Vrána's mill in Břeclav will definitely disappear within a week, to be replaced by an apartment building

Břeclav - The buildings of the former Vrána Mill in Břeclav are currently being definitively demolished by heavy machinery. The second phase of the demolition of the former Liechtenstein mill from the 16th century has begun and will last seven days, after which trucks will transport the rubble away for a week. The construction company Plus will build apartments on the site of the dilapidated building, and the shape of the new building is expected to resemble the now-demolished buildings of the former mill. The plan was presented by the company, which owns the site, a year ago.

The building had been crumbling for decades. The city attempted to negotiate with the previous owner regarding the purchase of the old mill, but they could not agree on a price. After some reminders, the previous owner fenced off the dilapidated area, where homeless individuals had been staying for a long time. Last year, the owner ordered the demolition of the buildings that were in the worst technical condition; the demolition of the remaining structures has now begun. Due to the close proximity of the pond, workers are using a special raft to catch debris that would otherwise end up in the water.

Sixty apartments will be built on the site, and the investor also plans space for residents to gather. "As a nod to tradition, we want to incorporate one of the original mill wheels into the building when possible. Currently, there is a blocked water flow, and we would like to restore it. We want to return dignity to the place and support the connection between the building and the environment in which it is located," said architect Tomáš Havlíček from the architectural studio Flying Engineers.

The new buildings are intended to mirror the shape of the original mill. Plus plans to use photovoltaic panels and heat pumps, as well as the so-called grey water, which will be used for purposes such as flushing toilets.

The actual construction is expected to begin early next year, and the first residents are anticipated to move into the building at the turn of 2025 and 2026.