

"Portum is a big challenge for us and it was a unique opportunity to enter into something that we can't do here in Prague. We brought a fresh wind in that we really live our projects and we have a large portfolio of architects behind us that we work with thanks to our references and completed projects, and our aim was to bring the highest quality to Portum Towers as well. We have managed to bring in and enthuse renowned architects such as Eva Jiřičná, Bára Škorpilová, Chybik+Kristof and others for the project."

Are you interested in how the name and the cooperation with the Czech developer came about? We asked Marek Trajter, the project founder and investor:

"The name Portum combines several meanings and lines of thought. The original ones were focused on the use of Bratislava's attractive location near the harbour for modern life. The aim was to create an exceptional place to live and a home to which we would like to return. A safe harbour not only for investment, but also for our families and all those who prefer living in the city centre. Thus the first foundation in the sense of the English "port" was created. It became even more anchored in the translation of the Latin word "porta" gate, as the two slender towers looking out from the Danube will create a new landmark and gateway to the Old Town.

I was looking for a strong partner with experience in large buildings for the project. The moment the company presented me with the Sakura residence in Prague, the strong emotion of a building that one can immediately imagine living and living in, combined all these aspects with the investor's perspective. I was convinced by their attention to detail and also that above everything is the product itself and the emotion it gives to the future owner. That's when I decided to team up with Top Estates."

During the gala evening, Sales Director Pavol Chren presented the project and its benefits:

"We place a strict emphasis on the comfort of future residents, residents will have their own wellness and fitness centre, 24-hour reception towers and a truly beautiful park. The technical design of the buildings will provide perfect acoustic attenuation, thermal comfort, some elements are used for the first time in residential buildings in Slovakia - Closed cavity facade, intelligent fog fire extinguishing system. The security will be supervised by a camera system recognizing conflict situations, abandoned luggage or unusual behaviour of people. We are building a truly modern building that protects the comfort and safety of its residents."

The great atmosphere of the event Experience over the city was complemented by experiential catering, specially prepared drinks and a surprise at the end of the evening in the form of a musical performance, which enhanced the exceptional event.

Singer Martina Schindlerová, who has achieved several major successes on the Slovak music scene and Superstar, shone not only with her voice, but also with her beauty and elegance. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Petr Teplý and Dušan Dvořák present their path to development, the philosophy and operation of the company Top Estates, introduce the Portum Towers project in Bratislava and explain how all projects are created and the joy that successful implementations bring them.

The most luxurious apartments and a new park. Portum starts sales and construction work

One of the expected projects in Bratislava's downtown finally got closer to construction. The Portum Towers multifunctional complex, which also includes a pair of towers with distinctive architecture, is about to start the first works. On this occasion, the eponymous developer starts selling the first apartments and reveals more details about the plan, which has extraordinary ambitions in many respects.

Source: YIM.BA

THE MOST LUXURIOUS APARTMENTS IN BRATISLAVA
 

According to the official website, Portum will consist of a pair of towers with 36 and 30 floors, as well as a pair of apartment buildings with seven and eight floors. The buildings will define a part of the block, inside which there will be a relatively extensive intra-block greenery, or the park. The block will be further bounded by a new alley between Portum and the Apollo Residence project, as well as another planned Ister Tower development.

According to the developer, this is one of the most prestigious addresses in Bratislava, which conditioned the overall setting of the housing concept. The 518 apartments that will be created in the project are supposed to be among the most luxurious that can be found in Bratislava's residential offer. In the complex there will be classic 2- to 4-room apartments, but also much more generous residences on the five highest floors of the towers with a maximum area of up to 400 square meters, called Spectacular.

The basic standard will include cooling of all rooms, heating with designer radiators and window floor convectors or a loggia in each apartment. The floors in the living rooms will be made of wooden parquet, in the bathrooms there will be large-format tiles or tiles. The developer also talks about preparing for a smart home with the possibility of expansion to full intelligence in the field of lighting, shading, heating and cooling.

With the Spectacular apartments, the level will be pushed even higher. These units are to have high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, terraces or underfloor heating, cooling and recovery. There will be the option of finishing to the bare-flat stage, as the investor expects that the clients will realize their apartments with the help of (their own) architects and adjust the layouts according to themselves.

He considers the pre-prepared design of several apartments to be one of the fundamental benefits, for which he has teamed up with several renowned offices from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Among them, the name of the most successful Czech architect of today, Eva Jiřičná, stands out, but Chybik + Kristof Associated Architects, Mimolimit, ADR, Forms are also among the renowned workplaces. Architects or Machar and Teichman Architects. Clients have at their disposal different approaches on how to approach the furnishing of the apartment, while the published visions definitely present a high standard.

"Despite the difficult situation on the market last year, we did not consider changing the project or compromising on standards," says Dušan Dvořák from Portum Towers. "From the beginning, we approached Porto as an exceptional opportunity to present a completely different concept of modern living, as well as the highest European standard of residential buildings, exclusive design of housing units and common spaces." In addition to cooperation with architects, he highlights the possibility of combining apartments within the Spectacular offer.

The company thus relied not only on architects, but also on technology. For example, in the case of Spectacular apartments, he talks about the use of a closed cavity facade system, which is supposed to ensure the perfect thermal comfort of the residents. In addition, there should be top fire protection systems, the possibility of charging electric cars within all parking spaces in the underground garage, or a modern entrance and security camera system. "These benefits are exceptional not only in the Slovak metropolis, but also on a European scale," states Dvořák.

Portum Towers hasn't released prices, but it's clear they won't be cheap. Nevertheless, according to his own words, the developer is already registering enormous interest from potential buyers, not only domestic but also from abroad. Foreign investors could theoretically buy tens of percent of apartments.

SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Portum wants to differentiate itself from other projects by the level of services it offers. Not only future owners, but also site visitors should benefit from them. "The private wellness, fitness and 24-hour reception will increase the comfort of the residents. According to the designs, the luxurious representative lobby has places for meetings, a separate meeting room and a party room," says Petr Teplý, a partner in Portum Towers. The shape of the lobby and entrance areas was designed by Eva Jiřičná.

This is an unconventional breadth of services offered, even in the context of other luxury Bratislava projects. In the Slovak metropolis, there was no custom from abroad that living in an above-standard high-rise building includes, for example, a fitness center, a game room, a cinema, and the like - the owners normally do not want to pay extra for such services.

It should be different here. "Already during the preparations, we carefully perceived the clients' suggestions and requirements for the equipment and comfort of the new residential complex, and we received very positive responses to all planned private services, from wellness and fitness to reception services," explains Teplý. "Furthermore, we don't even expect that the fees for the services provided will be high, as the costs will be spread over hundreds of residents."

From the public's point of view, the inner-block park should be a positive new element, the project of which was developed by the Atelier Flera landscape studio. According to Ferdinand Leffler, the founder of the studio, there are several successful green spaces in the vicinity, but they lack a distinct identity. The character of the park in the inner block of Portum is thus to be based on the presence of large tree crowns, the play with light and shadow and the contrast of individual materials. "It looks like we will be able to get proper tree crowns into the park, so that people who come down from the skyscraper will experience the most authentic feeling in nature - contact with the sky, with the crowns, the brushwood, the air as such," Leffler presents his idea.

The park should also include a garden. It will be accessible primarily from the elevated platform between the towers, adjacent to which the entrances to the buildings will also be located. In the past, there was talk of creating a winter garden, but this idea was abandoned. The placement of the art was also discussed. This topic is still open - the investor is considering announcing a competition for the artistic completion of the public space.

