The Ostrava footbridge will bear the name of the writer Jan Balabán

Ostrava - The footbridge connecting the Lower Vítkovice Area with Silesian Ostrava will be named the Jan Balabán Footbridge. The name refers to the writer, screenwriter, and translator Balabán, whose life and work are associated with the Moravian-Silesian metropolis. This was decided by the city councilors at their meeting today.

"Naming the footbridge after Jan Balabán, an unmistakable figure in Czech literature, is an expression of our respect for an author who found a home and inspiration in Ostrava. It can also be understood on another, symbolic level. It would be very desirable for us, in today's times marked by so many societal and interpersonal divisions, to remember that just as the footbridge connects opposite banks, a good book, a passion for reading, and a relationship with literature can connect different people,” stated Mayor Jan Dohnal (Together).

The proposal to name the footbridge was submitted by the executive director of the Lower Vítkovice Area, Renata Červená, who initially suggested the name Balabán's Footbridge. The proposal was supported by the bridge's designer, architect Josef Pleskot, and entrepreneur Jan Světlík, who is associated with the transformation of Lower Vítkovice into an industrial area. The city ultimately recommended the name Jan Balabán Footbridge, as it seemed more dignified and included the author's full name. The name of the footbridge will be recorded in the Register of Territorial Identification, Addresses and Real Estate (RUIAN), which will allow its depiction on digital maps.

"Jan Balabán is indeed a native of Šumperk; however, he spent almost his entire life in Ostrava, which is also reflected in his books. He achieved many significant successes in the literary field and especially reached a large number of readers with his profound works,” stated Deputy Mayor Lucie Baránková Vilamová (YES). Part of the 140-meter-long footbridge's construction will also include an artistically crafted metal plate with the title of the footbridge, including a QR code linking to detailed information. The city expects that the plate could be placed on the footbridge next year.

Balabán was born in 1961 in Šumperk, where he spent a year of his life, then lived in Ostrava. His literary work is characterized by the style of existential short stories, and many of his prose pieces draw from the Ostrava environment. Balabán's short story collection Maybe We Are Leaving, nominated for the State Literary Prize 2004, became Book of the Year 2004 and, a year later, received the Magnesia Litera award in the prose category. His novel Ask Dad also achieved great success. It became Book of the Year 2010 and won the Book of the Year award at the Magnesia Litera 2011. Balabán passed away in 2010.