Initiative calls for the rescue of Pardubice mills for the public

Pardubice - The automatic mills in Pardubice, designed by architect Josef Gočár and which have ceased production, should not become an area closed off to the public in the future. This is urged by the independent initiative "Mills to the City!", which recently emerged in the city. They wish to involve the town hall and the public in the debate, even at the national level, the representatives of the initiative told journalists today.
     "This is not a petition or some kind of pressure action, but a call for discussion about the future of the automatic mills," said František Václavík.
     The automatic mills, also called the Winternitz mills by the original owners, were established between 1910 and 1925 and are one of the city's landmarks. The building, inspired by Anglo-Saxon architecture, is characterized by rough masonry of dark and light bricks. During the First Republic, a space created a connection between the silo and the left wing with a brick arch, and some parts were decorated with a cornice resembling a castle battlement. In the 1960s, a four-story extension that tried to respect the original building was added to the left wing. There are also other buildings on the premises that do not fit the architectural concept. The mills are currently owned by GoodMills Česko, which is part of an Austrian conglomerate.
     According to architect Ondřej Teplý, it is necessary to lead a discussion about the fate and use of the protected building now to prevent its deterioration. He pointed out other significant industrial sites that disappeared after production ceased and were sold, such as the Prokop factory. As an example of insensitive reconstruction, Teplý mentioned the Grand hotel designed by Gočár, and for a dilapidated site, he mentioned the former Tesla building.
     Activists are primarily concerned about the public use of the mills. "We want them to become a public space, not a brownfield," said Šárka Zahálková.
     According to the initiative, there are several options for saving the premises. The city could buy it, which would not have to use it itself, an "enlightened" private investor could take it on, or it could become the subject of a so-called PPP project, where the public sector and private capital would collaborate. Revitalization could also be aided by grants from European funds.
     For May and June, the Pardubice Theatre 29 is preparing a series of cultural events at the site. Among them will be, for example, the musical performance "Theatre Gočár," written by Miloš Orson Štědroň, concerts, and seminars.