Zlín announced a competition for the restoration of the Svobody orchard in the center of the regional city

Zlín - The city of Zlín has announced an open landscape-architectural competition for the restoration of the Svobody orchard. The planned investment, aimed at transforming a 3.7-hectare area in the city center, is estimated at 70 million crowns excluding VAT, said Tomáš Melzer, spokesperson for the Zlín city hall, to ČTK today.

Proposals can be submitted until November 15th. The winner will be decided by the end of the year by a panel of experts composed of landscape architects, architects, and city representatives. According to Zlín Mayor Jiří Korec (ANO), the restoration of the Svobody orchard is a high priority for the city. "The public competition just launched concerns one of the oldest parts of the city, dominated by the castle with the symbolic house number 1. The competitors will focus on the surroundings of the castle, but also on the currently unrefurbished section of Soudní Street and a pair of underpasses leading to the bus station. They should incorporate connections to significant points in the park's immediate vicinity, such as the bus station or the recently revitalized marketplace," Korec stated. The restoration will also include modifications to the sidewalks and grassy areas in the park, new lighting, and furnishings. The area around the castle should be modified to facilitate the organization of cultural events.

The Svobody orchard is listed as a cultural heritage site along with the castle, and it contains valuable trees that should be preserved. "Therefore, the competitors do not have completely free rein, and their proposals should be sufficiently sensitive," the mayor added.

The history of the Svobody orchard is closely linked to the castle. In 1804, Count Klaudius Breton acquired the castle and the surrounding park covering three hectares. He landscaped the park, which is today's Svobody orchard, in the English style. In 1860, the castle was purchased by the Brno manufacturer Leopold Haupt, who opened the park to the public for the first time, but only during significant events. The estate included a manor courtyard, now known as Komenského Park, a brewery later converted into a courthouse, and other agricultural buildings.

Fundamental urban changes occurred after 1929 when Tomáš Baťa purchased the castle along with the adjacent buildings. "The industrialist had the enclosing walls demolished and made the entire park accessible for people to relax. Today, the park continues to be one of the sought-after places for relaxation, where two ponds once existed," said Jindřich Nový, the director of the Zlín City Architect's Office.