Dezeen Competitions: the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava is calling for architects, urban planners and designers to submit proposals to transform the Winter Harbour Bratislava in Slovakia.

The team is looking for quality urban proposals that successfully transform the site for the city's next chapter.

This competition is now closed

Organiser: Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava
Competition: International Masterplanning Competition for the Transformation of Winter Harbour Bratislava, Slovakia
Judges:

• Michal Sedláček, Former Brno City architect, jury chair
• Catherine Burd, founder of Burd Haward Architects, jury co-chair
• Paco Bunnik, chief urban designer for the City of Amsterdam
• Gerd Jäger, one of the managing directors of Berlin office of Baumschlager Eberle
• Linda Obršálová, co-founder of m2au studio
• Peter Gero, co-author of HafenCity port district
• Martin Závracký, co-founder of Bastmann + Zavracky GmbH
• Jakub Cigler, founder of Jakub Cigler Architekti studio
• Eva Kail, former gender planning expert of the City of Vienna
• Ondrej Horváth, chief architect of the City of Trnava
• Filip Tittl, co-founder of UNIT architekti studio

Round one submission deadline: 25 May
Winner announcement: 9 October
Prizes: 1st prize is €135,000, 2nd prize is €105,000, 3rd prize is €80,000. The remaining participants in the second round will share a total of €90,000

Click here to enter ›

Competition overview

Situated on the Danube, linking Vienna and Budapest by water, Winter Harbour Bratislava, is an industrial site in the wider city centre of Slovakia's capital. It was once a heavily used and noisy cargo port, but currently the largest urban redevelopment site in Bratislava.

The site is a place where the past meets the future and where the city's next chapter is being shaped today.

This formerly inaccessible industrial zone is set to become a modern, accessible urban district in the coming years, following the example of other European harbour redevelopments – familiar in concept, yet unique in character.

Public Ports Company, together with the Capital City of Bratislava, have announced this international masterplanning competition to develop an urban proposal for the transformation of the Winter Harbour in Bratislava.

The competition is organised by the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava and is a two‑stage, open and anonymous process.

The masterplanning competition will run from February to October 2026 in two stages. The results of stage two and the winning design are expected to be published in October 2026.

The only communication platform for competition participants and the organiser is the Josephine portal. Entrants should follow it for future updates.

Eligibility and judging criteria

Multidisciplinary teams can apply. They should have expertise in masterplanning, urban design, heritage, landscape and placemaking, supported by technical, environmental and economic insight.

Authorised architects and authorised civil engineers in the field of public works or under equivalent legal regulations applicable in the country of business of the participant can apply.

How to enter

Entrants can gain information on how to enter here.

Submission deadlines

Round one of the submission period is 25 May. Shortlisted teams will be notified by 12 June. The site visit for round one will be on 20 April.

The deadline for round two of submissions will be on 15 September. The physical model submission deadline is 28 September.

Results will be announced on 9 October, and the competition proposals publication will be on 23 October.

About The Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava, Slovakia

The Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava, Slovakia (MIB) is a conceptual institute in the field of architecture, urban planning, participation and strategic planning.

MIB’s goal is to promote quality architecture and functional solutions that reflect the needs of Bratislava’s inhabitants in urban projects and plans, also in the face of social and environmental changes.

Images are by Viktor Gubka and Marek Velček.

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