In Ostrava, the reconstruction of the former department store Ostravica-Textilia begins

Ostrava – Reconstruction of the former Ostravica-Textilia department store is beginning in Ostrava. Twenty-two years ago, during renovations after the demolition of load-bearing walls, two floors collapsed and part of the roof caved in. The fashion house then deteriorated for years, changed owners several times, and its usage was sought. Today, the construction site was taken over by a construction company. After repairs worth more than 250 million crowns, a center for the creative industry is to be established at the site, complemented by gastronomic facilities, a music club, or a theater and conference hall. This was announced today to journalists by Jindřich Vaněk, who represents the owners of the building.

The reconstruction is expected to be completed and the new spaces opened by June 2023. Approximately half of the reconstructed area will be designated for the public, including the well-known central atrium with a historic staircase. "In this area, a restaurant, a café, and a music club will be created in the basement. The top floor will also be freely accessible, where a theater and conference hall will be located. The second and third floors will house a creative industry center called Business Boutique Ostravica. It is in these places that laboratories, special studios equipped with 3D reality devices, offices, and shared spaces such as meeting and lecture halls will be found," said Vaněk.

The complex of the former Ostravica-Textilia fashion house consists of three buildings designed by different architects, which were gradually interconnected. The symbolic structure of the entire complex was primarily the corner building with a central staircase in the interior. The current reconstruction will affect two of the three buildings. "The reconstruction of the third building, the former Commercial and Industrial Bank, will be addressed separately. The owners' plan is to return the former bank building to its original state and supplement it with the construction of a new building in the gap on 28. října Street," stated Vaněk. The goal is to connect the ground floor of all buildings with the emerging public space at Dr. E. Beneš Square.

According to Vaněk, the complex is now owned by the joint-stock company Ivančice property. "To date, over 75 million crowns have been invested in the purchase, urgent remediation work, ensuring stability, and design work," said Vaněk. According to the company's representative Michal Kovalčuk, it can be expected that due to the market situation, the reconstruction will ultimately be more expensive than the currently estimated quarter of a billion crowns.

The company intends to document the reconstruction continuously through videos, photos, and other materials that people will find on Facebook and Instagram under the name Business Boutique Ostravica. "Specifically for this purpose, we will be publishing an online Construction Journal on social media, in which people will get acquainted with the history of the reconstruction project, the progress of construction work, and other related topics," said Kovalčuk.