External Image of the Viticultural Towns Located at the Foot of Little Carpathians

Abstract

One of the main development axes of the city of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is set through the viticultural region of Little Carpathians. The Wine Road leads through the settlements that include Old Raca, now part of the Bratislava city, and adjacent small towns of Sv. Jur, Pezinok and Modra. Throughout centuries, these have developed naturally in the characteristic landscape dominated by the vine growing activities and therefore have strong cultural values for the region, as well as for the whole country. The proposed article deals with the problem of finding the right planning tools, helping in establishing the balance of sustainable development of this micro-region - the balance between the protecting specific cultural and natural values of the area and the increasing pressures on the rapid expansion of the new suburban zones into the characteristic landscape. The article initially looks at the transformation of the external image of these viticultural towns through three stages: 1. The period of the first Industrial Revolution, when the construction of factories and chimneys changed the panorama. 2. The period of the second half of the 20th century, which is the most significant period of changing the external image. The original vineyards were transformed into building plots and the Old Raca was absorbed in the development of a modernist panel housing neighborhoods. Sv. Jur was in the era of socialism at the edge of interest due to its sacral history. Modra also stands outside of the main development zone, due to the diversion of the railway towards Trnava and is struggling with individual construction of the family houses. Pezinok has served the role of a district town as an administrative and territorial center and underwent the greatest transformation of its original character. 3. The period of modern history that continues to this day, it is characteristic with the suburbanization, urban sprawl and the destruction of the natural landscape. As one of the possible solutions, the article proposes the use of the first line concept - a new method of regulating and planning the city - that reflects also on the ecological and economical size of the town. This line represents the external boundary of the town which should not be crossed in order to maintain the contrast between the natural and cultural environment. Furthermore, the proposed contribution deals with the changes in the external image of the viticultural towns in general, especially in the context of Slovakia, which is nowadays under the pressure of suburbanization and transformation of their natural environment and their characteristic landscape. This process is in the long run unsustainable, as the contrast between the natural and cultural environment diminishes, together with all their values.