Ostrava selected the winner of the design competition for the World of Transport

Ostrava – Ostrava has selected the winner of the conceptual competition for the project World of Transport, which is to be developed in part of the former dispatch building of the Vítkovice railway station and its surroundings. The project, estimated to cost around one billion crowns, aims to bring the history, present, and future of urban transport closer to visitors of all generations. The winning conceptual design, which aimed to showcase a new version of the space covering more than 40,000 square meters, comes from the consortium of Czech companies Yord and PROFURE, the spokesperson for the city council, Gabriela Pokorná, said today.

Two interested parties entered the competition, which the city announced last September. The construction of the area could begin in 2030, according to the spokesperson. The city is preparing to announce an architectural competition. The World of Transport follows a previous plan by the city to build a transport museum near the main train station.

"Over time, the idea of creating a space that would transcend the classic museum framework prevailed. In the immediate vicinity of the Vítkovice station, regarded as a valuable example of Brussels style in Czech architecture, an area will be established to depict the topic of transport as a living, changing, and interactive system. A significant motivation of the winning design is the idea that the visitor is not just a passive observer of the historical development of transport, but should realize their own role in shaping the transport behavior of the city," said the spokesperson.

The World of Transport will offer visitors a multimedia view not only into the history of transport in Ostrava but also a glimpse into its future. The World of Technology will include both indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Some of these will be permanent, while others will be temporary, reflecting various thematic anniversaries or current events. Its foundation will be the collection of the Ostrava Public Transport Company, which includes 55 historical vehicles.

"Public transport is an important aspect of life in every city, and for Ostrava, given its size and location, this is doubly true. The World of Transport will be a place that amusingly and fascinates all of its visitors," said Deputy Mayor Břetislav Riger (Ostravak). The author of the winning conceptual design will then develop it into a study.