Optimal Development Starts Matadorka Living in Bratislava

Real estate developer Optimal Development has started construction of Matadorka Living, a residential-led mixed-use project in the Petržalka district of Bratislava, Slovakia.

The development will transform the site of the historic Smaltovňa building into a new local destination combining homes, offices, coworking areas and retail spaces.

The project is being developed with construction company Skanska.

It aims to preserve important elements of the site's industrial heritage while introducing new residential and commercial spaces to the surrounding neighbourhood.

267 Apartments Across Five Residential Towers

Matadorka Living will feature five residential towers rising above the roof of the original double hall.

Three towers will have ten above-ground floors, while the other two will have nine floors.

The planned residential offering includes a range of apartment sizes to accommodate different household requirements.

• 267 apartments, ranging from one-room units to five-room flats.
• Duplex loft apartments as part of the residential mix.
• 486 parking spaces for the development.
• Office areas incorporating coworking space.
• Retail premises intended to expand local services.

The mix of residential and commercial uses is designed to bring more everyday activity to this part of Petržalka, close to the Petržalka railway station, Vienna Gate and Kopčianska Street.

Historic Smaltovňa Building Gets a New Purpose

A defining feature of Matadorka Living is its connection to the site's industrial past.

The original Smaltovňa structure dates back to 1905 and was designed by architect Heinrich Zieger and German engineering firm Wayss & Freytag.

The building once employed 910 people, representing roughly one-third of Petržalka's population at the time.

After decades of neglect, the site is now being redeveloped while retaining selected architectural elements.

Optimal Development and Skanska have preserved 29 reinforced-concrete beams and the original double-arch roof skeleton for incorporation into the new architecture.

The design will also bring back the distinctive ochre-yellow bricks associated with the nearby Durvay brickworks, which operated beside the site until 1944.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on 15 October 2026, an original Durvay brick and historical photographs of Smaltovňa were placed in a time capsule.

Architecture Connects Industrial Heritage With Modern Living

Compass Architekti is the architectural studio behind the project.

Its approach focuses on retaining the site's historical identity while adapting the former industrial area for contemporary urban use.

Oliver Kríž, project manager of Matadorka Living at Optimal Development, said the intention was to build on the site's history rather than erase it.

The aim is to create a place where people can live, work, meet and spend time.

Juraj Benetin of Compass Architekti also highlighted the site's historical significance and its potential to become a more integrated part of Bratislava.

A New Local Centre for Petržalka

Matadorka Living is intended to support a more active neighbourhood through its combination of housing, workplaces and retail services.

Its location near existing transport connections and surrounding urban areas forms part of this ambition.

By combining new apartments with preserved industrial features, the project brings together residential development and heritage reuse.

Construction has now begun, marking the next stage in the transformation of the former Smaltovňa site.

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