As part of the eighth annual Bratislava Street Art Festival, one of the largest street art works in Slovakia was created. Designed by the artist Lousy Auber, the work is likely to remain on the façade of the derelict Kyjev Hotel until its reconstruction or demolition. The hotel, along with the adjacent Prior department store, is currently under administrative proceedings to be declared a national cultural monument. Despite being protected by law, their future is currently uncertain.  

The building complex on Kamenné Square was built between 1964 and 1978. The high-rise Kyjev Hotel with its extensive social and operational spaces was constructed during the second stage between 1969 and 1973. Ivan Matušík, the hotel's architect, collaborated on its design with Karol Rosmány, Peter Minarovič, Rudolf Gaža, Pavel Čížek, and Juraj Kozák. The interiors were completed with works of art and bespoke design furniture by renowned artists. 

In his work, Lousy Auber was inspired by the original style and colour of the hotel's façade, which comprised a strict orthogonal grid of rhythmically alternating window bands. Using coloured spray paint to highlight the relationship of vertical and horizontal lines, he created this optical illusion. The monumental geometric pattern with its dominant circular motif is representative of artistic expressions of the op-art style. The work bears a resemblance to the stone platform of the boarding ramp of the connecting Prior building, which was designed by Ivan Matušík (this has its own entry in the database). 

The façade, which despite the hotel architect's disapproval had in the past been used for large-scale advertising banners, thereby became a space for a creative reinterpretation, attracting public attention and arousing interest in the hotel’s fate. 

Note: 

In May 2023, following sustained effort by experts, the Monuments Board declared the complex of the Kyjev Hotel and Prior department store, together with the Prior foundation stone, to be a National Cultural Monument. An appeal against this decision has been lodged and the case is currently being reviewed by the appeals body of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. Until its ruling is issued, the building’s owner is to refrain from any intervention in the building. 

NB

Research status as of 3 June 2025.