The Building of the Year in the Zlín Region is the building of the company Koma Modular

Zlín - The administrative building of the modular systems manufacturer Koma Modular in Vizovice, Zlin Region, received the highest award in the Building of the Year 2018 competition of the Zlin Region, the Grand Prix of architect Pavel Novák. The company initially produced the pavilion for the World Expo 2015 in Milan, then moved it to its site, and after modifications, it serves as an administrative building. The Grand Prix is not awarded every year in the competition, but only for extraordinary construction achievements; this is the sixth award granted in the competition, which took place this year for the 17th time, said the chairwoman of the jury, Dagmar Nová, to journalists today.

The expert jury appreciated the refinement of the building and its execution. "We were very pleased with the overall quality of the work; it is a showcase of a completely different construction technology, it is a modular system, it demonstrates how objects can be built from this system. Such a level, quality of work, and solutions to details, interior design, is rarely seen. Moreover, it is complemented by the excellent work of the artist (Lukáš) Rittstein and Bára Šlapetová, which is unique in the republic," Nová stated.

In the past, three buildings in the former Zlín Baťa industrial complex received the Grand Prix, namely the Business and Innovation Center, Baťa Skyscraper, and Baťa Institute, as well as the Citadel hospice in Valašské Meziříčí. Last year, it was awarded to the Educational Complex of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, designed by architect and Zlín native Eva Jiřičná and her Prague team.

Governor Jiří Čunek (KDU-ČSL) awarded the prize for the reconstruction of the Zlín Department Store. The building was constructed in 1931 according to the design of architect František Lydie Gahura, and during the reconstruction, the original appearance was restored.

This year, the jurors evaluated 48 buildings completed by construction companies from the Zlin Region last year; 39 buildings were submitted last year. The most buildings were traditionally submitted in the category of Civic Amenities, with 14 submissions, and the main prize was awarded to the second phase of the central facilities at the Uherské Hradiště Hospital. The best among residential buildings was the Apartment Building - Residence Štěpnice 2 in Uherské Hradiště. In other categories, the main prize went to the new rolling mill of the Napajedla company Fatra, the reconstruction of the water treatment plant in Tlumačov in the Zlín Region, and a multifunctional building in the village of Košíky.

According to Nová, the level of quality of buildings has been increasing in recent years. "New materials are appearing on the market, not exactly cheap, also demanding to work with, and it turns out that companies know how to handle it," Nová stated.

The competition is organized by the regional organization of the Association of Entrepreneurs in Construction of the Czech Republic and the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians in Construction.