The project will also include commercial spaces on the ground floor of the buildings, facing the surrounding streets and the inner block. The range of amenities will not be small, and concrete establishments have been talked about like a kindergarten for 80 children or a gallery. In this way, Portum is to create not only a luxurious community in the middle of downtown, but also a complex that communicates with the surroundings, which builds on the overall character of the surroundings.

https://www.portumtowers.com/lokalita

A BIG CHANGE IN AN IMPORTANT PLACE

PThe project is to be built on a long-term vacant lot. The absence of buildings is largely due to what lies beneath the surface - this is where one of the most significant environmental burdens occurs in this part of Bratislava. Portum is being prepared on the site of the Apollo refinery site, specifically the oil tanks. After the bombing in 1944, harmful substances got into the subsoil and are still present today.

In the first part, the preparatory works will focus on removing the consequences of the Second World War. "We have already started work on the land. We are currently preparing to fence the site, which will be followed by a detailed pyrotechnic survey," D. Dvořák explains. "After completion, we are awaiting a thorough removal of the environmental load and earthworks, which will last several months with an overlap until 2024. After the completion of these phases, the next steps will be directed towards the actual construction of the foundations and rough construction."

Since it is a massive project, the implementation will be phased. The same applies to the sale of apartments. "In the first stage, apartments will be gradually offered in two buildings, in the higher tower and its adjacent wing, in the following stages, apartments and suites will be offered in the other three buildings of the residential complex," describes P. Teplý.

It should look similar with construction. The total completion of Portum is expected in 2027. The amount of the investment is estimated at almost 176 million euros.

More from the article on YIM.BA

See the offer of PORTUM TOWERS apartments
https://www.portumtowers.com/ponuka-bytov-portum

Návrh dizajnu Spectacular od Evy Jiřičnej

Viac dizajnových návrhov a inšpirácií nájdete vo fotogalérii

Top Estates projects shine on the Czech development scene
 

Five prestigious awards for architecture and urbanism were won by projects of the developer group Top Estates in the past year. At the beginning of the year, the Barrandez-Vous project was declared the absolute winner among residential projects in the Czech Republic for 2021 in the Real Estate Project of the Year competition. The Czech Architecture Award 2022 was won by the residential complex Bleriot for its innovative approach, followed by two more Estate Awards 2022 for another recently completed Prague residential project, Barrandez-Vous.

At the prestigious Estate Awards 2022, the Barrandez-Vous project won in the category Residential projects over 30 units and also won the award for public space and urbanism, taking the bronze rank in the Best of Realty 2022 competition. The residential complex received the fifth award in total and became, together with Sakura, the most successful project of the developer group Top Estates. 

Two Barrandez-Vous apartment buildings in an original organic shape with a large park in the yard were built in a popular location in Prague's Barrandov with a view of the city panorama and the surrounding nature. The entire concept of the project is based on a high standard of housing units and a close connection with nature, from generous terraces to private gardens and a new park with an amphitheater and living spaces for relaxation and gathering.

Photo: Barrandez-Vous, Prague

"Our philosophy is to always be comprehensive. Not only to design a project, but also to build it well. Thanks to the fact that we build our projects ourselves in the form of construction management, we not only have much more freedom in implementation, but above all we have detailed control over the entire construction and costs and can to react more quickly to possible changes. Everything is ensured by our team of professionals, to whom we owe a lot of thanks. Barrandez-Vous's victory in both categories made us very happy and is another motivation for us to build architecturally exceptional projects in the future and create places where people will like to live," adds Dušan Dvořák, founder of Top Estates.

"Our next challenge and an important project, which we are now intensively working on, is the Portum Towers residential complex in Bratislava, which recently received a building permit and is about to begin implementation. The project involved big names in Czech and Slovak architecture, and we are looking forward to unveiling the new form residential towers and their surroundings, unique design and high level of interiors", adds Petr Teplý, founder of Top Estates.

"The Barrandez-Vous project is exceptional in its playfulness, which we were able to afford. Already while working on the Sakura residence, we discovered that we enjoy doing things our own way. We always look forward to joint projects because we know that we can make our dreams come true and to design something that everyone will enjoy and benefit from. In the case of Sakura, it was the abundance of greenery growing directly from the building. Barrandez-Vous, on the other hand, offers residents their own gardens and plenty of space to relax under the treetops. Even the road the grid here is organic and natural, so moving around the property is more like a walk in the park than a path between the houses.In cooperation with Top Estates, we are currently finalizing the final design of the park and outdoor space for their exceptional Bratislava project Portum Towers, which will bring a brand new an architectural concept and a unique experience of modern living" says Ferdinand Leffler, Atelier Flera.
 

Photo: Sakura, Prague

The Top Estates developer group operates in Prague, Brno and Bratislava and focuses on premium residential and multifunctional projects. In Slovakia, the Portum Towers residential complex is currently being prepared, and the Brno project is also being prepared. In the past, other winning projects were also awarded by the professional public - Truhlárna, Barrandovská záhradá and Sakura, which became the first residence in the Czech Republic working with the principle of hanging gardens and was among the four finalists of the world's best buildings in the Residential category in 2020, as part of the world's largest architectural WAN Awards competition.

More about the developer group Top Estates www.topestates.cz

Photo: Bleriot, Prague

Downtown growth will continue. Portum reveals the definitive form

In 2023, construction development should continue in the space of the new commercial center of Bratislava - in Bratislava's downtown. In addition to the projects already under construction, the start of the implementation of new ones is also expected. Among the expected developments is the huge multi-functional complex Portum, which includes a pair of high-rise buildings. The final visualizations of the intention are probably known.

Source: YIM.BA

Portum is planned at the corner of Chalupková, Košická and Landerová Streets, i.e. in a relatively exposed position near one of the most important intersections in Bratislava. This is a location that deserves a landmark. Portum, known since 2017, should be such a project. Like most investors in the area, the owners of these plots of land - the TK Estate company, later supplemented by Top Estates and today collectively known as Portum Towers - intend to build an above-standard set here, consisting of lower houses, but also high-rise buildings.

Their height is linked to the existing spatial planning regulation. This allowed the developer to design a pair of towers, the lower of which, according to the documentation, is 97 meters and 30 floors, and the taller one is 115 meters and 36 floors. They will be joined by a conservatory on the first floor level. Lower buildings will be added. A seven-story wing will be built next to Landererová and an eight-story one for Chalupková, while the six-story building is planned towards the new alley that separates Portum from Apollo Residence.

Functionally, it will be primarily a residential project, while the investor is clearly targeting the most creditworthy clientele - he even calls Portum one of the most luxurious projects in Bratislava. Several hundred apartments and suites should be built here (up to 490 were said), as well as accommodation units in a couple of hotels. They will be located in a separate building near the new alley, as well as in the seven-story wing next to Landererova. Civic amenities should include a gallery, a spa or a kindergarten for 80 children. There will be 656 spaces in the underground garage.

Part of the project should also include relatively extensive park improvements in the inner block. It will be relatively large in the future, although it will be clamped together with the neighboring Ister Tower project. In the case of Portum, the developer wants to treat residents and visitors to a high level, according to his words, in this case as well – the densely green park will be the work of the renowned Czech garden architect Ferdinand Leffler and his Atelier Fler.

High emphasis is also placed on the architectural rendering of the towers themselves or their interiors. Several offices participated in the design process. The author of the overall concept is A1 Architecture under the leadership of Branislav Kaliský, the lobby is designed by world-class Czech architect Eva Jiřičná, a pair of model apartments will be based on the Mimolimit office of Czech architect Bára Škorpilová. Other invited teams include Chybík + Kristof or ADR.

The result should be the creation of relatively elegant high-rise buildings. According to the information and visualizations known so far, they should have a smooth glazed facade made of darker glass with contrasting aluminum vertical slats. The towers will be slimmed at the top, which should give them a slimmer look. The compactness of the expression will also be helped by the presence of loggias (or terraces) instead of balconies. The lower wings will be lined with brick cladding, which the builder wants to reflect the industrial past of the area.

