The builders have started to modify the Zlín Memorial of Tomáš Baťa from the outside

František L. Gahura, Memorial of Tomáš Baťa, Zlín, 1933

Zlín - Builders have already begun to modify the exterior of the Memorial of Tomáš Baťa in Zlín. They took advantage of the good weather and started removing the extensions to the building, confirmed Zdeněk Dvořák, spokesperson for the Zlín city hall, to ČTK today. The restoration of the memorial began last year, but work continued indoors over the winter. The building, dating back to 1933, is one of the most valuable in the regional city and was designed by architect František L. Gahura. The memorial commemorates Tomáš Baťa, the founder of the shoe empire, who died in a plane crash in 1932.

In the 1950s, the memorial was reconstructed and used as the House of Art by the Zlín Philharmonic and the regional gallery of fine arts. However, both institutions moved to new premises a few years ago, and the building remained closed. The city hall then decided to restore the building and return it to its original purpose.

After the reconstruction, the memorial will return to its original form, with particular emphasis on removing the extensions from the 1950s. Materials that Gahura used, namely iron, concrete, and especially glass, will be used for the restoration. The interior of the memorial will be variable, and an airplane, which was also part of the original memorial, will not be missing.

The construction part of the restoration of the memorial will cost nearly 35 million crowns excluding VAT. The entire project will cost about 70 million crowns, with a new exhibition also planned for the memorial. The city received a grant of 32 million crowns from the Ministry of Culture for the restoration, and the remainder will be covered from its budget. The work is expected to last two years.