The high-rises on Šumavská Street in Brno are set to get additional floors, but the architect is against it

Brno - The company Agrie wants to start the reconstruction of two more administrative tower blocks on Šumavská Street in Brno next year. It completed the first of three this year. On one of them, it plans to add five floors, and on the other three, but it is still waiting for approval from the authorities, said managing director David Täuber to ČTK. Architect Roman Zajíc, who designed the complex of three towers of the former Chepos fifty years ago, is against the plan. He stated this in a letter addressed to both the investor and ČTK.

Täuber noted that the preservationists are striving for height variation. The investor is waiting for feedback from the urban planning department of the Brno magistrate regarding the plan. "If we get permission, we will add more floors to the buildings. If not, we will reconstruct them at their current height," he said. The buildings are approximately 65 meters tall and house various companies and institutions. During their construction from 1967 to 1974, they caused quite a stir and are still among the tallest buildings in the city. They are highly valued by experts, who speak of the Miesian post-war style and a return to global architecture after years of socialist realism.

In his letter, Zajíc states that the investor's plan represents a fundamental change to the original architectural work and destroys its value, including the impact on the urban situation in the area. He also mentioned that he was not informed about the planned reconstruction of the already completed building, whose facade, according to him, destroyed the original architectural concept. He discusses the destruction of the concept even in the case of the height variation.

However, Täuber claims that he has made several attempts to meet with Zajíc and discuss the plan. "However, it has never succeeded despite our efforts. Of course, we would be happy if he contacted us. On the other hand, it must be said that no one has touched those buildings since their inception. And the protest only arises when the project and project documentation are completed," Täuber stated.

The reconstruction of the first of the buildings, which has 19 floors, cost 200 million crowns and is now a modern office building.