This is to some extent a problem for the future development of the project. The plan has been issued with a building permit, and according to the latest information, the developer is already bidding for a contractor. However, before the actual construction, he will have to remove the environmental burden, which is high in the area. Portum will be built on the site of the former Apollo refinery, which was bombed in 1944. The result is the presence of oil and chemical substances in the subsoil, and even ammunition - which the developer has already confirmed.

In any case, the project is headed for a likely start of construction in the course of 2023. Also, a sales campaign should begin soon, which will include the opening of a large presentation center. Portum will be built in two stages, but the entire underground garage should be built already in the initial phase of construction. Completion of the complex can be assumed perhaps in 2026-2027.

Newly published visualizations show relatively attractive looking towers, but from a visual point of view, they run into the problem of several projects in the new downtown - they are low. Portum would benefit from being a bit taller, which would make its slimness and architecture stand out. Thus, it will be included in the "Wall 115", a series of similarly tall buildings in this part of the metropolis, which together create a monotonous panorama. At the same time, the intersection of Landererová, Košická and Přístavná is the place where taller buildings would be most suitable.

Everything indicates that it will be the location with the tallest buildings in Bratislava. Today, only one is completed – Landererova 12, a relatively low-rise office building by J&T Real Estate. However, several towers should be built here in the future. The same developer plans to build a tower with a height of 141 meters as part of the continuation of Klingerka. On the southeast side of the intersection, there is a plot of land with the former Ryba store. According to still unconfirmed information, there could be a high-rise building with a theoretical height of 130-150 meters. Finally, again, JTRE recently admitted that it is considering the possibility of building a 250-meter high skyscraper on the East Tower site.

The reason why Portum is not and could not be higher is the zoning regulation. The project is a part of the territory dealt with in the framework of the Territorial Plan of the Chalupkovo zone. This very precisely prescribes the parameters of the building, including the height of individual dominants. In the case of Portum, the developer went to the maximum, which is set at 115 meters.

The other mentioned buildings are no longer affected by this regulation. The considered high-rise zoning, which would cap the height of the towers at 160 meters, is currently at the level of the urban planning study. Several years will pass before it becomes a binding part of the Spatial Plan. Developers thus still have time to design taller buildings, and the city must allow them if the other parameters are met. However, the portum will remain a maximum of 115 meters.

Maybe it's a shame. Although it will not be a kind of inclusive project that, along with luxury residences, would also bring a few more affordable apartments, community centers, facilities for the elderly or public kindergartens or schools, it should still be an attractive part of the new center and a good addition to it. With a greater height, it would stand out more and perhaps become - as the developer claims - one of its icons. In this way, it will be a nice realization, but it can be covered by bigger neighbors.

Author: Adrian Gubčo, YIM.BA
 

Trends in construction and architecture or Top Estates projects

An interview with Dušan Dvořák and Petr Teplý will reveal more about how Top Estates projects are created and how brothers-in-law cooperate in development. They discuss trends in the construction industry with Peter Antl from Saint-Gobain.

You can watch the whole interview here

Downtown will get new towers. The long-awaited Portum can go into construction

The next few years will be spent in the construction of new high-rise buildings in the new commercial center of Bratislava. The implementation of another significant project could start soon: Portum at the corner of Landererová, Košická and Chalúpková has received a building permit. The developer promises to create luxury housing in the slimmest towers of downtown Bratislava.

Source: YIM.BA

Over the past five years, several high-rise buildings have been built in the space roughly defined by Dostoevsky row, Karadžičová, Mlynské niva, Košická and Dunaj, which have radically changed the panorama of Bratislava. They also brought about a transformation of the character of the southern part of the Niv. It used to be an industrial zone, but in the first decade of the 21st century, any production slowed down. Signs of the future state are already visible: a district with a high concentration of residential and office towers, with extensive commercial spaces and landscaped public spaces.

After the construction closest to the center of Bratislava, the attention has now shifted to land in the eastern part of the territory. The area around Košická and Landererová streets is experiencing the biggest transformation. The intersection of these streets (also with Přístavna) may become the place with the most prominent high-rise buildings in the future. The Portum project, which will fill the northwestern arm of the intersection, will make a significant contribution to this.

Portum was presented for the first time in 2017. The developer TK Estate, associated with entrepreneur Marek Trajter, then revealed the vision of the creation of a pair of towers, higher with 115 meters and lower with 97 meters, connected by a generous winter garden. The lower wings should have been oriented towards Landererová and Chalúpková. Together with the neighboring Ister Tower project, which was in turn prepared by Matúš Trajter, they were to create a city block with park-like greenery in the inner block.

The Slovak developer proceeded step by step in the preparation and authorization of the plan. However, a very important shift was the entry of the Czech company TopEstates, an experienced company that has already implemented several prestigious projects in the Czech Republic, announced at the beginning of 2021. The new investor brought a dynamism to the preparation and, above all, an increase in the probability that Portum will stand up even in complicated pandemic conditions. The start of implementation was expected last year. However, after administrative delays, the prospect of an early start of construction works is opening up only now, after the building permit has been issued.

As Portum Towers claimed during the summer, the actual implementation will be preceded by the removal of the environmental burden. It should be extensive in this area, since the Apollo refinery was located in these places. After the area has been cleared, the construction of a connected underground garage will follow, after which the individual towers will be built in two stages. The completion of the project is currently estimated for 2025.

Portum Towers will belong to relatively large Bratislava projects. The taller of the towers, workingly called Tower 115, will be located in contact with Chalúpková Street. The building will have 36 floors, the associated wing will have eight floors. A gallery with facilities should be created on the first two floors of the tower, civic amenities will be on the first three floors of the lower building. There will be apartments on the higher floors.

The lower of the towers, Tower 97, will be closer to Landerer, the seven-story wing will face the street. The first two floors will house the hotel premises, including the hotel SPA. Housing will be located on the higher floors of the tower, and accommodation units will be located on the lower floor. The project will also include a six-story hotel building, located next to the new alley between Portum and Apollo Residence (it will end at the Ister Tower), and a winter garden that will connect the individual towers. According to the documentation, there will be space for a municipal spa (probably for residents) and a kindergarten for approximately 80 children.

As a result, several hundred apartments should be created here, while the developers openly claim that it will be one of the most luxurious projects in Bratislava. They approached a number of well-known architects to design the development, but also the interiors and exterior spaces: the author of the overall concept is A1 Architecture under the leadership of Branislav Kaliský, the lobby is designed by the world-class Czech architect Eva Jiřičná, a pair of model apartments will be based on the Mimolimit office of the Czech architect Bára Škorpilová. Other invited teams include Chybík + Kristof or ADR. The design of the inner-block park is being processed by the Atelier Flera office. According to Portum Towers, this will create an icon of Bratislava.

This is a confident statement. However, the visualizations and references of Top Estates published so far seem attractive. The city is thus moving towards the further uplifting of an important zone in its ever-changing new center.

The information about the building permit for Portum comes almost at the same time as the issuance of the zoning decision for the neighboring Ister Tower, which also acquired a new co-investor. In addition, Branislav Kaliský joined the project as an architect, which means that one author will design an entire large city block in downtown. This can help the overall look, as the original look of the Ister Tower was unconvincing.

In addition to these two projects, J&T Real Estate is also progressing, which is preparing the continuation of Klingerka in two stages on the eastern side of Košice. In addition to apartments in several towers, the huge development should include an administrative (according to official information) tower with 141 meters. It will be located on the north-eastern side of the junction of Prístavná and Košická, making it - at least for now - its dominant feature.

