Architectural competition for the utilization of the former Perla site in Ústí nad Orlicí.

Ústí nad Orlicí - The city hall in Ústí nad Orlicí is preparing an architectural and urban planning competition for the use of the extensive area of the former textile factory Perla in the center. It is expected to be announced in the fall, Mayor Petr Hájek told ČTK. The city purchased the bankrupt factory in 2010 for 30 million crowns. On September 7, the Organic Ústí Association is preparing a celebration called Perla Lives! in the area, aiming to draw public attention to the unused industrial site.
    “The competition conditions will be approved by the Czech Chamber of Architects, and the city council will then approve it on September 23. After that, the competition will be officially announced,” Hájek stated.
    According to him, the results of the competition should also provide an estimate of financial costs, a breakdown into stages, and economic models, including potential use of subsidies or cooperation with developers.
    People will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the planned steps of the city hall and the possible use of the industrial area at the Perla Lives! celebration in the textile factory area. “People should think about what should become of the area. It is a key location for the city,” Kulhavý mentioned. The area of the former factory is eight times larger than the nearby central square.
    The celebration will feature three blocks of lectures and discussions on the topic of revitalizing industrial areas. In another section, there will be a cultural program with musical performances and a puppet theater for children, and a rock concert is planned for the evening. People will also be able to participate in a guided tour of the area, with films about the history of Perla being screened, alongside the film Revolution of Cultural Creatives. An exhibition of works by students from the local art and industrial school will be held in the area.
    In the past, the city conducted a survey on the use of the Perla area among residents. Suggestions included a library or a children's house. Architecture students also suggested that there could be a pedestrian zone by the area. Currently, part of the area consists of a parking lot, warehouses, small production facilities, and a store.
    The city hall purchased the former textile factory for 30 million crowns. The factory went bankrupt in 2009, a year before it employed 400 workers. The weaving mill existed in Ústí since 1855. It was founded by Jan Hernych. His son Florian was a relentless entrepreneur who significantly expanded the textile industry in the city. Within 20 years, he became one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in the region. In 1909, he employed 2,500 workers. Even as a state enterprise, Perla employed more than 5,200 people in 1989.