The transformation of the site after the Přerov Machine Engineer will be designed by five teams of architects

Přerov - The transformation of a large area near the center of Přerov, which will be freed up after the demolition of the Strojař hotel building, will be sought by five architectural teams. They have joined the competitive dialogue announced by the city hall. The nine-story panel building will be demolished by a contracted company next year, with the city expecting the demolition to cost 35 million crowns. It is to be replaced by a modern residential building, with construction on the greenfield site possibly starting within five years, said city hall spokeswoman Lenka Chalupová to ČTK. The fate of the Strojař has occupied two successive city administrations.

"We have initiated a competitive dialogue aimed at finding innovative and quality solutions for the construction of a residential building. It can become a gem of this attractive location, which also includes the new Tyrš Bridge, which has received numerous awards," stated Mayor Petr Vrána (ANO).

The transformation of the site will be overseen by a jury with international participation, which has selected five architectural teams. These include Atelier gram, known in Přerov for the ongoing reconstruction of the town hall building, the studio from Prague and České Budějovice named Malý Chmel, and the Austrian office GABU Heindl Architecture Urbanism, which has experience with contemporary participatory and sustainable projects in urban environments. "GUTGUT was also selected - a renowned Slovak studio with an ecological and creative approach. The group of five teams is completed by Almannai Fischer & Svobodová Blaha, a German-Czech association that combines experience from both the international and local scenes," noted Igor Kovačević from CCEA MOBA, which has become the external administrator of the contract.

The architectural teams must submit their proposals for the transformation of the site by February 21 of next year. The city will pay each team a so-called sketch fee of 440,000 crowns, added Deputy Mayor Tomáš Navrátil (ANO). The proposals will be evaluated by a jury composed of representatives of the city and experts with experience from the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, or Poland.

The Strojař panel building, which has 144 housing units, was built in 1968 on Velká Dlážka as a dormitory for employees of the Přerov engineering works. In 2000, it was acquired by the army, which housed its soldiers from a nearby helicopter base there. In 2016, the city of Přerov purchased the Strojař for 42.5 million crowns out of concern for the establishment of a social lodging house. The fate of the nine-story panel building has already engaged two city administrations, with all previous plans ending in financial fiascos.