[veteran]

Let me introduce a new thread about commieblocks in Košice, Slovakia.

Košice has 240 000 inhabitants, ca. 60-70% live in commieblocks built during socialistic era (1948–1989). During that era there were built approximately 66 000 apartments in commieblocks.

According to plans from mid 1980'es, another circa 50 000 apartments were planned to built between 1990 and 2010. Of course, due to political changes in 1989 were these megalomanic plans declined.

For Košice (but also for former Czechoslovakia) is typical huge typization of blocks, schools, kindergartens, shopping centers etc. in commie-districts. During 1965–1982 era were used only two types of blocks with some minor modifications in Košice.

 

[veteran]

Ťahanovce (1984–1998)
Unfinished commieblocks district. There were planned 9950 apartments, but only 7494 were built.

First part of district was successfully built in 1984–1992 and has 5446 apartments.

Construction of second part started in 1988 but after 1989 there were huge problems to finish it. In 1988–1989 started construction of 2048 apartments (from 4504 planned). First flats were inhabited in 1994. Last flats were finished in 1998. After that town council decided not to continue with contruction of remaining 2456 flats.

Huge problems were also with amenities. Some planned shops, garages, sport equipments, hotel etc. haven't been constructed. Especially, lack of parking places cause very big problems now.

Photos:
Aténska ulica (Athens Street) in 2nd part. On background (orange commies) is Berlínska ulica (Berlin Street) in 1st part and above them part of 12 floor commie in Hanojská ulica (Hanoi Street).

2nd part of Ťahanovce. On the left Aténska ulica (Athens Street), on the right Helsinská ulica (Helsinki Street).

Street art on relieving wall. Európska trieda (European Avenue), 1st part.

Helsinská and Aténska ulica (Helsinki/Athens Street), 2nd part.

Viedenská ulica (Vienna Street), 2nd part.

12-floors commie in Madridská ulica (Madrid Steet), 2nd part.

 

[veteran]

Komenského (1954–1960)

Design of blocks influenced by socialistic realism (in Slovak slang called "Sorela")

Block Komenský (1955–1958), 152 apartments

Block Hviezdoslav (1957 - IX/1959), 64 apartments

 

[veteran]

Košice II (1954–1958)

Design of blocks hugely influenced by socialistic realism.

 

[veteran]

Kuzmányho (1967–1983)

Commieblocks disctrict built near by downtown. This area had been a compact family-houses suburb before 1967 (demolishing started in XII/1966).

 

[veteran]

Nové Mesto, or Terasa ("New Town"), ca. 14000 apartments, (1962–1971 and partly in 1975–1986).

Commonly considered as the best commieblocks district in Košice. Urbanistic conception made by Bertold Hornung, famous Czechoslovak urbanist – after Soviet invasion in 1968 he lived in Great Britain. The main motto of his conception was "Living in park".

Main avenue (Avenue of Slovak National Uprising). It was constructed in 1961 – before first blocks.

Shopping centre (1966–1973)

"Salami park". Folk name of this small park (sculpture on the right side looks like 7 pieces of salami :nuts

Aničkin park (Park of Anne)

 

[veteran]

Mier ("Peace"), 1960–1962
1125 apartments for ca. 5000 inhabitants

Very first district where are used concrete panels. Before 1960 were used only bricks or brick-blocks prefabricates.

Crossroad Hlinkova ulica (Hlinka Street) × Národná trieda (National Avenue). Blocks on background are made from concrete panels (it is type G–57 developed in Gottwladov, today Zlín, CZE in 1957).

Shopping center Mier ("Peace"). On background 12-floor block constructed by technology of poured concrete (in Slovak: LB, liaty betón)

Brick blocks in Hlinka Street.

 

[veteran]

Commies in Ulica Československej armády (Czechoslovak Army Street)

Mixture of commies on relative low degree of typisation. Built 1959–1964.

Block Roháče, 1959–VIII/1960, 26 apartments

Block Kriváň, 1959–1961, 91 apartments

Block Tatry, 1961–1963

Block Karpaty, 1960–VIII/1961, 60 apartments

Two blocks without name built in 1963–1964.

 

[disciple9]

Another housing-estate in Košice. Dargovských hrdinov (lit. "Housing-estate of the Heroes of Dargov"), usually called Furča.

Built: 1976-1982
No. of apartments: 9406 (for ca. 30 000 inhabitants)

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

 

[disciple9]

Nové Mesto, or Terasa ("New Town"), ca. 14000 apartments, (1962–1971 and partly in 1975–1986).

