Ostrava announced an architectural competition for the design of the new City Services House

Ostrava - Ostrava has announced an architectural competition for the design of a new Municipal Services Building, which is to be built in the Černé louky area. The administrative building will serve two departments of the municipality responsible for the handling of travel documents, identity cards, and driver's licenses. It will also provide facilities for some municipal organizations. This was announced to reporters today by Zuzana Kotyzová, spokesperson for the Urban Studio of Spatial Planning and Architecture (MAPPA), which is organizing the architectural competition. The results of the competition will be known in mid-next year.

The Municipal Services Building is intended to become the new headquarters of the Department of Transport Administration and the Department of Internal Affairs, which currently operate in rented premises at two different locations. The Municipal Police of Ostrava and the Expat Center, which provides services and advice to foreigners, will also operate in the building.

"We have long been dealing with unsatisfactory spaces in which the two municipal departments are located, as well as the rising costs of their rents. Based on a financial analysis, we concluded that it is more advantageous for the city in the long term to invest in the construction of a new building. The integration of two important departments under one roof will also significantly facilitate the handling of matters for citizens," said Deputy Mayor Hana Tichánková (ANO).

According to Kotyzová, the new building is also important for further development and revitalization of the Černé louky area, which used to serve as an exhibition center and is now undergoing a transformation of the entire locality. "The current plans include the revitalization of the area for recreation and cultural activities, while also considering the construction of new buildings that will connect the development toward the historical center of the city. One of these buildings is to be the Municipal Services Building, which will be adjacent to the Puppet Theatre and the new residential building Nové Lauby," Kotyzová stated.

The architectural competition is announced as an open and two-phase event. Interested parties can submit their competition proposals until November 20, based on which the jury will select participants who will advance to the second round. They will then be able to develop their solutions until April of next year.

"The winning proposal should bring an architecturally high-quality and timeless solution that takes into account the rapid development of information technology. Emphasis will be placed on user-friendliness, energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness," Kotyzová added.

The actual construction of the Municipal Services Building could begin within four years of the announcement of the competition results. The costs for the construction of the administrative building are estimated at 750 million crowns excluding VAT.