Ostrava invites to EXPO REAL in Munich
EXPO REAL is one of the world’s premier investment events, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from over 70 countries all around the world. This year, Ostrava will again participate as part of the “Czech Cities & Regions” exhibition, held jointly with Prague and the Moravian-Silesian Region.
Joint presentation of Prague, Ostrava and Moravian-Silesian Region. Photo: Krištof Chybík
The city’s presentation will be uniquely attractive, featuring talks by the world-renowned architects Steven Holl and Eva Jiřičná.
Ostrava’s Mayor Jan Dohnal gave more details: “The city has participated in EXPO REAL every year since 2002, with the exception of a two-year gap caused by the recent pandemic. The original concept of individual city presentations has evolved into a more effective format, with cities and regions instead creating joint exhibitions. Ostrava places a strong emphasis on high-quality architecture and ambitious projects, and we are taking coordinated steps to ensure that the city’s future urban development meets excellent standards of quality and functionality. This year’s presentation will be unique thanks to the participation of two renowned architects – Eva Jiřičná and Steven Holl. Both of them are responsible for major new development projects in Ostrava. Steven Holl has designed the new concert hall and the reconstruction of the existing cultural centre, while Eva Jiřičná has been involved in the project to revitalize a high-rise block on Ostrčilova Street.”
Ostrava is currently offering a number of attractive sites for investors. The city has recently invited bids for a large site on Plzeňská Street with an area of 10 000 m² and for Technologická Street, where the new T6 building will expand the current technology park. Call will soon be announced for a site at Opavská Street/Martinovská Street, where an investor will be able to build a hotel and residential blocks. The industrial zone in Mošnov offers strategically located sites right next to an international airport, with excellent access to the highway and railway networks; a number of international companies have already based their operations at the zone. Full details of all the sites on offer can be found at Ostrava’s investment website.
Ostrava has come a long way in recent years, and the city is continuing to prioritize projects located on brownfield sites and vacant lots in central Ostrava. Recent successes include an entirely new quarter in the city centre clustered around the revitalized historic slaughterhouse building, which has been converted into a contemporary art gallery. Work on the Nové Lauby residential complex is also nearing completion, and the new university campus in the central Black Meadow (Černá Louka) district is now open to the public.
On 4 October 2023 at 2 p.m. (stand 430, hall A2), the American architect Steven Holl will present the project to create a new concert hall and revitalize the existing City of Ostrava Cultural Centre. Holl commented on the project’s significance: “I’m delighted that this project, which will leave a legacy for future generations in Ostrava, is finally entering the construction phase after years of planning. Cooperation with everybody involved in the preparations has been perfect, but I’m now also looking forward to working with the construction team, who will turn our vision into a reality. Ostrava’s musical tradition will finally get a venue with perfect acoustics and an inspirational spirit.”
On the following day (5 October 2023 at 2 p.m.), the architect Eva Jiřičná and her colleague Petr Vágner from the AI Design studio will give a talk presenting their project for the revitalization of the high-rise building on Ostrčilova Street. Jiřičná commented: “It’s wonderful that Ostrava is studying the possibilities of preserving buildings from the 1960s and 70s, breathing new life into them instead of demolishing them. It’s not only an attempt to preserve the cultural heritage of that era, but also a way of eliminating the costs of demolition and reducing CO2 production. Most of these buildings are capable of living new lives and meeting modern demands for living spaces.”
EXPO REAL will be held in Munich from 4–6 October 2023. It focuses on the real estate market, investment opportunities, development projects (both residential and commercial), architectural trends, and territorial development. The event regularly attracts large number of developers and investors, development agencies, end users, expert consultants, architects, and representatives of local and national governments. The joint presentation of Prague, Ostrava and the Moravian-Silesian Region (under the banner Czech Cities & Regions) is being held at stand 430 in hall A2. The exhibition space has been designed by the renowned architectural and urban planning studio CHYBIK+KRISTOF ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS s. r. o. The presentation will also feature representatives from the CzechInvest business and investment support agency. Other partners are CTP Invest, spol. s. r. o., GLP PF Czech Republic Management s. r. o., OAMP Holding s. r. o., Panattoni Czech Republic Development s. r. o., Accolade s. r. o., Asental Land s. r. o., CASUA spol. s. r. o. and PRK Partners s. r. o.