<html> <head> <title>Transformation of Slezanka: Open Letter from the Architectural Community to the Leadership of the City of Opava</title> </head> <body> <p>Transformation of Slezanka: Open Letter from the Architectural Community to the Leadership of the City of Opava</p> </body> </html>

Source
Tomáš Bindr, Alžběta Varyš Majnušová

Publisher
Tisková zpráva
25.02.2026 13:20

Dear leadership of the city of Opava,

we, the undersigned architects, academics, experts in related fields, and students of architecture, are reaching out to you with a call to reassess the current approach to the development of the area around the Slezanka shopping center.

On February 9, 2026, the demolition of the western corner of Slezanka began, which forms the entire southern front of Upper Square. The demolition is presented as preparation for the construction of a cultural hall and residential buildings to be realized by private, yet unknown investors.

We do not perceive the demolition itself as inherently negative. On the contrary, we consider it an extraordinary opportunity to transform one of the most significant public spaces in the city. However, we find the following facts concerning:

Readiness of related projects
Publicly available information indicates that the cultural hall and underground garage project is only at the architectural study stage. No information is known regarding the planned residential buildings having begun any phase of project preparation.

The demolition is set to be completed this April. However, the development of project documentation and completion of permit processes represent a time horizon of several years. Without sufficiently prepared projects, there is a risk of creating a long-term, 65-meter-long gap. This is a fundamental intervention in the urban structure of the city, which may negatively impact its functioning and perception. We believe that such a significant urban intervention in the city center should be better coordinated to avoid a long-term provisional state.

Historizing form of the proposed development
Minimal information is available about the planned residential buildings oriented to the square. The only known visual material is a visualization of facades in a historicizing style, reminiscent of the square's appearance before 1945.

We consider the implementation of new buildings that formally pretend to arise in another historical era to be unacceptable without broader professional and public discussion. Such a significant place deserves an architectural solution of high quality, appropriate to the present time. Architecture is always a reflection of the cultural and economic level of society at a given time and place.

Transparency and communication with the public
For an area of such significance, we consider it essential to provide the citizens of the city with understandable and complete information and to keep them regularly informed about the development of projects. Open communication is a fundamental prerequisite for public trust and cultivated discussion about the future of the city.

The demolition of Slezanka and the subsequent construction are significant interventions in the identity of Upper Square and the entire city. We therefore urge you to engage in an open dialogue with the professional and broader public aimed at defining the assignment for the preparation of a regulatory plan, preferably in the form of an urban competition. Clearly established building regulations create a predictable environment, provide certainty to future investors, and serve as a guarantee of the future quality of the urban environment.

Drafted on February 13, 2026

Ing. arch. Tomáš Bindr and Ing. arch. Alžběta Varyš Majnušová

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