Košice Architecture Icons

While exploring the Terasa housing estate, the striking Administrative building of Košice City Municipality, colloquially known as the ‘White House’ since 1985, is impossible to miss. This building, now the central hub for Košice administration, once served as the headquarters of the Communist Party of Slovakia. Designed by Milan Motýľ, it features granite staircase and paving stones from Příbram, along with a travertine facade from Dreveník. Inside, you’ll discover numerous art pieces.

Visit the remarkable building of the Roman Catholic parish of St. Gorazd, designed by the Košice studio ARZ in collaboration with architects Jozef Fabián, Ivan Rozdobuďek, and Štefan Zahatňanský. The church area is thoughtfully shielded from the bustling road by a pergola, allowing visitors to appreciate the 35-meter tower, slit windows, and the distinctive brick cladding. Notably, this work earned the prestigious CE.ZA.AR award in 2003, within the Civil and Industrial Buildings category.

Discover the remarkable church building with metallic cladding, designed by architects Pavel Simek, Richard Neufeld, Petr Pásztor, and Martin Drahovský in 2012. This monumental structure, designed for spiritual purposes, stands out amidst the traditional apartment blocks adjacent to a busy four-lane road. Its distinctive 33-meter tall tower is easily visible from a distance. The urban complex features an oval square and a remarkable wooden interior, all enclosed by a titanium zinc shell.

Take a moment to relax and admire the city’s architecture at the Červená Hviezda swimming pool, designed by the legendary architect Ľudovít Oelschläger. This pool has been providing entertainment and leisure for Košice residents since 1936. The building is recognized as a national cultural monument and features terraced swimming pools along with northern and eastern structures. Inside, you’ll discover well-preserved, authentic wooden dressing room furniture and a rectangular colonnade.

Explore the distinctive residential block on Letná Street, constructed in 1931. This three-winged building, designed by Czech architect Josef Polášek, was intended to accommodate up to 48 families of Czech, Slovak, and Hungarian bank officials in Košice. The project represents a certain type of collective housing. In the city, the architect created an important example of a functionalist living space based on the principles of orthogonality.

Discover the artistic gem of Košice in the city’s northern region, nestled within the family home of sculptor Ján Mathé († 2012) and his wife, Eva Mathéová. This unique Neofunctionalism–style building, designed by architect Michal Baník, is the sole example of its kind in Slovakia. Its construction occurred between 1975 and 1983. In 2019, due to its simplicity and minimalism, it was rightfully designated a national cultural monument. Today, it serves as a museum dedicated to the works of the former Košice sculptor.

Stop by the building on the northern end of Hlavná Street, a significant architectural achievement designed by Czech architect Růžena Žertová between 1962 and 1964, and at the same time one of the first full-range department store after 1945. The total area reaches up to 14,600 m². This enduring reinforced concrete structure has served the local community for six decades as a hub for shopping and leisure. Prior department store has its own civil expression, it naturally fits into the historical environment and connects with the surrounding buildings of Hlavná Street. Make sure to admire its most striking element – the exterior façade composed of concrete blocks, an artistic creation by sculptor Jana Bartošová-Vilhanová.

Explore the iconic Barracks/Kulturpark on Kukučínova Street, a key attraction from Košice’s time as the European Capital of Culture in 2013. The site features three original military barracks, Alfa, Bravo, and Charlie, along with eight modern pavilions. Today, this space, designed by the architectural studio zerozero, serves as a well-maintained area for skateboarding, houses cultural and municipal institutions, and stands as a city landmark for various interesting and educational activities.

The neological synagogue, known as ‘Bužňa,’ was originally one of several synagogues in the city. Designed by the Budapest architect Ľudovít Kozma, it won an international competition for its construction in 1925. In the early 1960s, the synagogue was repurposed into the Palace of Art, with an extension that included a foyer, a dance floor, a hall, dressing rooms, and lounges. Above the entrance door, a distinctive inscription and portraits of three muses were placed. The elliptical dome of the current Palace of Art has become a prominent visual symbol of the city. Today, the building serves as the home of the Košice State Philharmonic.

The revitalized synagogue, designed in the neoclassical style, is the creation of the renowned Košice architect Ľudovít Oelschläger from 1927. Oelschläger’s distinctive architectural touch is evident in several of his buildings throughout the city. The facade of the synagogue showcases neoclassical elements along with traditional local motifs, while the interior predominantly features modern architecture. It boasts a vaulted central hall and a women’s gallery.