KOSMALT, once the largest staff accommodation block at the VSŽ steelworks in Košice, Slovakia, was built in the 1960s to a design by Ladislav Greč and Róbert Kandrík. Its name refers to the local production of enamelled steel, and its distinctive silhouette and façade of prefabricated modules have for decades been one of the most recognisable features of the Terasa housing estate. Today, this modernist colossus is undergoing a comprehensive renovation, which not only restores its original values but also redefines its role within the city’s fabric.
The aim of the project was to preserve the building’s character and bring out its hidden potential. The architects adopted an approach that is still not a given in Central Europe: they treated the modernist building, with its functional heritage, as a fully-fledged material for contemporary transformation. Their work is based on the conviction that the architecture of the second half of the 20th century – often marginalised – can, following appropriate renovation, offer attractive urban living conditions.
The thirteen-storey building is defined by a strict structural grid that determines both the interior layout and the external form. The modular eastern and western façades, composed of a grid of 22 × 13 identical panels, became the central theme of the renovation. The design not only respects this principle but also reinforces it, elevating it to the status of a key architectural element. The monochromatic grey colour scheme emphasises the monumentality of the structure and the clarity of the composition.
Uncovering layers and restoring materials
One of the most important stages of the work was the uncovering of valuable materials that had been hidden for decades beneath successive layers of modernisation. The original terrazzo in the corridors and stairwells, the marble cladding in the entrance hall, the travertine plinth of the façade, the steel beams in the communal areas, and the steel gallery and stairs in the entrance area have all been restored. These elements, carefully restored, have once again become an integral part of the building.
New interventions have been introduced in a distinctly contemporary manner: through the use of expanded metal mesh, corrugated sheet metal, bespoke lighting and bold colour accents. The contrast between the old and the new is clear yet harmonious – both elements coexist without competing with one another.
Flats in various sizes
KOSMALT has retained its residential function, but the interior layout has been redesigned to fully exploit the structure’s potential. The greatest challenge proved to be the transformation of repetitive, identical residential units into spaces meeting contemporary standards. Design analyses showed that the compact 21-square-metre XS flats can provide comfort for both single occupants and couples. The impression of spaciousness is enhanced by large glazed areas, loggias and views of the city, particularly from the upper floors. A total of 507 flats were created in the building.
In contrast to the small scale of the flats, the communal spaces – entrances, corridors and circulation routes – have taken on a prestigious character. Abundant natural light, views and proportions give them the status of semi-public lounges, which bring residents together on each of the thirteen floors. Two symmetrically arranged staircases continue to divide the building into two parts, echoing the original distinction between male and female zones.
New orientation
An integral element of the design is a wayfinding system based on colour and symbols. Shades of salmon, ivory and yellow, combined with plus and minus signs, organise the wings of the corridors and facilitate intuitive navigation within the building. It is a contemporary, clear visual language that fits in with the character of the renovation.
Although KOSMALT was not originally designed as a flexible structure, the modernisation has introduced elements of adaptability. This sends an important signal to the local architectural community: the renovation of prefabricated buildings can be a fully-fledged design strategy, rather than merely a necessity.
From a socialist-era hall of residence to a contemporary flat
Originally, KOSMALT served as a hall of residence for single workers – a place intended to provide basic living conditions whilst also exercising social control over them. Today, the same building operates within a completely different social context. It offers individual, dignified and contemporary forms of living that meet the needs of today’s city dwellers.
The building in the 2012 photograph:
The transformation of KOSMALT demonstrates that architecture can evolve alongside its users, respond to changing lifestyles and redefine its own significance. It is an example of how modernist heritage – often underappreciated – can become the foundation for a new quality of urban living.
renovation design: Atrium Architekti
team: Michal Burák, Dušan Burák, Jana Varchola Buráková
photography: Matej Hakár
Read also: Slovakia | Modernism | Block of flats | Metamorphosis | whiteMAD on Instagram
