The book My Baťa House maps the possible modifications of Baťa housing

Zlín - Zlín architect Jitka Ressová has published a book titled My Baťa House, which maps possible adaptations of Baťa housing in the present day. It addresses buildings in Zlín as well as abroad, the spokesman for the Zlín city hall, Zdeněk Dvořák, told ČTK today.
    The houses with gardens and typical brick facades were homes for workers employed in Baťa factories. Baťa wanted his employees not to exhaust themselves commuting to work and ensured they had accommodation as close to the factory as possible. In the Zlín districts of Letná, Podvesná, Zálešná, Nad Ovčírnou, Lazy, and Díly, over two thousand buildings gradually arose, which still give Zlín its characteristic appearance today. The first houses had mansard roofs, while later ones had flat roofs.
    The publication describes 19 reconstructions in clear diagrams and floor plans. The selected projects showcase successful and interesting renovations, according to the architect. "The aim of my work was to look at the issue of individual housing, which has certain limitations both spatially and institutionally, from the perspective of an architect who lives in the city. I concluded that a guide to renovating houses in the urban conservation area is not just about regulations and the ideal typical project that you find on the city’s website. It is more about the individual approach of the architect,” said Ressová.
    The book follows last year's exhibition, during which Ressová presented contemporary adaptations of Baťa houses. The aim was to confront the former intentions of the creators with the new demands and ideas people have for housing today. The main part of the book and the exhibition was dedicated to the conversions of semi-detached houses. A separate chapter is devoted to foreign locations that can be compared to Zlín. The projects are complemented by photographs by Libor Stavjaník, and the appendix includes a DVD with a documentary.