Analysis of alternative designs for the reconstruction of an administrative building – case study

An old office building located on the Garbiarska street, historic part of Kosice city, east of Slovakia was selected because it represents a brownfield and necessarily requires reconstruction. This study is aimed at the analysis of two design alternative solutions to underline the architecture of the reconstruction in terms of sustainability criteria taking into account the significance of the history of the city and its surroundings. Performed SWOT analysis considered strengths and weaknesses of restoration, opportunities and threats, shows that the most suitable is considering a restoration strategy in terms of preserving cultural heritage, at the same time restoring the building in the concept of green architecture. It is more than necessary to prioritize this renovation strategy over an economically viable renovation while maintaining the inappropriate height of the office building. This early analysis confirms the significance of the revitalization of territories in connection to the improvement of quality of life, the enhancement of the historical value of the locality and the creation of new economic opportunities.