Slovak Radio Building

Location: Bratislava, Slovakia

Constructed: 1967-1983

Architects: Štefan Svetko, Štefan Ďurkovič and Barnabáš Kissling

Genre: Modernist, Communist architecture, former Eastern Bloc

The 80-metre tall steel-framed Slovak Radio Building comprises two inverted pyramids, with the inner one containing broadcast equipment and recording studios. The largest concert hall inside the building has 523 seats and is used for performances by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. The building also houses one of Central Europe’s largest pipe organs (6,300 pipes). Opinions about the design of the structure have been divided ever since it was completed. For example, it was included as one of the Czech and Slovak buildings of the century 1918-2018, whereas the British newspaper, The Telegraph, listed it as one of the 30 ugliest buildings in the world. Politics was the reason why it took so long to finalise the project.