The technical state of disrepair of the SNG building in Bratislava
resulted in a radical step by director Katarína Bajcurová, who as of 1
March 2001, decided to close down the exhibition spaces of the SNG
bridge. Inconsistent project construction, installation of worn-out
technology and the use of poor quality materials, as well as the
problematic "repair" of the leaking glass roof, all contributed to the
fact that after 24 years the bridge became unsuitable for exhibition
purposes. Thus the gallery had to close off approximately 1,800 m² of
its exhibition space designated particularly for temporary exhibitions.
As
a result of this decision, the gallery faced a wave of negative
criticism from the population, the city's chief architect and certain
parts of the expert public. Post-revolution voices brought to life
called for the removal of the bridge, although former party and
governmental buildings have fulfilled and fulfil new functions in the
city without such radical architectural interventions. The employees of
the gallery, a certain part of the domestic expert public and voices
from neighbouring countries promoted the preservation of the building in
public discussion.
In 2001 the SNG management, together with
the Ministry of Culture of the SR, decided to deal with this state of
emergency by implementing an investment plan for the reconstruction and
modernization, or completion of construction of the SNG premises (in the
period of 2004 - 2005, the first part- the reconstruction and
modernization of the Esterházy Palace according to the project of Ing.
arch. Rosica Borščová was carried out).
The construction plan
of 2001 called for necessary repairs but without a principal
re-evaluation of the complex. Yet it was the functional re-evaluation of
the complex that appeared to be necessary to ensure the resolution of
the problem of the never completed gallery premises. Even moreso since
the concept, which director Bajcurová succeeded with in her campaign for
the post, also incorporated the so called development model of the SNG,
i.e., the building of a multi-functional gallery facility corresponding
to European standards of the 21st century. The continuous threat of
floods of the Danube River contributed to the re-evaluation of the
spatial concept of the premises, and the bursting of the water pipes in
October 2004, resulted in damage to collection items in the basement
depository.
The gallery decided to search for a solution in the form of a public architecture tender. Only the second tender for the reconstruction and modernization of the SNG premises brought results (2005, chair of the jury: architect Gustav Peichl) with more specified terms and conditions respecting the new functional requirements. Studio Architekti BKPŠ Kusý - Paňák were selected.