EDITORIAL BOARD

Because OSTRAVA

Deserves It

Being part of the editorial board of

POSITIV Business & Style magazine is

a great honour and a challenge for me. The

relationship between local governments

and entrepreneurs is very important and

every mayor should respect all private

entrepreneurs who do business in the

municipality and employ local citizens.

Many entrepreneurs are also the shapers

of the image of towns and villages. We

know the example of Tomáš Baťa and Zlín

from the past. By the way, Tomáš Baťa was

also the mayor of Zlín from 1923–1932.

That is why I see the connection between

municipal politics, architecture, urban

planning and entrepreneurship as a very

important synergy for the future and

development of our region.

Architecture has been with me basically since

childhood. I decided to study architecture at

the age of ten, and the main credit for that

goes to my uncle, who was a fan of modern

architecture and had a lot of books about it.

I used to flip through them every time I visited.

That‘s how I fell in love with architecture.

I basically developed an addiction.

I studied architecture at the Czech Technical

University in Prague and worked on my

diploma project under the guidance of

the first lady of Czech architecture, Alena

Šrámková. When we parted, she said to me,

‘You should go back to Moravia and try to

educate them about architecture—don't let

there be "stupid barracks"’, so I went.

After school, I worked in several architectural

studios in Ostrava (OSA projekt,

PROJEKTSTUDIO, Ranný Architects, ARS

Vítkovice) and Ostrava grew close to my

heart. I worked in Vítkovice for seven years

and participated in the transformation of the

area of Dolní Vítkovice. This steel city is simply

unique, something nobody else has, with at

least three exclamation marks!!! Working on

many projects has been a unique experience

that some architects don‘t get to experience

in a lifetime. I was lucky enough to meet the

architects Josef Pleskot and Jan Světlík, who

brought the whole area of Dolní Vítkovice to

life in a unique way.

Destiny then took me to the City of

Ostrava to work as a planning officer in

the Department of the Chief Architect

of the City of Ostrava. However, my

main job was to organise architectural

competitions for the city of Ostrava.

That‘s where I found myself. I participated

in the organisation of two conceptual

competitions for the public space in front

of the Gallery of Fine Arts of Ostrava and

in front of the Cathedral of Msgr. Šrámek.

Furthermore, there was a competition for

a new residential building in the centre

of Ostrava at the crossing of Kostelní

and Biskupská streets. I most warmly

remember the architectural and urban

planning competition for the Ostrava

concert hall. It is an experience that will

stay with me for a lifetime. We managed

to organise an international competition

in which renowned architectural studios

from all over the world took part. The

winner was the world-renowned architect

Steven Holl, and I see this as one of the

most important projects for Ostrava ever.

I hope Ostrava succeeds in bringing this

project to life because Ostrava deserves it.

Our region is beautiful and quality;

cutting-edge architecture

can take it even further. I will always

fight for it.

By a series of many coincidences, I became

the mayor of Příbor in 2018 and so began

the next stage of my life. As mayor, I use all

the experience I have gained so far in my

work experience. I try to raise awareness

of architecture among other cities. I reach

out to mayors not to be afraid of modern

architecture and I have participated in

many juries and competitions related to

architecture and urban architects. I also try

to have discussions with conservationists,

because every period of our history needs

to be imprinted on the face of our cities

and only time will tell whether this imprint

will be essential or not. I am an optimist

in this matter and am ready to share my

experience with every person who is

interested. Our region is beautiful and

quality; cutting-edge architecture can take

it even further. I will always fight for it.

Ing. arch. Jan Malík, Mayor of Příbor

POSITIV 1/2022 ǀ 7