How to Deal with the Scars of the City? The Character and Potential of the Public Spaces of the Conservation Zone in Komarno
Abstract: Komarno, the former royal town, is now known for its unique fortification system. It is situated on the confluence of the rivers Danube and Vah in the southern part of western Slovakia. Due to historical values its core is declared as a conservation zone. Together with the Hungarian Komarom, they form a cross-border city. In our contribution, we focus on the unbuilt area of the urban conservation zone. Subsequently, we categorize a public, semi-private and private non-stop available space. The subject of the interest is only the public space that has not been reconstructed or revitalized according to the declaration of the conservation zone. We based our research on strategic city documents as the City Plan and Principles of Protection of the historic town core. We selected public spaces that lack any function and/or character of a public space by field surveys. Our focus is on the following phenomena: Protection - Protection against traffic and accidents — feeling safe, Protection against crime and violence — feeling secure, Protection against unpleasant sensory experiences Comfort - Opportunities to walk, Opportunities to stand/stay, Opportunities to sit, Opportunities to see, Opportunities to talk and listen, Opportunities for playing and exercising Enjoyment - Dimensioned at human scale, Opportunities to enjoy the positive aspects of climate, Aesthetic qualities + positive sensory experience Based on the followed phenomenon and strategic documents, the spaces with the greatest potential for transformation into an active public space of the city were chosen.
