The purpose of the construction was to provide suitable facilities for the miners of the Ostrava-Karviná mining district, for their rest, recreation and rehabilitation. However, the 309-bed building in Podbanské with its exceptional architecture far surpassed the purely functional requirements. By placing the OKD recreational complex on the rubble edge above the Zlomiska trough, the author pursued the urban-architectural intention to create a boundary in front of the entrance to the strictly protected Tichá and Kôprová valley. Architect Sturmayr was convinced that a large-scale building with comprehensive facilities would prevent further expansion of the development.
The choice of the site forced the architect and his collaborators to answer complex spatial, morphological, structural and material questions. The building is clearly subordinated to the terrain relief. It is based on two height levels with a difference of 20 metres. In plan, it is distributed in three sections, whose relative articulation is determined by the terrain and the cardinal points. The entrance areas are accessible from a front terrace, set 4 metres above ground level. Below this terrace is a substantial part of the technical and storage equipment of the building. The architecture grades impressively at different height levels, complementing the panorama with the majestic Kriváň hill in the background. The architecture is also integrated into the landscape image by the material solution. The three basic materials are exposed concrete, dark anodised matt aluminium and glass. The most striking element of the interior design is the spiral steel staircase.
Bibliography:
JURČA, Marián: Rekreačno-rehabilitačné stredisko pre ostravských baníkov. Projekt 20, 1978, 9/10, s. 29 – 31.
STURMAYR, Ján, Valentovič, Alexander: Rekreačno-rehabilitačné zariadenie pre ostravských baníkov na Podbanskom vo Vysokých Tatrách. Projekt 24, 1982, 2, s. 6 – 19.
ZALČÍK, Tibor - DULLA, Matúš: Slovenská architektúra 1976 - 1980. Bratislava: Veda Vydavateľstvo Slovenskej akadémie vied, 1982, s. 192.