The fate of the south-eastern side is still questionable. This remains an empty lot owned by HB Reavis. In terms of space, this is an extremely limited plot, which is a prerequisite for the installation of a high-rise building, which is the only one that makes more economic sense. Considering the overall context and panorama of Bratislava and downtown, it would be appropriate for it to be one of the tallest, if not the tallest tower, or a skyscraper. To a large extent, this is also indicated by the proposed height regulation, prepared by the Municipality and the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava.

Theoretically, the creation of a relatively exceptional area with an extraordinary average height of the buildings located here is emerging. This brings with it challenges in the form of top traffic service, high-quality public space, good architectural standards, enough greenery, a balanced mix of functions or an active ground floor. Portum, by all accounts, fulfills many of these parameters. If other local projects follow suit, Bratislava is heading towards the creation of a location that will be unique in the context of a similarly large European city.

Author: Adrian Gubčo, YIM.BA

The slimmest towers of downtown Bratislava are waiting for the last permit

The recent start of preparatory work on the second and third stages of Klingerka has also brought an increase in interest in another nearby piece of land: across from Klingerka, on the corner of Chalupková, Košická and Landerová, the space where the multi-functional complex Portum is planned has been empty for years. It should include a pair of towers, which may be among the slimmest in the new center of Bratislava. When will the activity start here too?

Source: YIM.BA

Portum was presented for the first time already in 2017, when the concept of a pair of towers, complete with lower wings, facing Chalupková or Landererová street was revealed. The project is to define a large block in the south-eastern part of the Chalupkova zone, which forms the heart of the new center of Bratislava - downtown. The massive inner block, connected with another planned project, Ister Tower, is to be made up of a publicly accessible park, or garden. The developers, TK Estate and Top Estates, announce that Portum, thanks to its dimensions (the tallest of the towers will be 115 meters), will bring some of the most elegant high-rise buildings in Bratislava.

The plan progressed step by step - it passed the environmental impact assessment (EIA), and at the beginning of 2020 it also received a zoning decision. The subsequent receipt of a building permit should have been somewhat of a formality, but the development of the project was delayed by the pandemic and the lack of rent for one of the city plots. Nevertheless, with the entry of Top Estates into the project, announced at the beginning of 2021, it seemed that Portum was heading for construction after all. However, today, in the second half of 2022, the project still does not even have a building permit, although it has been waiting for it for almost two years.

In any case, the developers believe that the wait is coming to an end. "We are currently waiting for the building permit to be issued, which should hopefully happen within 1 to 2 months," expresses hope Dušan Dvořák, executive director of the Portum Towers project. "The construction procedure required a number of small changes so that the entire project 100% complies with all standards, and we currently have everything necessary for the issuance of a building permit and we are only waiting for the building authority's capacity." The plan should finally get the green light for implementation.

This is an important milestone for developers - only after the permit is issued do they want to start pre-sales and negotiations with clients. "Within one month, we will also complete the sales premises, which we have been working on for more than half a year, in the Sky Park Offices building, on the 15th floor," Dvořák points out. "From these premises, the growth of our entire building will be perfectly visible throughout the entire implementation period, and we will be able to welcome clients to the premises at the end of 09/2022. Together with this, we are completing the entire new website and the presentation of the entire project, the complete project of the garden and the adjacent park, and our vision is to launch this website together with our sales premises."

In addition, today the developers are also working on the documentation for the actual implementation of the construction, which they are preparing in cooperation with experienced designers. The construction supervisor has already been chosen, as has the financing bank, which is Tatrabanka. Investors tender for suppliers, including the supplier of decontamination of the territory, where bids are already to be evaluated.

An important innovation is the coordination with the Magistrate and the investor Ister Tower regarding the intention of the connecting street that will connect Chalupkova with Landerová next to the Apollo Residence project. Individual parties will proceed together in its implementation. "The agreement in question was concluded on July 18, 2022, and we are very happy that we have found an agreement with the Bratislava municipality and the neighboring Ister project in this matter," adds D. Dvořák. The new communication could fundamentally improve mobility and cross-links in the area. In the future, it will probably also be connected to a residential project that will be created as part of the reconstruction of the land with the planned ZSE headquarters.

The construction of Portum will hopefully begin - after the necessary preparation in the form of clearing the land - perhaps already in the course of next year. "From the beginning, we have divided the Portum project into two construction phases, with each phase having one high-rise building and its wing. The project will start with the construction of the entire underground, i.e. the lower structure of the garages," concludes Dušan Dvořák. If construction actually starts next year, then the first apartments will be handed over perhaps at the turn of 2025 or 2026.

Portum is to be included in the new developments of a higher standard that will be created in the central part of Bratislava. The developers are counting on the creation of approximately five hundred apartments. Undoubtedly, they will be deployed in waves for sale in order to be able to capture the current movements in the market. It is difficult to estimate prices at the moment, but taking into account the conditions in the Old Town and the fact that they will be completely new buildings with a high standard, it is possible to expect prices at the level of around 8,000 euros per square meter (which is today's Old Town average ), theoretically even more.

Although these prices also reflect the growth of construction costs or inflation, they may be a guarantee of high quality architecture, materials or equipment. In addition to apartments, Portum should include apartments (or a hotel) and a large range of retail on the active parterre (on the ground floor). Residents will also have access to a private wellness center with a swimming pool. The developers advise that they have paid special attention to the design of the interiors, the lobby, but also the green intra-block space, while the shape of the buildings will reflect both the industrial past of the location, as well as the current modern character of the new center of Bratislava.

The names of the architects who participated or are participating in the project to some extent should be a guarantee of exceptional quality. The most famous names include Eva Jiřičná, Chybík + Kristof or the main architect of the project, A1 Architecture office, associated with the architect Branislav Kaliský. All these authors have behind them well-known and awarded realizations, the last named for example Euroveu, Einpark, Blumenthal and others.

In addition, at the time of completion, a changing environment will be completed, which will be even more significantly filled with new massive schemes compared to today - Eurovea, Sky Park, Klingerka II and III, Metropolis will be completed, HB Reavis residential projects will be developed and Apollo Residence will be nearing completion. Perhaps the fate of the tram on Pribinová and Košická streets will also be decided. In connection with its construction, Košická should be rebuilt, Chalupkova will change, where two-way cycle paths will be created, and today's ugly street will turn into one of the most urban in the metropolis.

Today's state of the land (and its subsoil) will probably remain just an ugly memory forever. The new project in its place comes with a vision of the creation of an elegant pair of towers, viewed from the street completed by lower urban wings, creating the basis of attractive streets. In combination with proven architects, Portum could and should be one of the most interesting projects in the new center of Bratislava.

Author: Adrian Gubčo, YIM.BA

Development is not a one-man show

Seven years ago, brothers-in-law Petr Teplý and Dušan Dvořák started a small project called Truhlárna. Today, their company Top Estates has completed several successful projects in Prague, Brno, Bratislava and is preparing more. We spoke with the founders of the company about their beginnings in the field of development, their approach to the sustainability trend and why they focus only on three large cities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

You can read the whole interview here

Portum is approaching construction

Recently, the construction of another series of high-rise buildings has started in downtown Bratislava. Penta Real Estate's Sky Park is adding a fourth residential tower, construction work has started on Mint Investments' Metropolis, and J&T Real Estate's Eurovea Tower is getting more prominent. Two more should be added to these towers soon: before the start of construction, the Portum project by Portum Towers should be part of the Slovak and Czech capital.

Source: YIM.BA

The construction project of a large multi-functional project, located on the exposed northwest corner of the intersection of Košická and Landererová, has been known since 2017. At that time, the plan appeared during an environmental impact assessment (EIA), the submitter was the Slovak company TK Estate. A lesser-known developer gradually made progress in licensing. At the beginning of 2020, he obtained a zoning decision and also applied for a building permit. However, he did not receive this for a long time, and everything indicated that the pandemic stopped further development.

