Reconstruction of the SNG continues

Bratislava – The Slovak National Gallery today informed during its regular "media control day" about the ongoing reconstruction of the SNG complex in Bratislava and the anticipated shift in the deadline for its completion.

The task of reconstructing the Slovak National Gallery complex has been ongoing for thirty years and has become urgent since the closure of the Premostenie for safety reasons in March 2001. However, the entire complex needed reconstruction, the form of which was sought in two public architectural competitions (2003, 2005). The resulting project is being realized based on the winning design by architects Martin Kusý and Pavol Paňák. Construction began 15 years after the closure of the Premostenie with the handover of the premises to the consortium Hornex-Strabag, which emerged from the competition organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and the establishment of the construction site in January 2016.

The reconstruction concerns a vast complex, which includes individual buildings, but also passages, courtyards, a square, and other public spaces. For this reason, the construction, originally planned for 36 months, is being carried out as a whole. However, its schedule has changed several times for various reasons (the Slovak Presidency in the EU Council, revealing the actual conditions at the construction site – structural, construction, infrastructure realities, approximations to new standards and European legislation). "Currently, we are working with a preliminary deadline for the completion of the construction part in July 2021, which we included in the preparation of materials for the Government Resolution this spring. As the construction has progressed and many facts are estimable, we have started preparing the interior project and permanent exhibitions, their implementation should smoothly follow the completion of the building. As of September 30, 2019, €24,133,182.33 has been invested, representing 49.54% of the current budget," says SNG General Director Alexandra Kusá.

"We are aware that the reconstruction of the national gallery complex is one of the largest investments in cultural construction; in fact, it is the first original project that emerged after the revolution in 1989. It is a symbol of our relationship to culture and cultural heritage, but also a straightforward declaration of our commitment to European values. This is how we have approached the reconstruction from the beginning," explains Alexandra Kusá. "We want to create and subsequently dignifiedly operate a modern complex that contributes to the education and cultivation of society instead of dividing it. We want to show that culture and fine art are the essence of our society and not just matters of the elite," Kusá adds.

Financing the investment task and anticipated completion date

We are gradually fulfilling the plan for the modernization of the gallery, which includes inventive solutions for public spaces in the capital. We would like to expand the reconstruction to include the design and delivery of interiors, exteriors, and exhibitions so that visitors can use the complex from the beginning as architects and investors intended. Curators are already preparing an exhibition plan and the structure of future permanent exhibitions for the new spaces, which should encompass the gallery's extensive collections while also reflecting the results of successful and important projects from the past years.

The Slovak National Gallery has prepared materials for the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic for the preparation of a Government Resolution focused on the planned expansion of the investment task for the preparation and delivery of the building's interior (in the amount of €7,063,867.00 including VAT), services related to design, adjustment of projects to new legislative changes and European standards, engineering, revisions, construction and copyright supervision, control measurements, and tests (in the amount of €2,731,458.92 including VAT), and an increase in financial resources for the construction in connection with Government Resolutions No. 710/2015, No. 288/2016, No. 136/2017 (in the amount of €10,988,000.00 including VAT). This is also related to the new deadline for the completion of the construction part - July 31, 2021, and the anticipated completion date for the interior and exhibitions, which is expected to be May 31, 2022.

In preparing the documentation, we also considered the appropriateness of the investment cost. For comparison, we note that more than €116 million has been allocated for the reconstruction of the Veletržní palác of the National Gallery in Prague, the new museum of modernity in Berlin by the duo Herzog & de Meuron will cost €450 million, three times the estimated amount. The Central European Forum in Olomouc (1800 m²) currently has €21 million set aside for construction, additional costs for the renovation of Krásna Hôrka reach nearly €35 million, and the repair of the State Opera in Banská Bystrica is budgeted at €30 million.

Project "gallery as a good resident"

Since we do not perceive the reconstruction of the complex merely as repairing dilapidated buildings but as a comprehensive restart and revitalization of the complex in the city center, we want to make it accessible to the public as a whole, including the popular Summer Pavilion, the new Travertine Garden, Charles Vaculík Square, and the network of urban passages.

As part of the project Charles Vaculík Square, we would like to revitalize the back yard, remediate the old garages that are in municipal ownership, and create a new public space. This space is also a key communication point leading into the new main entrance to the gallery's central hall. The project also includes adjoining passages, which, according to a preliminary agreement with the Carlton Hotel and the neighboring Dessewffy Palace, should be opened up to Ľ. Štúr Square. The continuation of this project also depends on the new leadership of the Old Town, which has not yet delivered its statement.

With the project Travertine Garden, the gallery aims to offer residents and visitors a new full-fledged green public space between the administrative building and the U.S. Embassy building. For this purpose, the Slovak National Gallery has requested the lease/sale of part of the land owned by the city. The result should be an agreement under acceptable conditions. "Regarding the construction of the Travertine Garden, we continue in a positive dialogue with the Slovak National Gallery about this project. We welcome the idea that will improve the quality of public space," said Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo.