Brno has announced a tender for the position of director of the architect's office

Former mayor's deputy Robert Kotzian (ODS) from the Brno+ association considers it unacceptable for the office director to lack education in architecture and urbanism. "It is even permissible to have only a high school education in any field. Such a demanding position requires much higher standards," Kotzian emphasized, suspecting Ander of wanting to appoint someone from his acquaintances to the position.

But Ander disagrees. "We don't want to exclude applicants due to non-fulfillment of formal requirements. We are looking for an experienced manager with years of experience in a leadership position who would build the entire institution of the architect's office. A suitable candidate will be selected by an experienced committee, which is why we have set the requirements so low," said Ander. The mayor of Brno, Petr Vokřál (ANO), also condemned Kotzian's accusation, stating that it is beneath dignity.

The director will be selected by a professional committee, which, according to Ander, will also include experts from abroad. "It will include the director of the planning department of Vienna, Thomas Madreiter, the head of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development, Petr Hlaváček, or independent expert in urbanism and architecture, Adam Gebrian, who won the prestigious Architect of the Year award last year," added Ander. The committee will recommend a candidate to the city council, which will make the final decision.

After the selection of the new director, there will be selection procedures for other employees, allowing the office to start working in the summer or fall. According to Ander, the main task will be working on the new Brno spatial plan and preparing the concept for public spaces in Brno.

The establishment of the architect's office was approved by Brno councilors last December, stating that the new organization should have up to 15 employees and a projected contribution from the city budget of around 15 million crowns per year.

In the past, Brno had an office of the chief architect, which, according to Ander, was abolished by the city in 2003 through organizational changes. Instead, a department of spatial planning and development was created, which still operates at the magistrate today. However, according to Ander, the officials are overwhelmed, and therefore the architect's office will alleviate their workload. While the office will create the spatial plan or oversee the quality of buildings, the department officials will handle administrative matters, such as building permit applications or the process of discussing the spatial plan once it is devised by the architect's office.

Brno has been guided by a spatial plan that is more than 20 years old, which no longer meets the needs of the city. The city council approved a major update to the document two years ago, but the regional court canceled it due to the unreviewable nature of some decisions.

> https://www.brno.cz/obcan/volnamistaavyberovarizeni/vyberova-rizeni-na-funkce-reditelu-prispevkovych-organizaci/