However, it was not quite like that. At the beginning of 2021, the entry of a new investor was announced - the Czech company Top Estates, which has already completed several successful projects, especially in Prague. Czech developers used the started plan as a suitable springboard for the eventual development of their activities in Bratislava as well. According to the company's managing partners, Dušan Dvořák and Petr Teplé, the significant potential of the Slovak metropolis, as well as the exceptional location of Portum, were key factors that influenced the company's entry into the project.

It is not supposed to be a small development. The most prominent part of Portum will be a pair of residential towers, the higher of which will have 36 floors and 115 meters, the lower 30 floors and 97 meters. In the direction of Chalupková and the new street, which will be perpendicular to Chalupková and lead to Landererová, a pair of lower wings will be created with additional apartments and suites, or hotel. There are supposed to be almost five hundred apartments here, and their standard should be high above the average. The developers also promise a large range of retail, as well as the creation of a large, park-like area in the courtyard behind the buildings.

However, the entry of new investors did not bring an immediate start to construction. Portum Towers still do not have a building permit - despite the fact that the zoning decision has been in effect for almost two years. The project can go into construction proceedings only now, after all the contractual relations with the Magistrate have finally been settled. Everything was based on the construction of a smaller area of the footpath and related public lighting. However, at the last council meeting, the city approved the lease of the necessary land to the developers (material here).

So if the construction process goes smoothly, Portum could start construction in the first half of next year. The project is set as a two-stage project, the higher of the towers should be implemented first. However, with regard to marketability and the conditions applicable at the time of the start of work, the developer admits that he will start building both stages at a similar time. Before construction, a geological and pyrotechnic survey must be carried out.

The project could thus be completed, also based on previous Top Estates estimates, at the beginning of 2026. The developers want to invest a total of around 158 million euros in Portum.

Investors do not hide their great ambitions, according to which an iconic project for Bratislava is to be created. It will already be reflected in the architecture of the towers and the ground-floor parts. Several architectural teams are participating in the project. However, the main author of the project is the A1 Architecture office under the leadership of the well-known architect Branislav Kaliský, the author of the first stage of Eurovey, Blumenthal and other projects.

According to his concept, the towers should have a smooth glazed facade of darker glass (although the final form will depend on the fulfillment of all standards) with contrasting aluminum vertical slats. The towers will be slimmer towards the top, which should give them a more elegant character. The compactness of the expression will also be helped by the presence of loggias (or terraces) instead of balconies. On the ground floor, the cladding of the building should be "fused" with the surface of the pavement. The lower wings will have brick cladding, which should reflect the industrial past of the area. However, these parts will already have balconies.

There are also some big names among the other teams. The biggest one is the prominent Czech-British architect Eva Jiřičná, who prepared designs for the lobby and one of the apartments. He uses his typical style of combining design, art and glass. A pair of model apartments will also be based on the pen of the Mimolimit office, Czech architect Bára Škorpilová. Other invited teams include Chybík + Kristof or ADR.

Finally, the newly designed park in the inner block should also be exceptional. For the most part, it should be made up of dense planting reminiscent of a forest in its character. The plants will be selected so that the park has a unique atmosphere during all seasons. Special attention will be paid to the interfaces between the individual parts of the park, which should be characterized by a specific design. The author of the landscape design is the office of Atelier Flera.

It is therefore not surprising that in the case of the target, Portum aims at the most creditworthy groups. In addition to the high standard of execution and equipment, some of the residences are expected to be among the largest offered in Bratislava. Residents will also have access to a private wellness area with a swimming pool. To what extent it will bring success will be seen in the near future - sales should be launched at the beginning of next year, connected with the opening of the showroom. It will have an exclusive location: directly above the construction site, on the 15th floor of Sky Park Offices.

This is the largest project for TopEstates, while the company has a history of architecturally very attractive projects. At this moment, there is no reason to assume that the developers would discount their claims or plans. This is not even evidenced by the market situation, which also wishes for the creation of more demanding and expensive developments.

Portum comes with the promise of a very interesting project that will significantly co-shape a busy and increasingly important intersection. It is possible that the highest concentration of high-rise buildings in the city will occur in the vicinity of this intersection. In addition to Portum, the Klingerka Tower by J&T Real Estate, an administrative tower that will be the second tallest building in the city at 141 meters, is also planned here. The tower on the site of the former Ryba could also be relatively high, as the land is not bound by height regulation. The intersection will be completed by a new tram line.

The developers of Portum promise several good solutions: for example, the parterre should be active along all street-oriented facades, a massive archway will be created before the entrance to the towers, segregated cycle paths will be created as a result of the investments, the new Bratislava pavements and the manual of public spaces could be used, and it is also open the question of completing the territory with art. The park should be managed directly by the company to guarantee a high level of maintenance. In addition, the developer of the neighboring Ister Tower project is reportedly inclined to connect individual public spaces to each other.

Here, too, there are flaws of beauty, although not all of them were under the control of the developer(s). The taller of the towers would greatly benefit from more height to make it truly slimmer and sleeker. However, investors in the location are bound by the Zoning Plan of the Chalupkova zone, which sets maximum heights and does not allow the creation of even higher towers. The regulation also affected the shape of Chalupková street itself - it will be absurdly wide, which will worsen the contact of Portum (and other plans) with the street. A kind of roundabout could even be created in front of the project.

Among my personal reservations, I would add the overall low level of development of the land, which could be even higher in the vicinity of the large open space in Sky Park. I am also not identified with the use of balconies on lower buildings, but in principle also loggias on towers. In both cases, they disrupt the integrity and purity of the architectural expression. Unfortunately, Slovak customers demand such a form of connection with the exterior, under all circumstances. Ultimately, however, many will find that the outdoor space at height is not so attractive, which will lead to the glazing of many loggias – similar to the nearby Panorama Towers. Bratislava still has to wait for a brave investor who will build an all-glass smooth residential tower.

Therefore, one can have legitimate reservations about the association "iconic project", since something is still missing (especially height). Otherwise, it is highly likely that Bratislava's downtown will get a very attractive addition, which will suitably complete and thicken it. Its construction could start in the near future. Bratislava and its new commercial center will once again have a somewhat more compact and modern impression.

Author: Adrian Gubčo, YIM.BA

Developers of the Portum project: Bratislava's downtown is something unique

A new developer has entered Bratislava from the Czech Republic - and right into one of the prominent projects in the new city center, Portum. The company Top Estates has completed several interesting projects in Prague and Brno, and its managing partners, Dušan Dvořák and Petr Teplý, do not hide their big ambitions for their Bratislava debut.

Source: YIM.BA

Petr Teplý on the left, Dušan Dvořák on the right

The entry of foreign developers is not an everyday event in the case of Bratislava. The specific local market is particularly favorable to domestic companies oriented towards the environment and legislation. Therefore, the arrival of a new investor, even from the ever-closer Czech Republic, is an interesting phenomenon that deserves attention. The entry of new developers is all the more important because it contributes to the launch of some long-known, but at first glance only slowly developing projects - such as the intention of a pair of Portum towers on the corner of Landererová and Košická Streets.

In the interview, you will learn, among other things:

Why Top Estates decided to enter Bratislava

What are the strengths of the Slovak metropolis compared to Prague

What the Portum project will provide to the general public

How Czech developers see the past of their Slovak partner

When will the construction of the project finally start?

Adrian Gubčo: What prompted you to enter the Bratislava real estate market? What makes the Bratislava market interesting enough to bring your activities here?

Dušan Dvořák: Our long-term strategy was to operate in three large cities – Prague, Brno and Bratislava. In our opinion, Bratislava has quite a lot of potential when it comes to selling the type of apartments that we generally want to build - that is, premium housing. In addition, our reasoning for entering the Bratislava market was based on the observation of realization prices, prices of construction works, a comparison of cost and profitability. Payment in euros, distance to Vienna and current trends in apartment prices are also interesting.

