Developers, architects, and designers have established an association in Olomouc

Olomouc – Some developers, investors, project designers, and architects from Olomouc have joined forces to create the Association of Olomouc Architects and Builders (SOAAS), which aims to communicate with the city council regarding urban planning and regional development. The association has 13 founding members, including developer Richard Morávek, co-owner of TESCO SW Josef Tesařík, and director of Hanácká Real Estate Office Petr Korytar.

"Our ambition is to become a partner to the city of Olomouc. We offer our many years of experience in the everyday practice of preparing and implementing various investment and construction projects, and not only that. We are ready to provide expert opinions and views that the city leadership could take into account in the context of, for example, improving the urban planning process and the general development of the area," said Pavel Vrba, chairman of the SOASS board, to ČTK today.

The preparation for the establishment of the association began a year ago, initiated by Radim Kašpar, director of the Olomouc District Chamber of Commerce. "In the first phase, I tried to reach out to practitioners, people whose work has visible results. We found a number of common topics," Kašpar stated, according to whom the chamber is supposed to help entrepreneurs.

The association has already launched a website, where it presents its activities and members. "Relevant news, studies, invitations to various events, examples of best practices from abroad, including regarding the symbiosis of protected heritage sites with modern architecture, will be published here regularly," the association stated.

For example, businessman Morávek is gradually building a new district called Šantovka in Olomouc, which includes a shopping center of the same name. The controversial skyscraper Šantovka Tower is also set to be built. Its construction has been discussed in Olomouc for years. Heritage conservationists and some experts oppose it, claiming that the skyscraper would damage the historical panorama of the city, as it is to be built in the protected zone of the heritage reserve. The investor claims the opposite.

A court recently granted a suspensive effect to the lawsuit against the zoning decision for the construction of Šantovka Tower. The building permit process cannot be initiated yet. The court favored former ombudswoman Anna Šabatová, who filed a lawsuit against the Olomouc city hall.