Zaha Hadid will build organic skyscrapers in the center of Bratislava

The investment group Penta Investments announced an international architectural competition for the development project Čulenova in Bratislava. From 90 submitted proposals, the jury selected the London studio Zaha Hadid Architects as the winner.
Penta Investments acquired the site on Čulenova Street in Bratislava in January 2008 and plans to build a multifunctional facility there that will primarily serve for administration and housing.
“The international architectural competition for the Čulenova site and the participation of significant world architects is an example of how developers and cities themselves should strive to find the best possible architectural concept. Only by testing alternative solutions proposed by quality architects can we arrive at a project that will be beneficial for the city,” said Miro Hrušovský, the chief architect of the investment group Penta.
Regarding the winning project, the chairman of the jury, Štefan Šlachta, the chief architect of Bratislava, stated: “Zaha Hadid's project was the most comprehensive and convincing solution to the assignment, best meeting the established criteria; moreover, it is a project that brings a world-renowned name to Bratislava and will elevate it in the pages of international architectural press.”
The jury selected 5 finalists from the 90 submitted proposals in the first round. In the second round, the jury assessed them alongside four other proposals from directly approached European architects. In the finale, they selected the winner from nine projects.
Finalists of the competition: Dominque Perrault Architecture, Farshid Moussavi - Foreign Office Architects, Neutelings Riedijk Architects, Bothe Richter Teherani Architekten, Cigler Marani Architects, JDS, GMP international architects and engineers, Vaillo+Irigaray, Zaha Hadid Architects.