The former fashion house Ostravica-Textilia will have the appearance of the 1930s

Ostrava - The facade of the former department store Ostravica-Textilia in downtown Ostrava will eventually return to its original appearance from the 1930s. The reconstructed building was supposed to have a slatted facade, but the investor ultimately decided to abandon it. This was announced to reporters today by the media representative of the investor, Jindřich Vaněk.

"During the reconstruction, it became apparent that due to the technical condition of the exteriors, the installation of the slats would require rough interventions into the original masonry. At the same time, demolition work revealed extensive occurrences of woodworm. The most important elements of the roof structure were infected, which had to be removed. This opened up the possibility to modernize the building in a different, more efficient way, and create two new floors in the form of a glass extension,” said Vaněk.

According to him, the investor decided to abandon the original design after a technology was found that allows the building to regain its appearance from the 1930s. "Thanks to the craftsmanship of the plasterers, it will include decorative elements typical of the period when the building was in its prime architectural condition and also experiencing golden economic times,” Vaněk said.

A novelty will also be the glass extension. This will create two new floors in the corner part of the complex. "The glass extension, or the ovoid structure, will be set back from the outer surface of the facade, so it will not cover the entire roof area. This was recommended by the heritage authorities, and at the same time, it is a common procedure for resolving extensions of this type. The corner building, supplemented by two new floors, will ultimately be somewhat lower than it was before the reconstruction,” Vaněk pointed out.

He added that the investor has the necessary permits for the new appearance of the building, having obtained a new zoning decision at the end of April. "At this moment, the permit for changes to the building before completion is being processed. Work on these changes has not yet begun; construction work that was already approved in previously issued building permits is still ongoing,” said Vaněk. Due to the changes and the extensive occurrence of woodworm, the renovation will be extended by about a quarter of a year. The occupancy permit for the building, which began last April, is expected to start in the fall.

"Obtaining the original decor's appearance meant examining the preserved remnants of the facade, period photos of Ostravica-Textilia, and historical buildings in Ostrava. This almost detective work was undertaken by the main author of both the previous and current design, architect Martin Náhlovský from the Master Design studio,” said Vaněk.

This week, installation of the structures for the glass skylight is also beginning, through which daylight will flow into Ostravica. The original metal skylight will be dismantled. Insulation of the building is complete, and the plastering company will begin work on the facade in June.

The reconstructed building, under the new brand Boutique Business Incubator Ostravica (BBIO), will provide space for creators, creatives, and startups. It will include offices and facilities for individuals and large companies, shared workspaces, acoustic laboratories, including a fully equipped recording and podcast studio. On the ground floor, there will be a restaurant with a café opening towards Dr. E. Beneš Square. The basement will accommodate a club for hosting cultural and social events.