Ostrava Architecture Studio will be temporarily led by Václav Palička

Ostrava - The newly established City Studio for Spatial Planning and Architecture (MAPPA) in Ostrava will be temporarily led by Václav Palička, head of the strategic development department at the city hall. The city council made this decision. Mayor Tomáš Macura (ANO) informed the representatives at today's meeting. The studio aims to help develop quality architecture and urban planning in the city.

The new city organization is set to start its activities as early as July, which is why it was necessary for someone to take the lead, according to the mayor. A selection process is currently underway to fill this position, and the city has agreed with Palička that he will step down from his temporary role once the process is complete and a director is chosen.

Interested candidates for the position could apply until last week, and according to Macura, the city hall received ten applications.

The Ostrava studio is intended to be similar to institutions that operate in cities such as Vienna and Helsinki, as well as in some large Czech cities - Brno, Prague, or Karlovy Vary. The representatives approved its establishment in March despite opposition criticism. The opposition pointed out that the establishment of the studio was not adequately prepared and discussed within a broader political spectrum.

The new head of the institution, which the city is currently selecting, will be responsible for its staffing and the presentation of the studio's activities. Their task will also include communication with the public.

This year's budget for the institution will be ten million crowns, and next year it will increase to twenty million crowns. By 2020, it is expected that the studio will employ a team of fifteen members.