Why did you decide now? Several of the mentioned factors - currency, location - have been valid for a long time.

Dušan Dvořák: It is always important to have something to enter. For us, it's not just Bratislava in general, but it's also connected to a specific project. We have been looking at the city for several years, but what we had available for purchase did not seem very interesting to implement. However, Portum is such an interesting project that we worked on it throughout 2020. So the question was not when, but what we wanted to enter.

Petr Teplý: We have been looking at Bratislava for about three years and we have many people in the team who have already worked in Bratislava. It is not an unfamiliar environment for us. The area around Portum is very attractive and it is a place where the development of development is very fast. We like that.

Are there any differences between Prague and Bratislava in terms of access to development? Did you encounter a different approach here compared to Prague?

DD: Slovakia certainly has its own specifics, which are shown in certain parts of the development. It is different, especially with regard to the financing of constructions, the approach of banks, the functioning of individual installments, the distribution of debt, etc. The legal environment is so different, but still very similar.

PT: There are already quite a few developers operating in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in Bratislava - e.g. YIT, FINEP. I don't see any fundamental differences either.

Is Bratislava better in any way? When I talked to people from IPR, they told me that they were envious of how quickly construction is done in our country, or is allowed. Roman Koucký spoke very positively about high-rise buildings.

DD: As for downtown, it's something unique that Prague doesn't have and probably won't have. The difference is that Prague has UNESCO status and high-rise buildings are problematic. I can't imagine that something like Bratislava could be created there. However, the fact that it was created in Bratislava, from the idea of building it to its implementation, gives the impression that Bratislava has grown into a city of the Western world. This brings the city to a higher level.

"As for downtown, it's something unique that Prague doesn't have and probably won't have."

How do you see Bratislava today and how do you see it in the future? From my perspective, for example, Prague is a beautiful historical city, but also a kind of old lady that could use new energy. Bratislava is the complete opposite.

DD: You are absolutely right. That was the reason why Bratislava and Portum itself attracted and enchanted us. Unlike Prague, Bratislava has a small historical center, but the development of the city is taking leaps and bounds. Bratislava wants to overtake Prague in the Western style of buildings and progress. The city has grown incredibly, I once perceived it to be smaller than Brno. Now, even with the agglomeration, it is growing madly. Bratislava na Danube has a chance to grow into an interesting city in Central Europe with a short distance to Vienna. To become a leader in this region both in terms of architecture and the functioning of the city. In the city management, you have people who take care that Bratislava grows somewhere and give it the green light.

PT: I would just add that, from my point of view, it is a modern city that is going through a big change in development, also thanks to the way the limits for construction are set. It is correct to thicken to a height, in contrast to Prague, where the meadows are stopped in close proximity. I don't even know how many districts Prague has anymore. This is not proper city development. The city needs to be densified, infrastructure and transport connections, cycle paths and emission-free transport should be supported. It's going in the right direction and we want to be there. We have a project that will be somewhat unique, will perfectly complement the entire location, and we hope that it will become one of the dominant features of the entire downtown.

How important a factor was that when you were choosing a project to enter?

DD: It certainly played a significant role. We generally look at projects to be something special, be it the location, the architecture, or the way we can bring the project to life and make it something out of the ordinary. Portum has quite a few non-standards and exceptions - whether it's the place, the architecture, the consideration of how the place should look, including the Istria next door.

I've been to Bratislava several times, including in Sočík. The difference between arriving seven years ago and a year ago is huge. It left a huge mark on me, for example arriving in Bratislava in the evening, downtown, whether you are going across the Danube or from the castle. We are not surprised why people want to live in this part of the city, why they want to invest in housing there. That place has a strong charge.

So let's move on to Portum. What will the already mentioned significant features be?

DD: I think it's mainly a unique place. To compare with Prague, in Bratislava, development is supported by the city to a degree that we can envy in Prague. 99% of the projects in Prague are to change the spatial plan, which takes 10 years.

How will Portum take into account the fact that it is in such a special place?

DD: At the Landererova - Košická intersection, a new landmark of the entire area will be created, perhaps a certain entrance gate. It will have great architecture, which is supported by Braňo Kaliský, who originally introduced us to the project. Working with public space is also a main feature of significance, we also want to communicate with the local government so that it is for the public.

We have several concepts to grasp the whole project. We care a lot about the interior space, which we also solve with several architects who solve layouts, set standards or technical parameters. We want to make it a unique affair. It is a big challenge, but we have several people around us who have worked on the tallest buildings in the Czech Republic and around the world. Later we will introduce the team to everyone, they are experts, both from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, people with over 20 years of experience.

What should be the key competitive advantage over other downtown projects?

DD: We feel that most of the projects that are around are single-feature based and don't offer anything extra to owners or investors. We would like to change that in Portum. We would like to give people something extra - e.g. spa or pool. We want residents to have some things with them and not have to drive halfway across town to get them. This is very convenient.

The second thing is a new form of introducing apartments to potential buyers. We contacted several Czech and Slovak architects, basically world-renowned - and we are working on the design of the apartments. Those interested will have the opportunity to use these architects for the design of each apartment. We would like to introduce it in about 2 months.

Another point is certain variability. The area of the floor is approximately 400 m2, and if a client is interested, we are able to provide him with an apartment over the entire floor as part of the solution.

PT: I will add to the wellness, within one wing we are preparing a wellness concept - a spa that will have over 2000 m2, it will be spread over two floors and will also include a swimming pool. It will all work as a service to people. We also focused on the design of the entrance halls, which are over 2 floors and will have concierge services. We will definitely start playing with a public park, we want to invite more experienced architects, communicate with the Municipality.

We are not a corporation, it's all about us, we care about the product and we invest time in making it properly and with quality. We don't do 100 projects, we do maybe 10-20 in our lifetime, but for that we are actively involved in them and we want it to be done properly. We really care how it turns out.

Bratislava is not a big city, it does not have an influx of foreign investors who would buy apartments in Bratislava, but there are many luxury projects. Do you think you are able to impress the clientele with the number of apartments you are planning (400)?

PT: I think definitely. That number was created mostly from smaller units that can be modularly connected on floors. We are able to variably adapt the apartments according to the needs of the clients. In addition, this is one of the last projects to be built in the downtown location.

DD: The whole project has not started looking for clients yet, but we already have 140 pre-registered investors. Based on the feedback we have, we are very optimistic and confident that we will succeed in sales.

Earlier it was mentioned that the project should also include a hotel, or some accommodation capacity. Is this still part of the project?

PT: Yes, so far.

"We will definitely start playing with a public park, we want to invite more experienced architects, communicate with the Municipality."

Do you think there is potential for another such facility in Bratislava? Several hotels have a problem with occupancy. After all, Bratislava is not Prague...

PT: We have been in contact with several operators but now we are focused on completing the acquisition, so negotiations will resume. Even before our entry, when we started thinking about it, we felt a certain interest from the operators. They were interested in a hotel for business clients, but the current times are not very favorable, so we will continue to develop communication.

DD: I would also add that consideration of individual market segments cannot be taken from the perspective of one year or the current covid situation.

We could also look at the situation with non-residential premises. When you talk to people in these industries, they are convinced that the segment will come back again. Working from home may be interesting for a month or two, but not for the whole year.

The same applies to hotels. Once a vaccine is found and most of the people who start traveling are vaccinated, it will go back to normal. We do not consider the hotel sector to be automatically excluded for the next decade. He has problems now, but it will be fine.

What will the project bring to the general public, not just clients?

