Construction work has begun on a new Sky Park in Bratislava, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), which is set to transform a derelict industrial area of the Slovakian capital.

Located southeast of the city centre, the project includes a new 20,000sq m (215,200sq ft) public park and community of more than 700 apartments, together with 55,000sq m (592,000sq ft) of office and retail space connected to the city’s tram and bus networks.

The development will integrate the facades of the existing Jurkovicova Teplarne heating plant; a decommissioned factory designed by architect Dusan Jurkovic in the 1940s, which is now a national cultural monument.

ZHA’s design of the Sky Park – which was conceived around the concept of providing both generous living areas and communal spaces for residents and the public to connect – was selected by a competition jury in 2010.

It was praised by the judges for allowing the public access to the site, and Jurkovi?’s landmark, as opposed to the closed perimeter blocks of other proposals.

The park will develop alongside the new community, and includes playgrounds, an amphitheatre, picnic sites, running tracks, sports field, a dog zone and an orchard.

“Sky Park is an important link between Bratislava’s contemporary culture, emerging nature and history,” said Patrik Schumacher, principal of ZHA.

Preparatory work on the project began earlier this year and the foundation stone has now been laid. The first phase is planned for completion in late 2019.

Almost 60 per cent of the apartments within Sky Park have sold since becoming available earlier this month.

Jozef Oravkin, partner in development firm Penta Investments, said: "Sky Park is currently one of the most important Penta projects, not only due to the size of the investment, but also due to the overall significance for our capital city, with its concept and solution of public spaces.”