Verification of the Adaptability Level of Administrative Buildings in Bratislava

Bratislava’s real estate sector, which encompasses both administrative and residential properties, faces significant challenges. A notable housing shortage characterizes the residential sector, while the administrative sector is experiencing a growing surplus of vacant office spaces. In the post-pandemic era, evolving workplace requirements and the global energy crisis have increased demand for high-quality buildings — a standard many older office buildings fail to meet. The initial part of this study provides an overview of the development of administrative buildings in Bratislava since the late 1990s. Empirical evidence from other cities and current trends suggest that converting office buildings into residential units is a viable solution. This research analyses the adaptability potential of Bratislava’s administrative buildings for residential transformation. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, a sample of twelve office buildings in Bratislava was analysed using the Conversion Meter (CM) method developed by Geraedts and Van der Voordt (2000), which we adapted to local legislation for research purposes. Based on the first three steps of the CM method — preliminary screening through NO-GO criteria, location assessment, and building condition analysis — eight buildings are in the category ‘ideal for transformation’ and four in the category ‘transformable’. Further analysis compared results across the sample of buildings to identify common factors hindering the transformation process. These aspects were examined due to their potential to impact the intended transformation negatively. In the second phase, Research by Design, case studies were developed to analyse possible layouts of floor plans of various sizes regarding the dimensions of the structural systems of the given buildings. Additionally, the necessity of considering the local requirement for ensuring individual access to the exterior from each unit was addressed. Early identification of aspects against the adaptability of existing administrative buildings in Bratislava, presents an opportunity for both private and public sectors to proactively address these barriers, thereby facilitating transformations and supporting the current trend for sustainable urban development.