Unlike Hotel Hutník, which was built in Košice in the early 1960s and provided accommodation of a lower standard, Hotel Slovan, built on the edge of the historic centre, was designed as a “de luxe” hotel. Hotel Slovan replaced the original Schalkház Hotel, which was demolished in 1964. The new hotel was set back from the surrounding buildings, creating a narrow lane for servicing and supplying the hotel. The post-war interventions into the traditional urban fabric were later complemented by the construction of the Dargov Department Store opposite the hotel. Together, the hotel and department store still form a modernist gateway to the city centre.
The hotel was designed by architects from the State Design Institute of Commerce – Bratislava branch. From the outset, the project clearly separated the various functional components of the exclusive hotel, expressing them through distinct architectural forms. The building was designed with a two-storey base containing social and dining spaces that could be interconnected to accommodate a wide range of events, from symposiums to formal balls. The multifunctional base also housed offices of Čedok and Czechoslovak Airlines. The hotel was constructed between 1967 and 1971 by the state-owned Pozemné stavby Prešov construction company. Its opening was a significant event for the city, and for many years Slovan served as an important centre of social life.
The architecture of the hotel was characterised by restrained elegance. Its substantial mass dominated the surrounding area, while from the pedestrian perspective, its most distinctive feature was the continuous strip glazing of the second floor. Despite the deliberate restraint of the design, architect Drahoš introduced a surprising accent in the form of sculpturally articulated window surrounds on the side façade. In 2008, Hotel Slovan underwent a major reconstruction and was converted into a Hilton hotel. Only the load-bearing panel structure was retained during the renovation.
author of the description: Monika Bočková
Bibliography:
KRIVOŠOVÁ, Jana - LUKÁČOVÁ, Elena: Premeny súčasnej architektúry Slovenska. Bratislava: Alfa, 1990, s. 74.
KUSÝ, Martin: Architektúra na Slovensku 1945 – 1975. Bratislava, Pallas 1976. s. 166.
KARFÍK, Vladimír: Naše prvé výškové budovy. Projekt 1973, roč: 15, č. 1, s. 14 - 21.
MALINOVSKÝ, Viktor a kol.: Dvadsať rokov investičnej výstavby vo východoslovenskom kraji. Košice, Východoslovenské vydavateľstvo 1967. s. 405.
JIROUŠEK, Alexander et al.: Východoslovenský kraj. Košice: Východoslovenské vydavateľstvo, 1980
