Slimák, Commercial building in Nové Mesto district, Bratislava, Slovakia
Slimák is a circular commercial building in the Nové Mesto district with 51 retail spaces arranged across multiple floors. The structure uses reinforced concrete and connects different shops and service facilities through internal passageways.
Architect Ivan Matušík designed the building between 1957 and 1964 with innovative reinforced concrete elements. It marked a shift away from socialist realism architecture toward functional modernist design in Slovakia.
The building served as a gathering place where shoppers and passersby could browse modern stores and enjoy the central courtyard with its fountain and weeping willow. This social role made it a lively part of daily neighborhood life.
The building is best visited during daytime hours when shops and services are open. The interior layout with corridors and multiple levels makes it easy to explore at a relaxed pace, and the central courtyard offers a natural place to rest.
The building was constructed with perforated bricks and glass-concrete walls, materials that were uncommon in Slovak architecture at the time. The central fountain with a weeping willow and fan-shaped paving pattern was a feature that set it apart from other structures.
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