Czech Krumlov will have a city architect after ten years

Český Krumlov - Český Krumlov will have a city architect after a ten-year break. The selection process was won by Ondřej Busta from the Robust architects studio. He will receive an external contract for 300 hours of work per year. The information was provided to ČTK today by the deputy mayor Josef Hermann (KDU-ČSL).

The commission selected from 11 candidates, in the second round between four finalists. "Ondřej Busta convinced us with his vision, great discretion, and philosophical view of Krumlov. His enormous advantage is that he knows Krumlov, understands its values, and at the same time, he does not work here and has no ties. Because then the architect is under enormous pressure and it is not happy when he knows every second investor," said Hermann. According to him, Krumlov lacks the handwriting of an architect who manages urbanism.

The thirty-nine-year-old Busta graduated from the Secondary School of Applied Arts of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Český Krumlov and the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at the Technical University in Liberec. He considers Český Krumlov to be an exceptional city to which he has a personal relationship and he has permanent residence here.

"I know it well. It is a UNESCO city that is depopulating and is frozen in time. I am interested in it; it needs to have an architectural vision to live well in, and I don't think it is good to live in it right now. It is an ideal city for tourists, but not completely ideal for living. At the same time, it is beautiful, in an ideal landscape, but terribly burdened by tourism," Busta told ČTK.

According to the city hall, the city architect must be a mediator between councilors, representatives, investors, and department heads and must oversee construction, advertising in the city, and public spaces. He will play a role in creating the new zoning plan as well. "He says how the city should develop. It is a shame that Krumlov has not had an architect for ten years. The last one was Ludmila Šolcová, a highly capable individual, unfortunately, at that time the city leadership did not find it important for her to continue with us. We have paid off a debt, and we are glad that we have filled this gap," said Hermann.

According to Mayor Dalibor Carda (ČSSD), Český Krumlov is architecturally, historically, and especially humanly unique. "Some people have very peculiar demands on how business and construction should be conducted in Český Krumlov. Everyone has their own ideas, many will clash with the architect, and it will be unpleasant," Carda told ČTK.