Nový Most: Masterpiece or Monsterpiece?
As an English teacher in Slovakia at the university level, I sometimes had the opportunity to work with students on their thesis work or projects. By chance I worked in the Department of Architecture at the Technical University in Bratislava. Though usually my input to students never went beyond the assistance of academic writing, I appreciated that I was none the less exposed to a range of works regarding architecture.
Architecture interests me. And undoubtedly, living in a new environment makes a person more aware of their surroundings. Over the years of living in Bratislava, there was only one architectural structure that created in me such a varying range of conflicting and strong emotions: Nový Most – New Bridge.
Most of the time my reaction is, “I hate it! Who came up with that ridiculous design?!” Other times it’s, “Well, it certainly is bold” or even, “I’ve never seen anything like it. People should be proud of its uniqueness.” I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a national treasure, but since it’s one of the images that is overwhelmingly projected of Bratislava and Slovakia, it has taken on a prominence of its own.
What I would love to see is for someone to write a PhD dissertation paper on Nový Most. I could picture it clearly in my mind. It would have a ridiculously complex title like: “Nový Most—A Theoretical Discourse on Embracing Contradictions between Art, Ethics, and Aesthetics.” It would be hundreds of pages in length and delve into the possible meanings, interpretations, and purposes, as well as the social, artistic, political, and historic value of the structure. It would contain phrases like “urban semiotics” and “perspectives on phenomenology”. I’d love it. I’d ask for a copy from the author and ask him or her to sign it for me. (I’m only half kidding…)
The bottom line is that I would like to hear others’ opinions about Nový Most, both in academia, and from everyday folks. I’d like to know, is there anyone out there who would volunteer their pick ax if the City of Bratislava announced they were going to tear down Nový Most tomorrow? I’m fairly certain that I would.
Here are some additional notes and comments I’d like to make about Nový Most:
- It was built between 1967 and 1972. It officially opened on August 26, 1972.
- Wikipedia says: “It is the 26th and the lowest member of the World Federation of Great Towers.” That sounds like a back-handed compliment to me.
- Nearly all of the Jewish quarter was demolished from the Staré mesto – Old Town to make way for the bridge, including the demolition of the synagogue. Today, a large etching on stone of the synagogue can be seen at Rybné námestie.
- The bridge road to the Old Town, passes mere feet next to St. Martin’s Dom, arguably one of the most important structures in Slovakia. Were any studies done to measure the damage caused by automobiles shaking the 14th century foundation of St. Martin’s Dom? Is this being monitored? How will it be addressed in the future?
All pictures are taken from Wikipedia Commons, which contains several others.
4 Comments on “Nový Most: Masterpiece or Monsterpiece?”
This must be one of my favorite blog entries on this site. Very well written! As far as the bridge goes, I think we should look at it from three angles: 1) functional - if it weren't for that one bridge the traffic situation in Bratislava city center would be much worse than it it is now. 2) design - the bridge is plain ugly. There isn't anything else I can say about it. 3) implementation - I'm not an architect, but I hope that if someone thought harder about how to set the bridge into the environment near the old town and Bratislava castle, a structure that would be fit into the environment without causing a lot of damage could have been created. BTW you forgot to mention that there is a restaurant in the flying-saucer-like top of the bridge tower. When it comes to offering my pick ax to destroy the bridge, I'd be happy to do it, if there was a plan to replace it with something better (bridge or a tunnel). Given the lack of money in the public sector I'm not holding my breath though. cheers, Igor
February 9th, 2008 at 01:49 AM
Ahoj Margarete. Sure the bridge put Bratislava "on the map". Ugly or what ever, it's still there, like the "socialist" block buildings.... I am a designer / builder and am sensitive to "things" like this. My feelings are that it was great for the 70's (a testament to socialist engineering at the time) but in the wrong location.... What did the socialists know about where to put things? We have the same problems here as you know ... It's all about the politics... Look at Gehry's building in Praha. Interesting, but when you see it up close, it makes one think here we go again, and why was it put there ... Look at Millennium Park in Chicago .. Contemporary is good with contemporary .. But I find that it is very difficult to mix the two and be successful.... Still it is what it is and I take it with a grain of salt.... It's all about the economics and politics....history has very little to do with it at times.....some one somewhere made a comment about the Trade Towers as being an aberration in NYC.... Oh well ..... To je teraz vsetko!
February 14th, 2008 at 04:18 AM
I think Novy Most is fantastic. It is an original aberration and kinda reminds me of Seattle's space needle. Novy Most has a restaurant in the spaceship part of it with the most fantastically surly waiters in all of B'lava. You gotta admit it's an original, ano?
February 27th, 2008 at 06:59 AM
I love Nový Most, its most deffinatelly very original and cool looking :)
April 10th, 2008 at 03:37 AM