The scientific library in the Lower Vítkovice area would be more expensive than the Black Cube

We would like to inform the public about new information and confirmations regarding the correctness of our previous warnings concerning the planned construction of the Moravian-Silesian Scientific Library, specifically the controversial intention to place the scientific library in the Lower Area of Vitkovice.
We have familiarized ourselves with the volumetric architectural-urban study, prepared in March 2015 (based on a commission from the Lower Area of Vitkovice - an interest association of legal entities, largely funded by the MS region), as well as other circumstances of the preparation. At the same time, we have received responses to letters requesting information under Act No. 106/1999 Coll. from Minister of Culture Daniel Herman, the General Director of the National Heritage Institute, Naděžda Goryczková, and the Ministry for Regional Development. Based on the above, we state that the justifications we hear in this respect do not correspond to reality:

1) The library in DOV cannot be financed from European funds
(We requested a statement under 106 from the Ministry for Regional Development, quoting from the response dated 10.2.2016: “MMR holds the position that the construction of a library in DOV cannot be supported from IROP.”)

2) The library in DOV will not be cheaper or more economical than the Black Cube, whose project arose from a regular architectural competition and is prepared for implementation. On the contrary, it will be more expensive, which we can substantiate based on a COMPARISON OF VOLUMETRIC BALANCES AND FINANCIAL COSTS, which we are happy to provide to interested parties.

3) In the case of constructing the library in DOV, according to the architectural-urban study from March 2015, another part of the National Cultural Monument will be demolished and the dominant feature of the so-called Ostrava Hradčany will be disrupted. The General Director of the National Heritage Institute, Naděžda Goryczková, stated that the project for a larger intervention into part of the totality of the blast furnaces with the construction of three buildings placed similarly to the current volumetric architectural-urban study was discussed on 12.6.2013 by the Scientific Council of the General Director of the National Heritage Institute and this intention was NOT recommended by the scientific council in 2013.

4) The library project in the Lower Area of Vitkovice does not arise from an architectural competition - thus it is not in accordance with the State Architecture Policy and the Public Procurement Act.
Minister of Culture Daniel Herman stated in his statement that the decision to build a scientific library without an architectural competition is fully in the competence of the regional office and the Ministry of Culture has no authority to intervene in these processes. Nevertheless, in September 2015 at a press conference, he publicly supported the construction of a scientific library in the Lower Area of Vitkovice without an architectural competition. We are convinced that the Minister of Culture should actively defend the state document, the Architecture Policy and Architectural Competitions, especially when it concerns a significant public building for which the Ministry of Culture will probably contribute to its financing. We would like to point out the fact that none of the regional libraries in the Czech Republic have been realized without an architectural competition since 1990, and the Moravian-Silesian Region would gain an infamous precedent in this regard.

5) The accessibility of the library in DOV for the public would be incomparably worse than that of the so-called Black Cube. The Black Cube is situated on a significant urban street, 28th October, connected to the public transport stop, furthermore on city land, while the library in DOV would be located in the private area of the company Vitkovice a.s. It is also undeniable that problem-free public access is a guarantee of optimal and successful operation of any library.

We are therefore concerned about the fact that there is no relevant discussion regarding the change of location for the library and its preparation. On the contrary, we are witnessing its promotion through one-sided arguments, which we believe to be extremely unfortunate. That is why we are entering the discussion and putting things straight. We, along with the broader Ostrava public, would welcome the opportunity to jointly advocate for a reasonable continuation of the steps leading to the realization of the library project – the Black Cube.
We are convinced that the so-called Black Cube can be built – given the completed and prepared project – more reasonably, economically, simply, and several years earlier than the library in the Lower Area of Vitkovice, without complicated negotiations, purchasing private land, demolishing part of the blast furnaces - a national cultural monument, without building access roads including utility networks, and so forth. The new construction of the Black Cube would also significantly contribute to the consolidation of the development along the main citywide street, 28th October, and would create an important cultural ensemble with the opposite Cultural House of the City of Ostrava. We would also like to point out the fact that the intention to build a scientific library in the Lower Area of Vitkovice contradicts the pre-election goal of political parties to advocate for the revitalization of the deteriorating center of the main regional city. At the same time, this intention contradicts the opinion of the citizens of the Moravian-Silesian Region, as repeatedly expressed in several independent media surveys.