In Kroměříž, a bench dedicated to Václav Havel will be unveiled by Bořek Šípek

Kroměříž - In Kroměříž, a bench dedicated to Václav Havel will be ceremonially unveiled on September 14, designed by the late architect Bořek Šípek, a friend of the president. It will stand in the Great Square in front of the Museum of Kroměříž Region. The idea was brought forward by the UNESCO Club in Kroměříž, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and it is supported by the town hall.

"We believe that the first president deserves to have this memorial here. Moreover, Bořek Šípek's work is known worldwide, and I think it might help Kroměříž a little in terms of tourism," said Mayor Jaroslav Němec (ANO) to journalists today. When choosing the location for the bench commemorating the legacy of the first post-communist president, there were several options.

These included spaces in front of the castle, the town hall, or the building of the Judicial Academy on Masaryk Square. In the end, a spot in front of the museum was chosen. However, according to Němec, this location does not enjoy unanimous approval, as three people have already complained about this plan at the town hall. The area is paved and prepared for the installation of the bench. The bench is already at the headquarters of the UNESCO Club.

The idea to create the Václav Havel benches project came from the Czech ambassador to the USA, Petr Gandalovič. The first bench was made accessible at Georgetown University in October 2013; installations followed in Dublin, Barcelona, Prague, České Budějovice, Venice, Hradec Králové, Plzeň, Karlovy Vary, and Liberec. There are also benches at universities in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Oxford, UK.

The design of Šípek's work consists of two metal chairs joined to a table around a linden tree, the Czech national tree. The benches are intended to serve as places for meeting, dialogue, and discussions. The purchase of the bench will cost approximately 220,000 crowns, and the use of Havel's name will cost an additional 30,000 CZK. The town hall will contribute 100,000 CZK. The Václav Havel bench in Kroměříž is the first in the Zlín Region.