Window boxes filled with bright and cheery red geraniums liven up the dark and dreary austere façade of a functionalist style apartment building in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. I took this photo from the window of the room where my husband and I stayed when we visited friends in the city.
Our friends enjoyed feeding a pair of Eurasian collared doves from the window sill of our room, where the doves would visit us several times per day.
Our friends’ neighborhood consisted of repetitive rows of functionalist apartment blocks within walking distance of Bratislava’s city center. I took the below photo from the kitchen window of their apartment. The lush green trees provide a welcome and much-needed contrast to the mundane and unadorned grey buildings. The practical simplicity of the buildings’ design (including the windows!) is characteristic of functionalist architecture. Due to the lack of adornment, this architectural style does not accommodate dirt well – there simply isn’t anything to detract from it – hence the buildings’ dark and dreary demeanor.
I’ll close this post with a couple fascinating facts about Bratislava. Located on the banks of the Danube River, together with its greater metropolitan area Bratislava shares a border with both Austria and Hungary. Vienna, Austria is a mere 49.6 miles (79.9 kilometers) away. I must admit, I did not realize how proximate Bratislava and Vienna were until I traveled there. For I grew up in the last quarter of the twentieth century, a time when the two cities’ political circumstances were anything but proximate… Vienna, a part of the free West, and Bratislava, reluctantly behind the Iron Curtain, back when present day Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia, a member of the Eastern Bloc. Slovakia gained independence on January 1, 1993.
This post was submitted as part of the Monday Window photo challenge.
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Finding Balance on the Edge: Figure Skating & Travel Journeys by Carolyn Tir 
Interesting post and info. Thanks for sharing.
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You’re welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.
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Your photo of repetitive rows of functionalist apartment blocks reminds me very much of Riga’s Ziepniekkalns district, which is renowned for its extensive rows of functionalist apartment blocks, too. They were built during the Soviet era as a prominent example of Soviet urban planning. These apartment blocks are characterised by their large size, concrete panel construction, and standardised layouts, designed to house a rapidly growing population. Some of the blocks contain more than a hundred apartments! Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Thanks, Aiva, for adding that fascinating history! I always appreciate your knowledgeable perspective. Have a great week 😊
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🥰🥰🥰
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Plain, functional seems to be the modern architectural style everywhere. Thank you for sharing.
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Yes, a kind of generic modern, I suppose. Although the apartment blocks in the former East constructed mid-last century are in their own category of uniqueness, I think! Thank you so much for stopping by!
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It’s on my list to visit. Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava are a popular combination, I think. Probably not this year, for me xx
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Yes, that sounds like a great combination! Very near to one another geographically, and some similar history as well, given they were all once a part of the Habsburg and Austro-Hungarian Empires.
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I’ve only had a brief time in Bratislava, but I found it a charming little capital. Thanks for sharing the minute beauty of it all!
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It was indeed charming! I was pleasantly surprised. And the minute beauty of it all… I like that expression! Thanks for stopping by, Rebecca!
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My grandmother used to plant geraniums in her backyard. I always get a hanging basket of red geraniums every summer now because they remind me of her. The collared doves are very cute. Lovely set of shots.
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What a lovely memory! I love trying to incorporate special moments and traditions from the past into the present day. Lots of good feelings that way! Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind comments. 😊
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I love the pretty flowers jazzing up the otherwise drab exterior of that building. Hopefully the resident enjoys them from inside the apartment too! 🙂 Bratislava was never on my radar to visit but I went there anyway years ago because it was an option on our bus route lol. I’m glad I did! We thought it was super cute and I would love to go back there again someday.
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Thanks for stopping by, Theresa! Always great to see you. I was pleased to find that the apartment interiors are much more unique and special than the exterior. The residents find a way to make their space their own. I’m glad you were able to make a quick visit to Bratislava!
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Loved this peek into Bratislava! The bright geraniums bring life to the simple functionalist buildings, and the story of the visiting doves is so charming. It’s surprising how close Bratislava is to Vienna, given their history. Thanks for sharing these lovely moments!
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My pleasure! Thank you for stopping by and commenting😊
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Flowers aren’t just visually striking, they spark a sense of joy every time I see them.
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Indeed they do, in any space and place 🌹 Thank you so much for your kind comment! 😊
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Just want to say you shine on your figure skating blog. Love that you’re doing that “at your age” (as though there were a ceiling on when we may have fun ’til while keeping fit).
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Thank you so much for your kind comment! You made my day, truly 😊⛸️
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I thought I commented on this post, but internet must’ve been bad. Probably was sitting in another dr waiting room. Thanks for visiting my blog!
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No problem! Always great to see you😊Good luck with the doctor’s appointments.
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