WHAT WILL OSTRAVA'S NEW BAZALY LOOK LIKE? THE CITY'S NEXT ARCHITECTURAL GEM WILL BE DESIGNED BY RENOWNED ARCHITECTS
At their second meeting in February, the city council took another symbolic step towards the long journey of creating a new landmark for Ostrava. This followed a jury's deliberation, which carefully reviewed the applications for participation in the architectural competition for the design of the New Bazaly football stadium.
Bazaly Stadium during the times of old glory. Photo: AMO
The next architectural gem of the city will be designed by renowned architects.
Out of three dozen interested parties, ten architectural firms or associations from various countries, including the Czech Republic, will have the opportunity to shape the new architectural masterpiece of the city. The city council adopted a resolution to reduce the number of participants in the competition and decided which applicants will be invited to submit competition proposals. The following administrative process will ideally culminate in the submission of architectural proposals by the end of May this year. After that, the fate of the project will once again be in the hands of the jury and the city council. The final design for the New Bazaly building could be revealed by the end of 2025.
“The construction of the New Bazaly, which we are now involved in and are doing everything to ensure it becomes another unique landmark not only for the region but also across countries, will be left for future generations. While the preparatory process may seem time-consuming to some, it is important to understand that quality architecture belongs in Ostrava; it is essential for the city, and we support it through various projects. Thanks to this architectural competition, we can gain not only an original architectural solution but also ensure that the authors address other essential aspects, including economics, sustainability, energy efficiency, and the flawless operation of the stadium. Although the architectural competition is more time-consuming, the reward for all of us will be an exceptional building that will attract even non-football audiences to the city,” explains Jan Dohnal, Mayor of the City of Ostrava.
The jury of the architectural competition includes renowned architects Valerie Mulvin from Dublin, Derek Wilson from London, András Borbély from Budapest, Martin Bělkovský, working in Brno and Vienna, Martin Tycar from Prague, Tomáš Vymetálek from Hradec Králové, and Tadeáš Goryczka from Ostrava. Other members of the jury include representatives of the city and the football club FC Baník Ostrava. Experts from various specialisations, such as sport, sustainability, fire safety, budget, and statics, were also invited. The jury reviewed the applications for the New Bazaly competition at the end of January after the necessary administrative process. Criteria for evaluating the submitted portfolios included overall urban-architectural quality and relevance to the focus and scope of the competition.
Following the city council's decision, a total of 10 competition teams will be invited to participate. These ten participants will compete in the next phase of the architectural competition, with proposals due by 29 May 2025.
- Fenwick Iribarren Architects,
- gmp International GmbH,
- IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture, S.A.U.
- Populous Holdings (represented by Populous Limited)
- querkraft architekten zt gmbh and RAUM +/RAUMKUNST ZT GmbH,
- Zaha Hadid Limited,
- JKMM Arkkitehdit Oy and SADAR+VUGA d.o.o.,
- L35 Arquitectos S.L.P.,
- Arup International Projects Limited and RSHP Architects Limited, Studio Perspektiv s.r.o.
- OFIS architekti d.o.o.
Architects from various corners of the world, beyond Czech experts, expressed interest in designing the New Bazaly. Participants from cities such as Vienna, London, Katowice, Wrocław, Warsaw, Ljubljana, Sydney, São Paulo, Seoul, and Paris have also shown enthusiasm. Information about the architectural competition was published through Tender Arena at the link https://1url.cz/W1Iwl.
It is worth noting that the city aims to build a new modern football stadium that will meet the standards required for international matches, including hosting the Czech national football team. Additionally, football will return to its historic home. The new stadium will be certified according to the BREEAM standard and will showcase the latest advancements and technologies in sustainability and energy efficiency. The operational solutions and facilities will aim to provide an inclusive football experience for all, regardless of age or disability, with an emphasis on free movement throughout the stadium. The construction will include a museum for the football club, as well as services such as restaurants, fan shops, and tours. The current estimated cost is 2.5 billion CZK. The stadium is planned to have a capacity of approximately 19,500 to 20,000 seated spectators.
Continuously updated information about the events surrounding the New Bazaly project can be found HERE.