The new Moravian-Silesian coalition wants to revive the Black Cube project

The Black Cube, a building with a black glass facade reminiscent of a coal briquette, should be constructed on a plot opposite the House of Culture in the city of Ostrava. "We expect to reopen this project," Vondrák wrote about the Black Cube on his Twitter account.

He also wants to find agreement with the leadership of the Ostrava magistrate, which is headed by Mayor Tomáš Macura (ANO). Vondrák plans joint meetings of the regional and city councils. He would like to discuss such projects there. "We should jointly support projects like the Black Cube project," Vondrák told CTK.

Vondrák personally considers the scientific library project to be very important. "It's a pity that it has not been realized so far. Ostrava is now a university city. Students make up a tenth of the population. I believe that scientific libraries are something that is at the center of not only science but also culture," he said.

The Moravian-Silesian Scientific Library has been operating in provisional conditions for more than 60 years. Since its founding in 1951, it has been located in rented space in the New Town Hall in Ostrava. The institution manages over a million volumes, which are due to the lack of suitable premises located in five places in Ostrava, which is not very economical from an operational perspective. Some buildings are also inadequate, and the book collection is deteriorating in them.

Originally, the new building, the Black Cube, was to be located opposite the House of Culture. However, in 2009 the region withdrew from the project, which sparked discontent among some professionals and the general public. Later, it was discussed that the library would be established in the area of the industrial monument of Lower Vítkovice. The outgoing governor Miroslav Novák (CSSD) presented the plan last year to Culture Minister Daniel Herman (KDU-ČSL). He described the project as suitable for the 21st century. However, the professional public again objected to the approach of the regional government, which does not favor, for example, that the library would be on private company land.

According to experts, the library should also be located closer to the city center to stop its depopulation. "This certainly does not correspond to a 21st-century project. Moreover, in today's times, such projects should not be developed without an architectural competition. Which would not be the case here," said Ilona Rozehnalová, a member of the Beautification Association For a Beautiful Ostrava, to CTK.

Now, she and other supporters of the Black Cube welcomed the current change in course. "I consider it very reasonable. The Black Cube is the simplest and quickest way to build the library we have been striving for for 12 years. The project is ready. It just needs to renew the construction permit and secure financing," she said.