House of Trade Unions – Istropolis

In 2022, Slovakia saw the demolition of its largest cultural and social facility, the former House of Trade Unions, renamed Istropolis in 1990. The book by Henrieta Moravčíková and Peter Szalay examines the rise and fall of this post-war modernist icon. Featuring photographs from all stages of Istropolis’s existence, the book serves as both an academic and activist exploration Designer Ľubica Segečová envisioned a hybrid between a monograph and a magazine, organizing various elements into layered timelines. These include photographs, documents, and archival blueprints. The text is set in Monument Grotesk, with layouts inspired by the architectural forms of Istropolis. The book’s texts are authored by architecture historians Henrieta Moravčíková and Peter Szalay, with photography by Ľubo Stacho, Hertha Hurnaus, and Olja Triaška Stafanovic.