Commonly considered as the best commieblocks district in Košice. Urbanistic conception made by Bertold Hornung, famous Czechoslovak urbanist – after Soviet invasion in 1968 he lived in Great Britain. The main motto of his conception was "Living in park".

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

By disciple9 at 2012-06-02

 

[veteran]

^^ In your 3rd picture (previous post) is Shopping center Luník II which is considered one of the best architecture from 1960'es (authors: Ján Šprlák, Eugen Kramár. Built: 1964–1967). Unfortunately, nowadays it's neglected - cinema is closed Another big problem is huge ad smog.

In your last picture is former Hostel Kosmalt built by VSŽ (East-Slovakia Ironworks) for their employees. Nowadays it is still a hostel, mostly used by students.

 

[veteran]

Dargovských hrdinov ("Furča"). Photos from today.

 

[Iluminat]

Reminds me of Poland, both rather nice and terrible renovations/termomodernizations all mixed with each other, similar problems with bad choice of colors etc. and this ugly illegal built-up balconies present although in lower numbers than in former SU. The feeling is a bit more chaotic though as if every building was renovated separately which might indicate Homeowner associations are more popular in Slovakia :dunno:

 

[disciple9]

@Iluminat: True that, concerning the popularity of Homeowner associations in Slovakia and indeed it is pretty chaotic, but those huge areas of planned living is just stunning to me every time I visit Košice or Slovakia in general. But Poland has the nicer renovations, that is obvious to me.

@Veteran: From time to time I read your Slovak thread "Sidliska/Housing estate" and every time I wonder myself from where and why you know all such minor and tiniest details of commieblock living in Košice? It just can't be your hobby to know all these facts, I guess you are an architect or something like this. Am I right?

 

[Iluminat]

But Poland has the nicer renovations, that is obvious to me.

It's not so obvious to me to be honest, we have probably just as many bad examples but the general impression is better because most buildings in the area are done in a similar way even if it's tacky. The impression here on the other hand is rather chaotic even though individually many of this renovations are rather nice.

 

[veteran]

@Veteran: From time to time I read your Slovak thread "Sidliska/Housing estate" and every time I wonder myself from where and why you know all such minor and tiniest details of commieblock living in Košice? It just can't be your hobby to know all these facts, I guess you are an architect or something like this. Am I right?

No, you don't :lol: It's just a passion I'm an IT-man.

Three more photos from Terasa

Absolutely first commieblock in Terasa – called "História" (History) – built II/1962–X/1962. It's type K-61 developed in Košice and used only in first four zones of Terasa. This block is under reconstruction now.

Another K-61 type block.

Newer blocks in Terasa (type T-08B, called "Prague types") built on the turn of 70'es and 80'es.

 

[veteran]

The impression here on the other hand is rather chaotic even though individually many of this renovations are rather nice.

In past people argued that commieblock-districts are so dove‑coloured. And now? Each section has different bright colour hno: Problem is "hidden" in people minds. Everbody is arguing but nobody is willing to subordinate some rules.

For example, try to say to some people that they can't install satellite parabola wherever. Their answer: It's my flat so I can do what I want there. hno:

 

[disciple9]

In past people argued that commieblock-districts are so dove‑coloured. And now? Each section has different bright colour hno: Problem is "hidden" in people minds. Everbody is arguing but nobody is willing to subordinate some rules.

Are there any ambitions existings or attempts already have been made to reconstruct or renovate some blocks or districts as a whole to let them look similar in their colour scheme? That might be the difference what Iluminat pointed at, that Poland might have as many bad examples for renovations as Slovakia got. Bad sometimes when I travel through Poland I can spot uniform renovations performed as a whole on some blocks to let them look equal in their appearance. This isn't the case for Slovakia.

 

[veteran]

Are there any ambitions existings or attempts already have been made to reconstruct or renovate some blocks or districts as a whole to let them look similar in their colour scheme?

I haven't heard about such attempts yet.

In some cases you can find two or three blocks built nearby each other with similar schema (but colours are usually different) – like our "twin-towers" in Furča (Dargovských hrdinov) district (Bielocerkevská ulica).

In Ťahanovce district was chosen nice combination of colour schema in 1980'es. Orange combined with dark-red, newer blocks also have combined green and white colour. Example photo from 2005:

Some sections are after reconstruction now. Used colors: several types of yellow, green and orange; purple, gray etc.

 

[veteran]

Photos of Ťahanovce from April 9th, 2012. You can see some sections after reconstructions there.