Leisure centres for youth were during socialism mostly established in adapted palaces, offices and schools. The Central House of Pioneers and Youth in Bratislava (now Iuventa) was supposed to provide such spaces in an appropriately designed building. The site was chosen on the western slope of the city forest park, along the contour of Sitina hill. The advantages of this location were its close proximity to the urban settlements Kútiky and Záluhy, the park of Líščie údolie, swimming pool and sports complex.
There is a steep slope leading up to the building from the valley road, which is surmounted by a long exterior staircase. The building is structured into six pavilions connected by a longitudinal corridor. The main entrance is located eccentrically, between the swimming pavilion and three identical pavilions dedicated to playrooms, classrooms, studios, and administration. The fourth pavilion is set into the hillside on this axis; it contains the organisation's social and economic facilities and accommodation. The main entrance also leads to the rear pavilion with a 400-seat theatre hall. The entrance to the hall is decorated with a sgrafito by Elena Bellušová. The mass of the theatre pavilion is accentuated by a truncated cone on the roof, which stands out from the otherwise rhythmic horizontal composition. The construction technology was designed in the prefabricated skeleton Priemstav in modules of 6 — 9 and 7.2 m. The theatre building is designed with a large-scale steel structure designed by the Bratislava projection group with VŽ Vítkovice.
The architecture of the former youth house has characteristic features of Slovak late modernism. Its monumentality is enhanced by the morphology of the environment itself. According to the original project, the complex was to include an astronomy building, an amphitheatre, outdoor sports fields and a camping ground. This part was never built.
author of the description: Monika Bočková
Bibliography:
MONCOĽ, Milan — BAUER, Ladislav: Ústredný dom pionierov a mládeže v Bratislave, Projekt 1989, č. 4, s. 16 — 19.