DD: We are currently in a state where we are creating a commercial mix. We don't want to leave it to chance. We are not going to sell empty premises. We have a certain idea of what type of services should be there, and we certainly want to have it under control in connection with the surrounding amenities, which are not many there. There will certainly be classics such as a hairdresser, laundry, restaurant, shop and others. But we don't have the exact mix yet, although I think we will have it soon.

You mentioned Ister, to what extent the coordination took place, or communication?

DD: For us, Ister as a neighborhood project is important in the coordination of the connecting road that we have to build together before the houses are completed. We are in communication with the owners, several meetings have also taken place. I always believe that when everyone is aiming for the same goal, it will be reached.

The second topic is the question of the park that should be created between these projects. We want one concept to emerge, so that one architect's vision does not arise at the end of Porto and another's vision on the neighboring plot. That's stupidity. We have discussed several options for what could happen there.

Another thing is related to Istro: you do not prepare the project yourself, but as a co-developer. Your partner does not have experience with such large projects and also has a certain reputation. Was it not a problem for you when entering the project?

DD: You're right about our partner's experience. Our entry into the project is logically related to why Portum was looking for a partner. There were two solutions, either sell the entire project or find a partner. Throughout 2020, we were looking for a communication gap, we communicated intensively, we tried several variants and solutions to the problem, and I think we have harmonized in such a way that we can continue to work. We have completed communication with banks, communication with money for the entire construction. We brought to the dialogue the experiences that were missing there.

As for Marko Trajter's past, it is clear to us. In every project we enter into, a basic condition is a complete background check - legal, accounting, tax, construction - technical matters. We had several foreign advisors for this, who dealt with all aspects of the project, including personal matters. The results were satisfactory enough and we did not find anything that could jeopardize the project.

When should the implementation of the project take place?

PT: We are in the phase of submitting an application for a building permit and we are creating an assignment for designers to create implementation project documentation. The place requires time- and technologically demanding decontamination. We assume that sometime in the fall we will start the basic preparatory work, but everything depends on the pace at which we prepare the documentation for the construction. In the first half of the year before the summer holidays, we would like to present the entire project concept and start sales.

Are you considering other acquisitions or investment opportunities in Bratislava?

DD: We have, but we can't say anything about it yet. When entering the Bratislava market, we thought about a long-term operation. Portum is a great project and we hope it won't be our last. It will keep us busy for at least 4-5 years because it will be built in stages. We have two stages that logically follow each other. During that time, if the opportunity arises, we will definitely go to the next goal. It doesn't have to be a high-rise project, that's not important for us, the important thing is that it is interesting for what it can bring. We will not look at mass construction somewhere on the outskirts of Bratislava, we are not interested in that.

Do you have any minimum scope or nature of the project you are entering into? Will you focus, for example, on alleys or rather on integrated residential complexes?

DD: More comprehensive complexes, like parts of the city, are not something for us, rather individual places, individual buildings or realizations. Portum is something similar, it is a unique place, not the whole territory. We will always be interested in a unique project, something that can be attractive from the point of view of the end product for the client. Interesting housing that brings something unconventional. It can be in a meadow, with an interesting view in the forest, it can have characteristic genius loci...

Do you plan to implement these projects independently or with a partner?

DD: We don't have any set rules as to whether we go into a joint venture or independently. We can imagine both. This is one of our advantages - when we sit down with a given person, not with a corporation, but with a partner who shares our functioning, which we set up at least half a year in advance, we have no problem entering into it. We have similar projects in Brno, where we entered into a partnership. People want to leave their mark there. A bundle of money in your account will not make you happy.

What mark should be left on you?

DD: It should definitely be a project that the place and city deserve, that will be unique and not just on our pencils, but we will see it through to the end successfully. As we have completed projects in Prague and one tiny one in Brno. We want our clients who will live there to understand that this is really about the values we talked about at the beginning.

PT: I don't know if that trace is definable. But I will tell you when I am satisfied. When the house or apartment that we somehow presented turned out to be successful. Customer satisfaction is key and why we do it. So people got what they expected. I have no ambition to be the best, to have several awards, etc. My ambition was always to realize what we showed on the visualization and the owner of the apartment was satisfied.

Do you have a court architect that you like to call? Can we expect an influx of Czech architects in Bratislava?

DD: We like architecture and design, we follow trends in Slovakia and the Czech Republic as well as in the world. Our projects are not just numbers in tables. In each project, we set some idea that each project should have and we approach architects or designers who, in our eyes, are destined to do it well. We have several years of architects that we have worked with and that we like, but we are also trying to reach out to some new blood. We try to select them according to the type of project, while we cooperate with 3-4, maybe up to five architects.

The same is happening with the Portum proposal. We have two architects with whom we have already worked on something, and the other three teams are new.

PT: I'll just confirm it, we don't have a court architect, but it's true that over a period of time, a certain group of architects has formed who are our blood group and have a similar view of buildings as we do. There are several studios and architects who are doing or preparing new projects with us even though we have not built any with them yet.

Portum will be a little different in this. We will bring to the Slovak market the views and visions of prominent Czech and Slovak architects on how an apartment in such a building can look like. Not everyone can imagine what can be designed in such an apartment. As soon as an architect who is world-famous and has many important realizations shows it to you, the customer immediately starts to think differently about it. That's something we want to bring. We do not think that there is anything similar in Czech, or Slovak market.

For you, Bratislava is an intermediate stop before further expansion elsewhere, e.g. to Warsaw, Berlin or Moscow?

PT: I think not. We are also very close to Bratislava because we are from Brno and it is really close. We have some kind of relationship with her. I can't imagine that we would build a second Portum in Moscow, even if it could be built several times bigger and higher. On the other hand, it's not something that appeals to us.

DD: That's really not our direction. One thing is understanding the place where you are building - whether it is legal awareness, market functioning, accessibility, distance... We do most things personally, we are on site, we are part of the whole team, we participate in every process in depth. We don't want to be superficial and we didn't want to drown in it. Prague, Brno or Bratislava are simply an interesting line, where we wanted to be and we are there. Expansion means an incredible amount of work, moving into corporate management would be beyond what we ever wanted. I believe it will not come to that.

Author: Adrian Gubčo, YIM.BA

The music of the future with BIM will be heard in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Now under the management of Top Estates.

The modern and intelligent BIM (Building Information Modeling) process for designing, constructing and managing construction projects based on a digital model is already commonly used abroad, but most Czech developers are just getting to know it. The Top Estates group is one of the leaders among Czech developers who implement new residential projects with support and in a BIM environment. Thanks to new technology, it will be possible to react more quickly to changes in projects in the future, increase efficiency and facilitate real estate management. The high quality of project preparation is also reflected in the responsible approach to clients and users.

BIM software represents a revolution in building design. All available information is uploaded to a computer system that creates a digital 3D spatial model of the building. This is then extended by, for example, construction time parameters (4D), cost information (5D) and other information about the building.

"This is the most complex solution for the entire workflow, which makes our work significantly easier, more accurate and more efficient. We are currently starting the process of implementing BIM in our projects, and in the future all our projects will be implemented this way," says Petr Teplý, co-founder of Top Estates Group.

"Digital design is the future of development and we are trying to meet it a little earlier. Personally, I am very much looking forward to BIM processes, because I like intelligent and functional systems that facilitate the whole process," adds Dušan Dvořák, co-founder of Top Estates Group.

Until now, CAD tools were used to create project documentation for 2D drawing or creating geometric 3D models. BIM represents a much more comprehensive approach. For example, it allows you to make changes and modifications to the model that affect all contexts of the project at once. The data remains consistent, coordinated and more accurately describes the characteristics of the project for the entire project team in cooperation with the architectural and construction studio or implementation company, i.e. j. throughout the entire life cycle of the project.

