Zlín announced an architectural competition for the modifications of Míru Square

"The intention is not only to improve the appearance of Peace Square and the adjacent areas, but also to address parking issues in the city center. The competition is also focused on the neglected area in front of the Church of St. Philip and Jacob," said Mayor Miroslav Adámek (STAN).

The current appearance of Peace Square dates back to the late 1980s. According to the City Hall, it is no longer functional or visually appealing. Therefore, the new design is supposed to be more modern and friendly for hosting cultural and social events. The planned transformation will also affect green spaces and restaurant terraces; in cooperation with private investors, the city is exploring the possibility of underground parking. "One of the important elements of the solution will be a podium and the surrounding streets, namely Rašínova and part of Bartošova Street. Attention will also be paid to part of Tomáš Baťa Avenue between the square and the market," stated Ivo Tuček, head of the spatial planning department.

The quality of proposals and their suitability for the city will be decided by an expert jury. "It is a seven-member jury, and according to the rules of the Czech Chamber of Architects, a majority of its members must be independent experts, in this case architects," said Dvořák. The competition will be held in two rounds, with results expected by the end of this year.

The costs of transforming the square are estimated in the tens of millions of crowns, so the work will likely be divided into several phases. However, they will not begin until next year.

Peace Square forms a natural center of the city and is the venue for the most significant events. It was previously named Main Square and Masaryk Square. The last major change took place in 2001 when sales kiosks were removed from the square.