Reconstruction of the cinema into a cultural center in Leopoldov - results

The competition for the renovation of the Leopold cinema was won by architects from the new center for creative industries

The winning team consists of Martin Kusý Jr., Ľubomíra Blašková, Monika Krčméryová, and Róbert Bakyta. They succeeded among a total of thirteen other proposals. The jury did not decide based on the lowest price but rather on architectural quality. This is already the third competition of its kind for the renovation of public buildings or spaces in Leopoldov.

The unused cinema from the 1930s will be reconstructed by the town hall into a multifunctional cultural venue, as such spaces are lacking in the city. The investment in the renovation is planned to be €1,200,000 excluding VAT. The hall, in its current state, is only suitable for film screenings. The aim of the competition was to find the best way for the building to host concerts, theater performances, and balls, while also providing residents with a space for leisure activities.

Why they won
According to the jury, the winning design allows for efficient use of the building's volume. Additionally, the authors proposed the excavation and exposure of the basement, thereby creating new spaces for club activities and a gym. Martin Kusý from the winning team works in the BKPš studio, which is behind buildings like the National Bank of Slovakia and the new building of the Slovak National Theatre. Róbert Bakyta, Ľubomíra Blašková, and Monika Krčméryová work at the "new Cvernovka" - a center for creative industries on Račianska Street in Bratislava. The winner was selected by a five-member jury, including Peter Lešk from the Czech studio Projektil, which designed the National Technical Library in Prague.

Why a design competition?
Since it will be an investment of over a million euros that will shape the cultural life in the city for decades to come, the local government primarily needed quality architecture. Therefore, instead of a price competition, they opted for a design competition, which has already proven effective in achieving quality in the design of the new town hall. At that time, the selection was made from 51 designs. It was the largest competition for a public building since the establishment of the Slovak Republic, and Mayor Terézia Kavuliaková and former Mayor Milan Gavorník received the CEZAAR 2016 award - Patron of Architecture for it. In addition, this year the city organized a smaller competition for the revitalization of the old cemetery and its transformation into a park.
The opening of the exhibition of all proposals for the reconstruction of the cinema will take place on Saturday, July 29, at 15:00 in the dining hall of the Primary School in Leopoldov (Holubyho Street 2). The exhibition will also be open the next day from 15:00 to 20:00.

For more information about the cinema competition, as well as the two previous competitions, visit www.sutazleopoldov.sk.