Veronika Kovacsova

Veronika Kovacsova

Stay curious, experiment and be not afraid to do mistakes or fail.

Veronika Kovácsová (1984) is a graduate from University of Amsterdam (MSc.) and a recent graduate from Amsterdam Academy of Architecture (MUrb.). After graduating in urban sociology, she has deciced to study urban design, to gain more conceptual and practical way of thinking and broaden her knowledge and skills within the field of urbanism, combining both design and research.

Besides my academic background, I have five years of experience working as an urban designer at renowned offices in Amsterdam and Vienna. Currently, I live in Vienna and work at feld72 architecture and urban strategies (www.feld72.at).

URBAN PERMEABILITY: On plants and plinths

The human civilisation is becoming ever more urban. With the growing densification in our cities, green and open (public) spaces are put under pressure. As the number of built, non-permeable surfaces increase, stormwater absorption, biodiversity and a pleasant microclimate in our cities is threatened. All non-permeable materials contribute to extreme water conditions in the city  (low ground water level or floodings) and to the so called 'urban heat island' effect. Alongside with this development, the number and quality of public spaces is put under pressure. How do we provide the necessary built urban environment (housing,  infrastructure) of a growing city, and at the same time enhance and offer lively, inclusive public spaces with a comfortable microclimate?

Urban permeability is hereby introduced as an influencer of human comfort in urban spaces. On one hand open, breathing, absorbing and cooling green spaces in cities, on the other hand accessible, inclusive and lively ground floors of buildings, both types acting as catalysts of social interaction. Two totally different areas in Bratislava are compared: a dense historical centre (Old Town) with scarce porous spaces and a vibrant social citylife and a 1970s prefab mass-housing neighbourhood (Petrzalka) with an excess of unused greenery, and a limited offer of vibrant public spaces. The aim of this project is to show how these two neighbourhoods can reinforce themselves and to investigate and identify measurements that can be taken to fix the missing social and microclimatological links in their urban fabric.

Both neighbourhoods have a similar density of inhabitants, but their urban fabric is totally different. Only 6% of the total surface of Old Town is open and green, and the dominant non-permeable surface area is supporting the development of the urban heat island effect. Petrzalka, on contrary, has a high amount of ground vegetation (about 66%), open corridors for fresh air to enter, but a deteriorating public life due to large distances between buildings, disorientated planning and marginal social functions on ground level for people to pass by and meet.

Overige projecten

The Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam has influenced and shaped my working attitude in general, being very pro-active, efficient and at the same time effective in whatever I do. Critical thinking and constant reflection of yourself and the others, being open and curious are some of the characteristics I have adopted and consider natural in any project.

Mobile Gardens (Mobilné Zahrady in Bratislava)

Assisting with setting up the first neighbourhood semi-public garden in the centre of Bratislava (www.vnutroblok.sk and www.mobilnezahrady.sk).

PARADOCKS | bridging potential

Think-and-do tank dealing with temporary use of vacant urban spaces in Vienna. Website Paradocs en Facebook Paradocs 

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