Přerov will approach architects for the reconstruction of the EMOS building

Prerov - The Prerov Town Hall plans to announce an architectural dialogue this autumn for the extensive reconstruction of an older administrative building in TGM Square, which the city purchased this year for nearly 38 million crowns. It intends to relocate about 160 of its officials here, currently scattered across several addresses in the city. The city aims to determine the appearance of the reconstruction of the building known as EMOS with the help of independent commission members consisting of both Czech and foreign architects.

The reasons why the city opted for an architectural dialogue instead of a traditional competition are several, according to Mayor Petr Měřínský. "We want to be involved in the proposal creation, we do not want to just wait to see who suggests what. Based on the competitive dialogue, the city will also be the owner of the copyright. If we only had a competition for the proposal, the owner would be the company that designed it, which sometimes complicates the situation," said the mayor in response to a question from ČTK today.

According to architect Igor Kovačević, who is overseeing the process, the proposal for the reconstruction of the building will be created through dialogue. It will be an open call during which the commission will discuss the participants' proposals. In the end, it will select five teams. The process is expected to take two to three months. Among the independent members of the commission is a representative from the Faculty of Architecture VUT, David Kotek, Slovak architect Vít Halada, Lukáš Blažek from the Olomouc studio Ječmen, and Prague architect Adam Jirkal. "We would like to announce it in the autumn, by early October we should know the names of the studios that will participate in the proposals, and at the beginning of 2021, we should inform who won the competition and how the building will look," stated Kovačević.

The costs of the reconstruction of the dominant building, which currently mars the square, have not yet been specified by the city, but at the council meeting, it was discussed in terms of at least 140 million crowns. "Purchase contracts have been signed and are now at the cadastre. The city will become the majority owner of the building very soon. One floor will remain with the state; we want to expedite the exchange," said Deputy Mayor Michal Zácha (ODS). According to him, the reconstruction will likely be completed in 2022, and the empty buildings left by the relocated officials will then be offered to interested parties.

City officials are currently located at nine different sites in the city. In this building, they occupy one floor; so far, the city has paid 16 million crowns in rent. After the sale of the property to the city, officials will occupy all six floors. The building, which had five owners until now, dates back to the late 1960s and has long been a target of criticism for its appearance, which has disrupted the historical appearance of the central square.