Kamenné Square before revitalisation. (source: Sme)
The Slovak capital now has a centre of innovation, creativity and new approaches to the city. The Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava (MIB) was opened on April 1.
“MIB is an organisation that speaks of visions and strategies,” said Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo, as quoted by the TASR newswire, “but it will also contribute to Bratislava's better decision-making.”
It will deal with public space, urban planning and development, the future of urban transport, architectural competitions, data policy and analytical activities, participation and communication, greenery and environment, as well as strategic planning, as reported by TASR.
MIB is said to become a key tool in transforming Bratislava into a city that can compete with the most advanced capitals abroad, TASR wrote.
The institute operates as Bratislava's contributory organisation.
Bratislava inspired by other capitals
Bratislava's new management has decided to found MIB since the capital lags behind in strategic planning and lacks analysts. It also does not cooperate with innovators on new ideas.
“We will work with the data and analyse what decisions should be made,” said Vallo, as quoted by TASR.
Bratislava also wants to get its citizens involved in the capital's development, he added.
Thanks to the institute and its planned manual on public space, Bratislava should create public spaces of better quality. For instance, MIB is already planning to announce a number of architectural competitions for the makeover of several squares in the capital, TASR reported.
In total, 50 people will work at MIB. Bratislava will invest €1.4 million into the new institute this year. Its establishment is divided in three stages, the final one ending in 2020.
Similar institutes can be found in most European capitals, including Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, TASR wrote.
