OLD MARKET HALL REPORT How to bring life back to the city? - Stará tržnica (Old Market Hall of Bratislava) Target was to prepare report on the Bratislava's Old Market hall model and business plan to illustrate the methodology applied to stimulate the active involvement of stakeholders, especially producers and consumers, in the re-birth of the Old Market Hall. Aliancia Stará tržnica civic association presented its project to revitalise the building, constructed in 1910 on the site of an older market hall. The Old Market Hall (Stara Trznica) was the first covered market in Bratislava. Built in 1910 as a market hall, the building served this purpose until the 1960s. During the communist era it was used as a film studio. It was built on the site of a 15th century bastion, which was a part of the local fortifications. The remnants of the walls of the 11th-century St Jacob's Chapel are visible under a glass canopy in front of the Old Market Hall. The project of rebuilding involved experts from various fields, which creates conditions for the creation of sustainable project. The significant element was also transparency, which accompanied the whole process of project preparation. The project is controlled furthermore, so the transparency is ensured. An important factor was the involvement of the general, professional and lay public, so citizens of Bratislava had an opportunity to actively enter into the process. The primary objective of the project was to make the old building as a point of passing culture in the city, open it to different age groups and provide various services for domestic citizens as well as for visitors of the city. In terms of sustainability, it is important that the building could face the changing trends - seven days a week, can act as a market hall, space for concerts, conferences, theatrical performances hall or other events. If necessary, it can settle up to 653 guests.
The program structure of the project is based on three pillars: 1.urban culture 2. markets 3.services Targets: Multifunctionality Long-term financial sustainability Transparency "Green" Solutions (waste policy, sustainable energy solutions etc.) Public benefit Introduction foreword by people significant in the society about Old Market Hall in Bratislava and the current situation there why is it important to participate in the civil activities and why is it better, when professionals from different fields cooperate Why should we try to make our surroundings better? why should we care about the public spaces and try to make our surroundings better what is the point of all the initiatives, communities and activism - current trend, new phenomenon, failing representative democracy Why should we bring life back to the city center? why is the suburbanization gradually dying down, what has the city center to offer, why it needs to be revived Bratislava in wider context, benefits of the city (location: close to Vienna and Bratislava, possibilities, historical background) HISTORICAL INSIGHT: history of Bratislava before and after the war, the legacy of communism, condition of the public spaces
How to find the opportunities? it is important to be attentive, observant and interested in things that can be improved why is all the activism happening now - a new generation of citizens how did we get to this project the key idea - motivation for the revitalization How to use places with a potential? how to see the potential, how to distinguish what is worth your effort Stará tržnica: - it used to be a place with unused potential - the possibilities of commercial and socio-cultural use HISTORICAL INSIGHT: short history of the market hall (in years), the condition in which it was before the project (closed, ruined) Why should we collaborate? why and with whom is it good to collaborate, why is it important to create alliances and partnerships of professionals how to choose the right experts, which professions need to be included The role of the Stará Tržnica Alliance about the Alliance: how and why it came into existence, who are the members (what is their task and why they are right for it) legal aspects How to make things openly and for people? how to make projects for people, not profit (transparency) why is community life important - the added value of public spaces (improving the quality of life, innovation, creativity)
philanthropic side of the project (charities, fundraisers, information centre) How to schedule the events and program? how to plan the schedule, what not to forget multifunctionality in practice activities and services for broad public Markets revival of the original use HISTORICAL INSIGHT: how the markets used to be like in the past How to connect the activities? how to connect activities at Stará tržnica with nearby shops and services (and how to choose between them) HISTORICAL INSIGHT: shops and services in the past How to produce a long-run economic plan? how to create a viable plan economical sustainability How to divide the tasks and coordinate the team? creating a budget (transparently) How to fundraise? where and how to find the funding do's and don'ts of fundraising fundraising strategy, diversification of sources public institutions, European Social Fund, fundraising tools HISTORICAL INSIGHT: How was Stará tržnica funded in the past?
Where to find the support? big projects demand big support support from partners, embassies and organizers how to get it How to communicate with the council and the public? communication with the town and its citizens, collecting the tips and opinions submitting the project to the magistrate, their response, incorporating the comments How can an architect help? make a really good architectural plan clever architecture - variability, ecological solutions, the connection of traditions and the needs of the 21st century HISTORICAL INSIGHT: the architect of the historical building How to build the brand image? the need to create new image of Stará tržnica, creation of a logo, communication campaign PR and media, partners in media the use of social media crisis communication (temporary closing of the market hall, realizations of changes and restorations that aren't visible but need to be communicated to the public) HISTORICAL INSIGHT: communication of the Stará tržnica in the past How to start the realization? Implementation process Specific actions, projects
Trial period Stará tržnica today current activities, long term projects the balance between the commercial use (renting) and the activities of Stará tržnica the benefits of the realization for the citizens and the city diagram of activities past v. present Plans for the future upcoming projects possible restorations and changes