Love at First Sight and a Rebirth Through Heart (2. strana)
Love at First Sight and a Rebirth Through Heart, Soul and Hard Work
www.posiv.cz ǀ 13
BUSINESS INTERVIEW
Did you experience any major challenges
throughout the reconstruction?
There were at least a million of them. We
often thought that we had finally reached
an impassable roadblock, however, we
either bypassed the problem, skipped
over it, dug under it. We did whatever it
took and always found a way forward in
the end.
Other than spearheading the
reconstruction, you are also the
organiser of the Beskydy seven (B7) race.
What is the significance of this race?
B7 is primarily aimed at the general
population. Even though the event is
practically exclusively won by professionals,
the main purpose of the race is to allow
any amateur to prove to themselves what
they are capable of. It motivates people
to improve their physical conditioning
and helps them improve their lifestyles.
Some participants join but do not manage
to finish, which then motivates them to
improve for next year.
How many people manage
to finish the race?
In the beginning, the success rate was
around two thirds. One thousand out
of a total of three thousand participants
did not manage to finish. Today the DNF
numbers are trending downwards, and
the last couple years saw only around
550 participants not complete the race.
Going back to the sawmill
reconstruction, is your family supportive
of the project?
The situation at home is not easy.
I constantly have to explain why we are
still driving our old car and why we do not
have a new kitchen yet. My family has to
tolerate all of our money going into this
project, however, I do believe that it will be
worthwhile.
How was the sawmill’s reconstruction
and repurposing received by the locals
and wider public?
I think that one day the reconstructed
sawmill will become a point of pride for
locals. Of course, there are some that look
back on the old sawmill with nostalgia
and view its renovation in a negative light.
However, most people are happy to see
life being brought back into the structure
and look forward to having a new sports
and community venue.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now, we are focused on finishing
the reconstruction of the large hall and
getting all of the paperwork in order. We
would like to be done with the bulk of the
work in 2025, and all that would be left
are details such as designing the reception
and acquiring technical equipment.
The next project on my agenda is the
reconstruction of three silos. The middle
silo will feature a climbing wall with a spiral
staircase snaking up the structure from
the outside. The staircase will also have
viewing ports through which you will be
able to follow climbers as they make their
way up. A viewing platform with a coffee
shop will be placed at the very top, which
will make the whole complex even more
attractive for visitors.
We would also like to pay tribute to the
original purpose of the sawmill. We
sourced a 4 meter log, made a cut part way
through it and displayed it by the sawmill
as a reminder of the building’s roots. We
plan to host more such exhibitions and
open doors events for the public, so that
people can get a better idea of how the
sawmill used to operate. We would also
like to display another lumber saw in the
outdoor part of the complex.
The large basement also has a lot of
potential. We decided to use this space for
an airsoft shooting range. Low ceilings also
create an ideal atmosphere for an escape
game. It’s theme will be centered around
the sawmill’s rich history and will feature
wooden puzzles that will add a layer of
logical challenge.
We also plan to incorporate some relaxation
facilities. The complex will feature a sauna,
as it is a popular recreational tool after
exercise, and to complete our wellness
area we are also planning to construct
a cooling pool for visitors.
Thank you for the interview.
Katr ve WOODARÉNA OSTRAVICE