Stará Tržnica. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
A market, wine bar, beer bar, concerts. To Bratislava residents, Stará Tržnica (Old Market) is a well known venue. Since its reopening 10 years ago, everyone could have found a reason to visit.
There is another market behind the main hall and the surrounding establishments: inconspicuous, hidden in plain sight, but at the same time open to a lively community.
Vegetables are grown on its rooftop; 3D printers and lasers are working in the former icehouse underground; cabbage is fermented and beer is brewed in the basement. What remains of the food is turned into compost right in the building.
A roof garden
We enter the building through an inconspicuous door to the left of the main entrance. Then up the stairs to the first floor, with a small ladder to an opening that leads to a garden with a view of the city centre.
Here, a community of enthusiastic gardeners consisting of about 12 families grow vegetables. Each has their own line of large containers bearing soil. "A few more could fit here," says Marián Mazag, the director of the Aliancia Stará Tržnica (Old Market Alliance) civic association.
The community garden has been here for three years and is growing every year. According to Mazag, the project is in the experimental phase. "We are testing the growing capabilities and whether there's interest," he says.
Peas, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants are grown in pots. They also plant watermelon, for which they then fight with crows and pigeons in the neighbourhood. Figs also do quite well here.
The roof should undergo reconstruction in the coming years, for which a study has already been prepared. In addition to increasing its carrying capacity, it will be much greener. A wooden bed plant will be used instead of containers, the intermediate space filled with greenery and wooden paths.
The roof on the other side of the building will also be repaired, but since its access is rather difficult, a passive green area is planned instead of an active garden.
