Zlín will begin searching for a contractor for the restoration of the Tomáš Baťa Memorial

František L. Gahura, Tomáš Baťa Memorial, Zlín, 1933

Zlín - In April, Zlín will announce a tender for the contractor to restore the Tomáš Baťa Memorial. This was approved today by the city councilors. The project is divided into three phases, and the city has secured the first phase, having received a grant of 32 million crowns from the Ministry of Culture. Work could begin as early as this year. For the subsequent phases, the city hall will try to obtain European grants; according to the project, the restoration will cost up to 70 million crowns, a sum that may be reduced through the competition.
The building from 1933 is one of the most valuable in the regional city, designed by architect František L. Gahura. The memorial commemorated the founder of the footwear empire, Tomáš Baťa, who died in a plane crash in 1932. In the 1950s, the memorial was remodeled and was used as the House of Art by the Zlín Philharmonic and the regional gallery of fine arts. However, both entities moved to new premises a few years ago, and the building has remained closed.
The city wants to return the building to its original appearance. "It is, as architects say, a house-sculpture. It will be a tribute to the founder of the city, Tomáš Baťa," said Mayor Miroslav Adámek (STAN) to ČTK today. The extensions from the 1950s will be removed. During the reconstruction, iron, concrete, and especially glass will be used, materials with which Gahura worked.
The interior spaces of the memorial will be variable to accommodate various events. An airplane that was a motif of the original exhibition will also be included; an engine from the crashed airplane was also displayed. Adámek is negotiating with companies that could produce a replica of the airplane. The city hall is searching for debris from the crash. "Even a shard of glass from the cockpit or a piece of metal would be interesting. We therefore ask potential owners to contact us," stated Kateřina Pešatová, head of the Department of Culture and Heritage Care.
The building completes the rising park prospect between the Baťa dormitories in the city center. Gahura implemented a typical frame of a production building with a variable floor layout in the structure. Glassed surfaces complement the reinforced concrete skeleton. The lower part of the park prospect, bearing Gahura's name, was reconstructed by the city three years ago, and the open grassy area is primarily used for relaxation by students from the nearby university. This continues a tradition - it was in these places that people met for leisure during the Baťa era.