New community centre opens in Ostrava Stará Běla

It now features a community room, a zone for mothers with children, and a ceremonial hall. The reconstruction was significantly co-financed by the City of Ostrava.

„The changes are extensive at first glance. After the renovation, Zlatý Jelen closely resembles its original appearance, adorned with an ornamental façade complemented by a decorative 'diamond' pattern," describes Mojmír Krejčíček, mayor of the Stará Bělá district. "On the ground floor, we have created spaces for a senior club, a café, and a children's playroom. As for the second floor, we now have a dignified space for a community hall, where we plan to hold cultural events, wedding ceremonies, and municipal council meetings. The attic space is also utilized as an exhibition area, suitable for displaying historical documents of the district, as well as collections from local associations and residents. We also plan to host various art exhibitions here."

The Zlatý Jelen building dates back to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Over time, a hall was added to the former inn, and during the First Republic, apartments were built on the second floor. In the 1950s, the building housed various shops, services, and a civil defense warehouse. In the early 1990s, it was home to a stationery and toy store, as well as a tool rental service. From 2000 onward, Zlatý Jelen remained unused and fell into disrepair. Eleven months ago, renovation work began, transforming the building into an attractive community hub.

"Before the renovation, a six-month-long project planning phase was required to address typical reconstruction challenges, such as the uncertainty of the original materials and construction techniques. Despite a detailed structural survey we still encountered many technical difficulties during construction. One of the biggest challenges was temporarily protecting the building from water damage during the renovation, ensuring the structural stability of the walls before pouring the new concrete ceiling, and adjusting the staircase to the attic," explained Jiří Hořínek, the project designer and technical supervisor. He added, "A major challenge was recreating the roof truss to closely resemble the original design, as well as reconstructing the decorative façade based on historical postcards and photographs." The entire renovation balances modern technology and materials with historical authenticity, ensuring both functionality and user comfort.

Following the renovation, the building meets modern accessibility standards, including barrier-free access to all floors, ample storage areas, and facilities for café staff. The installation of an air ventilation and air conditioning system ensures comfortable use even in hot summer months. The historic façade contrasts with the modern metal cladding of the stairwell in the courtyard, seamlessly blending the historical significance of this landmark with contemporary minimalist architecture. "I believe we all owe thanks to the hard work of the construction manager, the courage of the district leadership, and the skilled hands of the stucco artisans," Jiří Hořínek concluded.

The total cost of the renovation, including the interior furnishings of the center, amounted to 61 million CZK; 14 million CZK was covered by a grant from the State Investment Support Fund as part of the "Brownfields" program. As Deputy Mayor of Ostrava Aleš Boháč noted, the City of Ostrava contributed 17.15 million CZK:

"The City of Ostrava welcomes the revival of historic buildings with strong local traditions, as they enhance the city's overall aesthetic and provide benefits to the community. That is why we chose to financially support the establishment of a community center in the well-known Zlatý Jelen building. This project serves a dual purpose: it revitalizes cultural and social life in the district while also 'bringing back to life' an old building that is part of its identity."

The remaining 29.5 million CZK was funded from the budget of the Stará Bělá district.