Zlín has selected the winner of the competition for the restoration of the park behind the theater

Zlín - The city of Zlín has chosen the winner of the public architectural and landscape competition for the renovation of the park behind the theater. The first prize was awarded to the local author duo Pavel Krampla and Radek Talaš, while the second place went to the Brno group of authors led by Rastislav Balog and Lýdie Šušlíková, the city hall spokesman Lukáš Fabián reported today to ČTK in a press release.

Seven proposals were submitted to the competition announced this February. The jury awarded only the first and second prizes. According to the jury, the winning proposal created an open urban space by opening the connecting neck between the theater buildings. "The fountain, whose space is newly shaped by a semicircle of trees, becomes a new natural center of the park. The summer stage is naturally incorporated into the park area and can be used year-round as part of it. The southeastern tip of the area at the outlet of Divadelní street is innovatively designed, where part of the watercourse is newly opened," the jury stated.

The area behind the theater had been associated with construction for several years, and the announcement of the competition for the park's renovation evoked emotions due to the possibility of a partial completion of the corner building on Potoky street, said Mayor Jiří Korec (ANO). "I believe that both awarded proposals will calm the situation and that the future revitalization of this area will be received positively," he added. According to him, the winning proposal includes a slight expansion of the corner building, while the second proposal expects a partial extension of the building.

The park should be closely linked with the theater. "Currently, our theater does not have an adequate and dignified entrance to the Workshop or Studio Z, let alone a public space where various activities could take place during the Meeting - Stretnutie festival. The awarded proposals are a hopeful promise that the situation will change and part of the theater's activities will be able to take place outdoors," said the director of the Zlín City Theater and city council member for STAN Petr Michálek.

The costs for transforming the park are estimated in the millions of crowns, and additional funds may be needed for the transformation of Divadelní street. The city hopes to complete the renovation in this electoral term. The competition proposals will be displayed from June 21 at the cultural institute Alternativa.