From Exhibition Grounds to the City’s Living Heart Černá Louka Through the Eyes of Jan Šumbera
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LEADER
During the MAPPA urban study proposals for Černá
louka, many compelling ideas have emerged. Is there
a particular element that has become especially dear
to you? What are you most looking forward to seeing
realised?
Together with Silesian-Ostrava Castle, Černá louka
has a unique chance to serve as the city’s green heart
– where, with only a touch of exaggeration, you can
step straight from Masaryk Square into a park to relax,
enjoy an event or exhibition, or attend a conference.
What I am truly excited about – and where I see a huge
opportunity for Ostrava – is the revitalisation of the
former Strassmann Brewery’s fermenting house (spilka).
Parts of the complex would see the return of a brewery,
a new restaurant, and, in the “attic”, a stunning hall for
roughly 200–300 people. The fermenting house would
also be connected to a modern hotel building. We plan
to relocate parking underground. The cherry on top
is a rooftop hotel bar. It’s a major project: a feasibility
architectural study already exists, followed, I hope,
by an architectural competition – and then, I believe,
an investor will emerge to make it a reality. Ostrava
definitely deserves projects like this, and it also needs
this kind of capacity.
Which specific project, exhibition or event are you
personally most looking forward to now?
At the moment, we are finalising preparations for
the autumn events and for Ostrava Christmas,
both at Silesian-Ostrava Castle and at Černá louka.
I believe this year’s edition will be even more polished.
And right after the New Year, on 20
th
February,
the aforementioned Book Festival kicks off. That’s
my slightly grown-up “baby”, which I’m very fond of.
Thank you for the interview.
What I am truly excited about is the
revitalisaon of the former Strassmann
Brewery’s fermenng house.