A daily journey through the busy underpass beneath Trenčín’s main traffic artery, which links the railway and bus stations with the city centre, will soon become an artistic experience. Hundreds of people pass through the passageway each day, and with this new delicate textile installation, will experience the sensation of clouds over their heads, bringing a sense of lightness and safety, and a welcoming atmosphere to the underpass.
The artistic installation was commissioned as part of the Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture project and results from an international competition. It will be officially unveiled to the public on 17 March.
The underpass beneath General Milan Rastislav Štefánik Street features a suspended, delicate 3D textile membrane that forms a soft, ever-changing ceiling, evoking the appearance of floating clouds.
The shaping of the material produces a plastic structure that responds to light and movement. Embedded within its central layer is a technological network of programmable LEDs, enabling dynamic lighting effects that can reflect the cycle of the day, changing weather, or special city events.
The installation, created by the author collective Büro Milk / Subdigital Studio – comprised of Danica Pišteková, Tomáš Tholt, Martin Jenča, and Martin Péchy – was designed in response to the underpass. The result is an environment that feels light, safe, and inviting, offering a gentle touch of the sky in contrast to the solid architecture of the underground passage.
“The main idea was to create a kind and gentle intervention that transforms an everyday passage into a short aesthetic experience. In this way, the underpass becomes a place where art naturally accompanies people on their journey,” said Hana Laššová from the Trenčín 2026 project.
The artistic intervention is part of the project Mesto pretvorené (The City Reimagined), which aims to enrich public spaces through contemporary art, temporary installations, and cultural and community events. Its goal is to show that art does not need to be confined to galleries or cultural institutions. Art can also inhabit streets, squares, and underpasses – essentially, it can be encountered at every step. Interventions like these have the power to transform the atmosphere of a city and contribute to making it a more vibrant and livable place.
“The Mesto pretvorené project demonstrates that thoughtful architecture and art can transform even ordinary transit spaces into places with character and narrative. We believe interventions like these help deepen the connection between residents and their city,” adds Hana Laššová.
The Jemný podchod (Gentle Underpass) will be unveiled to the public on 17 March 2026 at 17:00. The opening will also feature the performance (NEBO) Walking in the Clouds by artist Katarína Zagorski, followed by a discussion with the installation’s creators and curators of the Trenčín 2026 project on artistic interventions in public spaces, titled “Interventions into Everyday Life.”
SUPPORTING TRENČÍN’S LONG-TERM TRANSFORMATION
The transformation of the underpass beneath General Milan Rastislav Štefánik Street is a tangible step in Trenčín’s broader strategy to enhance public spaces.
Another key city thoroughfare, the underpass beneath Hasičská Street, has also been recently revitalised. Its walls, painted in the deep blue signature colour of the Trenčín 2026 project, are enriched by an artistic intervention featuring five illuminated light boxes.
The installation was created by Austrian artist Oliver Ressler and is titled Out of the Passage to Seize Back the Sky. Visitors can also view remnants of the city’s historic fortifications – the outer palisade – which protected Trenčín from the Váh River in the 16th and 17th centuries and served as a flood barrier.
Residents of Trenčín and visitors to the European Capital of Culture 2026 can also enjoy a newly created pedestrian zone, resulting from the transformation of Hviezdoslavova, Sládkovičova, Jaselská streets, as well as part of Vajanského Street. of Vajanského Street. The area has been transformed into a barrier-free pedestrian space featuring new paving, lighting, water features, a drinking fountain, benches, a playground, and abundant greenery. Around 50 trees have been planted, and a new park in front of the Posádkový klub offers space for children to play, for picnics, and for small cultural events.
St. Anne’s Square has also been revitalised, featuring new paving, rows of hawthorn and flowering cherry trees, and an illuminated park area with benches. The project brought renewed attention to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism and transformed previously unused land into a welcoming recreation space. The adjacent 1 May Street has been redesigned as a lively, barrier-free public space, complete with new urban furniture, lighting, and greenery, providing a setting for gatherings, leisure, and smaller cultural events as part of the Trenčín 2026 project.
The total investment in the modernisation of these public spaces has exceeded €12 million. Work is also underway to transform the old railway bridge into the Fiesta Bridge, and the regeneration of the Trenčiansky luh floodplain forest is planned for later this year.
Trenčín has been awarded the title of European Capital of Culture 2026, a prestigious designation that enables the city to carry out a wide range of cultural and development projects with a lasting impact on the quality of life for its residents.
The Trenčín 2026 project is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region, and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, with the European Union as a project partner.
MEDIA CONTACT
Tereza Fojtová / Trenčín 2026
tereza.fojtova@trencin2026.eu / +421 918 412 621 / www.trencin2026.eu
Florian Vanicatte / Send / Receive
florian@sendreceive.eu / +33 617 216 932
