People in Ostrava could see the renovated Gasometer for the first time

Ostrava - Today, the Lower Vítkovice area in Ostrava found itself literally surrounded by Ostravans and other visitors. The largest Czech brownfield and national cultural monument was opened to the public on the occasion of the open house of the engineering holding Vítkovice Machinery Group, said its spokesperson Eva Kijonková to ČTK. People thus had a unique opportunity to visit the Gas Holder, which is currently being transformed into a multifunctional center for more than 1500 people.
    "It was nice to meet people who worked on the site back when the Gas Holder was operational, and they did not hide their surprise at what the object is becoming. It will officially open to the public sometime in the fall, but we wanted to give people a unique opportunity to see the future behind the scenes and the technical background of the educational center, which they will no longer have the chance to see," Kijonková stated.
    The transformation of the Gas Holder is led by architect Josef Pleskot. According to his design, the original steel structure of the Gas Holder was preserved to ensure that the historical value of the former gas storage facility remains intact. Light will enter the building from above through a glass dome; additionally, one quarter of the outer shell has been cut out and replaced with glass. There is also a glazed view of Blast Furnace No. 1, which was opened to tourists some time ago.
    "I hope that people are surprised and perhaps positively so. They approach me and say they are incredibly happy. I tell everyone that this is just the beginning, but even what is here today means a lot for Ostrava, Vítkovice, and I would say the whole republic," Pleskot told ČTK, who came to see the transformation of the building today.
    The construction of the Gas Holder began in the second half of November 1922 and was completed at the end of January 1924. Until 1945, the Gas Holder operated without any serious malfunctions, although it had begun to lean due to undermined ground. At the end of World War II, it was struck by an aerial bomb that lay at its bottom until 1970. During its operation, two extensive repairs and one major overhaul were completed, and the facility functioned until 1998. Last January, the sunken bell of the emptied Gas Holder was raised by 1492 centimeters.
    "Since the discovery of America in 1492, this number is symbolic. For us, it symbolizes the discovery of new possibilities for technical unique projects, for the revival of the Lower Vítkovice area," said Petr Koudela, director of the Lower Vítkovice association.
    In addition to the tour of the Gas Holder, the so-called Ostrava metro ride was a major attraction for visitors. Using decommissioned cars from the Prague metro, visitors could tour Ostrava on the normally inaccessible railway tracks. "The interest from people this year is enormous, definitely the most of all the years, which pleasantly surprised me," said Pavel Koláček to ČTK, who, along with colleagues, was responsible for the metro's operation.