Penta Real Estate Advances 34,000-Sqm Southbank Office Development in Bratislava
Penta Real Estate said it has obtained favourable binding opinions from the City of Bratislava for the first phase of its Southbank project on the right bank of the Danube, moving the mixed-use district into its next phase of development. The developer also introduced two planned office buildings, Southbank Office and Southbank Office Tower, which together will offer more than 34,000 square meters (more than 366,000 square feet) of leasable area. The announcement was made Nov. 9, 2026.
Southbank Office Buildings and Penta Group Headquarters
The majority of Southbank Office Tower will become the new shared headquarters of Penta Group companies. More than two-thirds of the building's space will be occupied by Penta Group companies relocating from Digital Park II. The headquarters will house Penta Investments, Penta Real Estate, Dr.Max, Fortuna Entertainment Group, Dôvera, Penta Hospitals, Penta Banka, Prima banka and other companies. The remaining office space will be available to additional tenants.
Southbank Office Tower, located on the eastern side of Apollo Bridge adjacent to Southbank Office, will offer panoramic views of the Danube, Bratislava Castle, the historic city center and other parts of the city. Adjustments to the building's positioning also made it possible to enlarge the adjacent sports bowl and expand public space for physical activity, relaxation and leisure.
Southbank Office: Seven Storeys Designed by Snøhetta
The first office building, Southbank Office, will sit on the western side of Apollo Bridge alongside three residential buildings and a play bowl. Designed by Snøhetta, the seven-storey building will provide approximately 10,000 sqm of leasable office space. Its terraced architecture steps down toward the Danube, connecting workplaces with green terraces and riverfront views.
The building is designed to accommodate either a single large company seeking its own headquarters or multiple tenants requiring flexible space. The largest floors, at approximately 1,900 sqm, can be divided into as many as four separate leasing units. Southbank Office is targeting LEED Platinum and LEED Zero Carbon certifications, and will include green terraces, natural daylight, modern technologies and comprehensive cycling facilities.
The ground floor will offer approximately 1,100 sqm of retail space for cafés, restaurants, shops and services. Two new public transport stops on Apollo Bridge will provide direct connections to Bratislava's city center and other parts of Petržalka.
Southbank Masterplan and First Phase Timeline
Southbank is being developed around Apollo Bridge and is intended to transform the right bank of the Danube into an urban district combining residential buildings, offices, services and public spaces. The urban concept is based on the winning design of an international architectural and urban planning competition by Snøhetta and Studio Egret West, in collaboration with gro architekti. A central element is the link between the development, the riverfront, existing greenery and a series of public spaces known as bowls, which offer opportunities for relaxation, sports, culture and leisure.
A section of Southbank south of the flood protection embankment toward Einsteinova Street has undergone further design development. A follow-up architectural study by Snøhetta and Studio Egret West refined the positioning of two high-rise buildings and a lower structure to improve daylight conditions, views and the quality of public spaces. The revised layout creates a more spacious elevated public area with a green park between the towers, as well as a more compact cultural bowl for cultural, community and leisure activities.
The favourable binding opinions allow preparations to continue for the first phase, which includes the first 314 apartments and a substantial part of the transport and technical infrastructure. Penta Real Estate plans to launch apartment sales in the first phase and office leasing in mid-2027, with construction scheduled to begin in 2028.
Bratislava Office Market Context
The announcement comes as Bratislava's office market shows a split pattern. Modern office stock reached approximately 1.76 million sqm in the second quarter of 2026, with vacancy at 13.42%, or about 236,000 sqm. The South Bank zone, however, recorded vacancy of 7.06%, the lowest among Bratislava's major office submarkets in the quarter.
Prime rents reached approximately €22.00 per sqm per month in the second quarter of 2026, up 7.3% year over year and 2.2% quarter over quarter in the best locations. Another market report placed third-quarter prime rents at €22.50 per sqm per month. Cushman & Wakefield reported a Bratislava prime office yield of 6.25% in its third-quarter 2026 market overview.
No new office buildings were completed in Bratislava during the first half of 2026, and developers have increasingly relied on pre-leasing before starting construction. Leasing transactions totaled approximately 103,100 sqm in the first half of 2026. Second-quarter gross take-up was approximately 52,900 to 53,000 sqm, with renegotiations accounting for 53% of activity.
The headquarters commitment from Penta Group companies provides a substantial internal occupier for Southbank Office Tower, while the project's riverfront setting, public spaces, cycling facilities, retail amenities and planned public transport stops form the core of its leasing proposition. The 34,000-plus sqm office program would add a significant block of future supply to the South Bank submarket.
Sources
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