The Ostrava Gallery Plato is surrounded by a city garden

Ostrava - The area around the contemporary art gallery Plato, which recently moved to the renovated space of the former slaughterhouse in the center of Ostrava, is surrounded by a city garden. The revitalization of the public space, which began in April, is now structurally completed. The costs for the landscaping around the gallery exceeded 44 million crowns excluding VAT. Gabriela Pokorná, spokesperson for the city council, informed journalists today.

"Currently, the space is being inspected for occupancy. The new public space of the Plato gallery will offer a pleasant place for residents and visitors of Ostrava to spend their free time. The public space, adorned with a substantial amount of greenery, will reveal its full beauty next spring when the newly planted areas will not only turn green but gradually begin to bloom,” stated Pokorná.

The current layout of the space was inspired by the original arrangement of the buildings that were subsequently demolished, leaving behind only an uneven terrain with various surfaces. This served as the basis for dividing the outdoor space, as well as the current paths and sidewalks. The area has been enriched with an abundance of greenery in the form of lawns, wild and medicinal herbs, shrubs, and trees. In the midst of the greenery, there is also a pond with aquatic plants. Two underground retention tanks will collect rainwater from the roof of the gallery building, which will then be used for irrigation. Historical slag cobblestones found during excavation work around the slaughterhouse have also been incorporated into the space. The area also includes five parking spots and two drinking fountains.

"The revitalization of the public space around the slaughterhouse is a significant part of the transformation of the entire locality; on one hand, there is the PLATO gallery 'outdoors', a space for artistic interventions in public areas, while on the other hand, it offers a city garden or park for the residents of the surrounding buildings, as well as a background for future development," said Deputy Mayor Zuzana Bajgarová (ANO).

According to the spokesperson, the city continues to develop the area further. Currently, the extension of Masná Street is under construction, which will enable the connection between Janáčkova and Stodolní Streets. The work began in August, and the completion of this construction is planned for December.