Brownfields MSK Bohumín Over The Years
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Brownelds MSK
Bohumín Over the Years
Over the past couple years, Bohumín
has experienced many changes and
numerous projects were implemented
into the city’s operation. Could you tell
us more about the key steps you took in
transforming the brownfields?
Over the last 30 years of Bohumín’s
development, many questions were
raised regarding its brownfields. In
2006 we conducted a public poll
regarding large investments and
managed to convince the citizens that
our suite of projects was worthwhile.
The first of these projects was
the reconstruction of the neglected
National House, which maintained its
Art Nouveau style and original function.
Nowadays, the building has become
the center of cultural life and is home
to the city museum. We also revitalised
unused land left behind after a housing
colony in the city center. We turned the
area into 39 parcels for family housing
units and built a relaxation zone
there. Furthermore, we also managed
to save the last remaining group
of eight historical worker’s colony
houses, which had been scheduled for
demolition. After their reconstruction
they now offer 52 modern apartments
with insulation and terraces.
What was your main motive behind
revitalising brownfields rather than
demolishing and replacing them with
new buildings. What benefits does this
provide the local community?
The brownfields in Bohumín were
located in areas with a deep historical
significance, the Art Nouveau National
House is one of the center pieces
of the Bohumín Old Town square,
and the worker’s colony houses,
constructed from unfired brick, are
directly in the center of the Bohumín
New Town. Our intentions to revitalise
these areas were fueled by our desire to
maintain the identity of these locations.
These abandoned and neglected
structures were turned into modern,
sustainable and aesthetically pleasing
environments that still maintain their
historical integrity. We managed
to turn the National House into
one the cultural giants of Bohumín, as
it houses the city museum and hosts
many balls, concerts, city meetings and
ceremonies.
You included local communities in
the process of revitalisation. What was
the reaction to this initiative?
Through the public poll we conducted
in 2006, we found out that this
communication system is something that
works for both us and the citizens. Since
then we have organised many other
similar polls, which served as a way for the
public to express their opinions regarding
our plans with the brownfields. This type
of open communication made turning our
vision into a reality much easier.
Bohumín is a city with a rich history that has recently decided to show some love and revitalise its
abandoned brownelds by conserving their cultural heritage while turning them into modern and
sustainable spaces.
The story of the Naonal House, investments into the unused real-estate by Peter Cingr street
and the transformaon of the Red Colony are all testaments to the city’s bravery and are perfect
examples of how brownelds can be transformed into something enrely new. The revitalisaon
process was not without challenges, however, the eort put into the endeavor bore fruit in the
form of new cultural and living spaces as well as an enhancement of local social life. We spoke to
the vice-mayor of Bohumín, Lumír Macura, about the move behind the changes and what eects
it had on the local community.