Heritage conservationists are unhappy with the height of the planned building in the center of Zlín, which is set to have 16 stories

Zlín - The heritage conservationists do not agree with the plan to build a new high-rise building in the center of Zlín. The main reason is the height of the planned structure, which is to have 16 floors. It would disrupt the skyline of the urban heritage zone of Zlín and threaten the existing landmarks in both near and distant views. This was stated by the Kroměříž office of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) in a press release sent today to ČTK.

According to the plan, the building will house offices, rental apartments, a hotel, and a viewing terrace on the roof. The Prospect project is to be located behind the Zlín department store at the site of an unused bank building. It will cost nearly one billion crowns. "We approach the project with maximum respect for the historical environment of Zlín, we honor public interests, and we understand the entire project as a demonstration of a new direction for the further development of our city. I believe that the common goal of all Zlín residents is for our city not to become a museum but to have a future where people want to live. Therefore, it is necessary to implement this and more similar bold projects that will bring new prospects to Zlín," said Juraj Surovič, the investor of Prospect and the main shareholder of the PSG construction group, to ČTK today.

The project will be approved by the Zlín Department of Culture and Heritage Care, which will request a written expert opinion from the heritage conservationists. So far, the NPÚ has not been asked for it. The heritage conservationists stated that the initial intention was first to be discussed orally with them, and last September, architect Juraj Sonlajtner submitted a request for an initial written consultative opinion on the architectural study of the building. "In the written consultative opinion, the NPÚ reiterated its objections to the height of the building and recommended significant reduction. This demand was not accepted, and further discussions on the intention with the NPÚ did not take place. Currently, it has been presented to the public in unchanged form," said the heritage conservationists.

Sonlajtner told ČTK today that the project has been consulted with the heritage care department from the beginning. "On one hand, there is the NPÚ's request for a reduction in bulk, while on the other hand, other experts in heritage care and urbanism appreciate the urban-generating approach to the new definition of Náměstí Práce and consideration for the scale of buildings along Gahurov Prospect, where the proposal precisely connects to preserved heritage contexts. Height is not the only parameter of the building; assessing it also involves its proportions, expression, and texture. We anticipate intensive collaboration with heritage care authorities, not only from an urbanism and height perspective but also, not least, from the architectural perspective of the project – the detailed solution of a new building that should be exceptional from many points of view. An example is the design of the reflective 'de-materialized' façade," said the architect. The high-rise building will stand 58 meters tall and will be the second tallest structure in the city after the Baťa skyscraper. According to the architect, the dominance of the Baťa skyscraper will remain unambiguous.

The heritage conservationists also stated that the height parameters of the given area are not sufficiently regulated, and unconsidered steps could negatively impact its development and complicate potential protection. "The construction of a building of the proposed dimensions should therefore be preceded by broader professional discussion and the preparation of independently developed and city-approved principles for spatial planning of the entire city of Zlín, with localization of potential high-rise developments and specifying their limits. Principles that would define these limits based on independent assessments have not yet been developed," stated the heritage conservationists.

The building will be situated within the urban heritage zone. "In this area, the protected heritage values include primarily the urban structure, mass composition of the buildings, the zone’s skyline, the landmarks of the settlement, and the compositional relationships of the spaces. The subject of protection also includes distant views, the character, material and color solutions of individual building elements, and constructions. The building is to be located in a space that is very valuable for Zlín. This space was created simultaneously with the development of the Baťa company and is a unique testament to the historical and urban development of the city," said the heritage conservationists. Prospect is to be built at the boundary of Náměstí Práce and Gahurov Prospect. Nearby are the Velké Kino, Interhotel Zlín, the Zlín department store, and the buildings of former Baťa dormitories.

According to the heritage conservationists, it is legitimate for modern buildings to be built even in valuable areas. However, they must respect the protected heritage values and must not threaten them. "The proposed building would significantly alter the skyline of the zone. It would create a new competing structure against the main height landmarks of the affected locality, which are the Baťa skyscraper, the department store, and Interhotel Zlín. The urbanistically valuable harmony of the sloped terrain with the height composition of the buildings, which the existing buildings on Gahurov Prospect and Náměstí Práce respect, would be disrupted, and the proposed building would not fit into it," believe the heritage conservationists.

The Zlín City Architect's office agrees with the intention. The intention was also appreciated by Zlín Mayor Jiří Korec (ANO), who stated that he is pleased that a private investor wants to invest in Zlín.