The Ostrava New Town Hall is 95 years old, according to the mayor, it is a timeless building

Ostrava - Even 95 years after its opening, the new town hall in Ostrava serves its purpose well. Jan Dohnal (Together), the mayor, stated this to ČTK, considering the building timeless. The largest town hall complex in the Czech Republic was officially opened on October 28, 1930. Last year, the architectural landmark of Ostrava was listed as a national cultural monument.

The new town hall is a popular tourist attraction. At least twice a year, the city holds open days where people can explore otherwise non-public spaces like the mayor's office, the council chamber, or the assembly hall.

The mayor's office is the original space. It has been used not only for official duties but also for filming. "The office has its genius loci, and working in it is certainly an honor for anyone who has had this opportunity. I value it; it is simply different than having a modern office," Dohnal remarked.

He added that although the building is celebrating a significant anniversary, it is a timeless structure. "It serves its purpose and meets the function for which it was created. So we have representative spaces, we are proud of them, and I believe they will be here for a long time," the mayor pointed out.

The new town hall was built from 1925 to 1930 based on a joint project by the Brno architect Vladimír Fischer and the Ostrava builders František Kolář and Jan Rubý. The interiors were designed by Ostrava architect Karel Kotas. The construction costs exceeded 50 million crowns, which at that time roughly corresponded to the annual revenue of the city budget.

The town hall was ceremonially opened on October 28, 1930, when the country was commemorating the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the independent Czechoslovak Republic. The opening of the building was marked by heavy rains, which caused the Odra River to overflow and flood entire city districts. Significant parts of Nová Ves, Přívoz, and Mariánské Hory were submerged underwater in the fall of 1930, and their residents often had to fight for their lives. Therefore, public participation in the ceremonial event was modest. "However, the new building received significant criticism from contemporary newspapers, which criticized its appearance, excessive size, high costs, and other alleged shortcomings," recalled city spokeswoman Gabriela Pokorná.

The town hall still holds the title of the largest town hall building in the country. Its footprint is approximately 7,200 square meters. The 86-meter high tower is an unmistakable dominant feature. An interesting technical monument inside is the functional circular lift, known as a paternoster. Several notable artists contributed to the artistic decoration of the town hall, including graphic artist Emanuel Hrbek and sculptors Josef Axmann, Rudolf Březa, and Václav Hynek Mach, who is the author of four monumental sculptures on the town hall's facade. These represent allegories of mining, science, trade, and metallurgy.