"The concentration and connection of information in the BIM model brings a high level of information complexity. The result is that a properly used unified information database facilitates decision-making during the processes of project preparation and implementation on the construction site and supports modern communication between all professions and the investor's team. The benefit is also the subsequent accurate digital knowledge of the project during the maintenance of the housing complex, repairs or technical inspections. All the necessary information to solve the problem is in one easily accessible and understandable place," explains Pavel Vokáč, BIM specialist of the Top Estates team.

In the Czech Republic, on the basis of a government decision, the gradual use of the BIM concept is planned from 2023 for public construction contracts with a value of over 150 million CZK. Top Estates Group plans to gradually switch to BIM software for all planned projects.

Real estate news

In the near future, another exposed plot of land in downtown Bratislava could start to change. The Portum project at the corner of Landerová and Chalupková Streets received an important boost - the Czech developer Top Estates, focusing on premium developments, joined the project. Construction should start this year.

Source: YIM.BA

Top Estates focuses on above-standard multifunctional projects with a predominance of housing, the Prague implementations of the Sakura and Bleriot companies have also won international awards. In addition to Prague, it has three projects launched in Brno, and now it is entering Bratislava for the first time. "It is important for us to offer our customers quality housing in exceptional buildings and, if possible, in exceptional locations," says Dušan Dvořák, co-owner of Top Estates and Portum Towers. "And all of this came together for us in the Portum Towers project, so when the opportunity came, we took it."

According to the Czech developer, this is one of the most prestigious addresses in Bratislava, thanks to which it was an opportunity that has no parallel in Slovakia. "With our Slovak partner, we agreed on the idea, on the direction, but also on the realization of the quality of the design, both the construction and the interiors. It will be one of the landmarks of the city of Bratislava, in the new Downtown section. We believe that together with a team of leading Slovak and Czech architects and builders we will create a new legend in Bratislava," adds Dušan Dvořák.

The developer wants to provide interested parties with up to ten types of layout solutions from Czech and Slovak architects in various styles (among them, for example, AI DESIGN, Chybík + Krištof, FORMS and others). TopEstates indicates that the project will also include other exceptional solutions that it wants to gradually introduce in the coming months. The basic form of the development remains preserved - it will be a pair of towers, the higher 115-meter one with 36 floors and the lower one with 97 meters and 30 floors, supplemented by lower 7- and 8-story parts from Landererová, Chalupková and a new street that connects Chalupkova with Landererová .

A Czech developer entered the project, which had been developed for a long time by the Slovak owner, the company TK Estate associated with businessman Marek Trajter. The Slovak investor was looking for a suitable partner for some time. "We chose them precisely because we have the same vision and feeling towards product quality," explains M. Trajter. "It was of the first place for us to understand each other on the topics of the uniqueness of the rendering of the architectural design, compliance with the quality of construction work and standards in the apartments. Client orientation is very important to us, so finding a suitable partner who understands our setup was very important to me."

Top Estates adds that several leading professionals are working on the project – for example, the architecture is provided by the office A1 Architecture, led by the well-known architect Branislav Kaliský. The latest renderings suggest some modifications, but they did help the appearance of the towers. Orientation towards a more creditworthy client is obvious. According to the current assumptions, there should be 490 apartments, 11,000 square meters of amenities and 656 parking spaces. However, according to the developer, the number of apartments may change as units are expected to be connected. On the highest floors, there will be exclusive residences with higher headroom.

Portum Towers is currently applying for a building permit, which means that the implementation should start in the course of this year. Top Estates anticipates the start of construction work in the fall and completion at the turn of 2025 or 2026. This is a relatively late date, but before the actual construction, the land will need to be cleared of environmental pollution. The total cost of the project will be more than 158 million euros.

A look at the references of Top Estates shows that this company is capable of carrying out relatively large and demanding projects, which gives a good chance that the construction of Portum Towers will actually start. Massive development, in addition to the problem of environmental pollution from the former Apollo refinery, which was located in exactly these places, is a task for a strong developer/s. However, everything indicates that this time it will be possible to start the construction.

The project will fill a very exposed area at one of the busiest intersections in the city, which in the future may be surrounded by the tallest development in Bratislava on average - on the eastern side of the intersection, a 141-meter high tower is to be built as part of Klingerka III by J&T Real Estate, as well as a tower on in Ryby by HB Reavis, which could also exceed the "traditional" Bratislava height of 115 meters. Unfortunately, the taller of the Porto towers, where a greater height would be more than appropriate, will only reach the aforementioned 115 meters due to existing regulation.

In any case, the creation of this project will further thicken the panorama of Bratislava's downtown. Compared to today, at least eight new towers should be added (with Portum Towers) - Eurovea Tower from JTRE, a pair of towers in Sky Park from Penta Real Estate, Metropolis from Mint Group or a high-rise landmark in Zwirna from YIT Slovakia. In theory, the East Tower in Eurovea City, the continuation of Klingerka and Mlynské Nivy Košická by HB Reavis, could also be completed by now. If all these plans were to come true, Bratislava would get a really compact district of high-rise buildings.

Portum Towers wants to be profiled among them as one of the most prestigious projects, which places great demands on the project, not only regarding architecture and housing standards, but also additional civic amenities. The developer continues to remind that there will be an extensive wellness area or a pair of hotels, as well as plenty of shops and services. The project is to include an inner-block park-like green area, partially shared with the neighboring Ister Tower project, and art.

If the larger part of this facility will also serve the wider public (albeit for a fee), then the creation of this project can be a benefit that will complement the range of services within Bratislava's downtown. The lack of functions beyond the traditional scheme housing - offices - shops on the ground floor is an overall problem of this part of the city, where culture and opportunities for other types of recreation than walking and limited sports in the park are lacking to a greater extent. Projects with something extra are thus a suitable enrichment of the zone, as long as the public sector is not involved in the creation of the site.

Developers promise to reveal more information about Portum Towers soon, along with the launch of official apartment sales. However, from the materials presented so far, it seems that this intention could become a pleasant and high-quality part of the new center of Bratislava. The long-neglected and unused location will once again be somewhat more modern and attractive.

Author: Adrian Gubčo, YIM.BA

New exclusive project PORTUM Towers

At the end of last year, the company Top Estates completed its entry into the important Portum Towers project, which will grow in the lively Bratislava skyscraper district. The total investment in this unique residential project located in the center of Bratislava will exceed 4.1 billion crowns. The Top Estates. group thereby fulfills its intention to operate and build in Prague, Brno and Bratislava.

The Portum project is part of the so-called of the new center of Bratislava on the banks of the Danube, whose ambitions will be complemented by timeless architecture and the technical design of the project. "Thanks to its lucrative location, this is one of the most prestigious addresses in Bratislava. The project has no parallel in Slovakia, and we are excited about its uniqueness, which we want to further improve. We are preparing a number of novelties for future applicants for apartments, which we want to present in the coming months. Implementation of another premium project is another big challenge for us and we are very much looking forward to it," says Petr Teplý, co-founder of the Top Estates group.

"We have been working on the project for several months and have prepared a team of professionals who have experience with similar constructions abroad and are among the top in their field. We believe that living in Portum will be a prestigious matter for all residents and will also become a great investment. We really We are glad that we are entering the Slovak market with this project," explains Dušan Dvořák, co-founder of Top Estates.

The two slender high-rise residential towers of the Portum project will rise in an exposed location among other skyscrapers in an exclusive part of the city, making Bratislava one of the western-type cities.

The multifunctional residence will offer its residents not only a high standard of apartments and common areas, but also above-standard services such as wellness, swimming pool and others. The project emphasizes the comfort, safety and acoustic properties of the building, which will ensure maximum privacy for the residents. During the construction of individual apartments, it will be possible to meet the specific requirements of the clients, the composition of the apartments is not fixed.

An integral part of the project is the surrounding park, which offers a place for outdoor relaxation. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of this year, with completion planned for the turn of 2025 and 2026.