The town hall disagrees with the increase of the Brno Palace Centrum

Brno - The leadership of the Brno city hall rejects a significant increase of the so-called Baťa department store Centrum on the edge of the historical city center. The extension of the monumentally protected palace, which was prepared by the private company Orco, would now expand the eight-story building by 11 floors. There is no place for such tall buildings in the city center, said Mayor Roman Onderka today at a round table with architects and investors.
    "There will be no taller building than a church in the historical core. It would not be nice," Onderka stated in response to a representative of Orco. According to him, the Centrum palace "simply will not be taller." Brno politicians are unlikely to pressure the conservationists and urban planners, who have also opposed the project for the completion of the building.
    According to Onderka, however, the city is interested in new high-rise buildings. Investors should focus their attention on the southern part of the city - Heršpice, Štýřice, and particularly around the M-palace. "It would be worth having that little Manhattan there, it's one of the ways to revitalize the area," Onderka said.
    Several large investors have already come up with specific projects for the southern part of the city. The city hall will negotiate with them, for example, about transport infrastructure and sewage construction. Onderka also advised them to coordinate their approach and negotiations with the authorities.
    The Orco company had high hopes for the renovation of the Centrum palace. They commissioned a design from the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná. According to her vision, the building would transform into an unmistakable Brno landmark. The architect tried to convince Brno officials and politicians that the height limits in the historical core need to be broken.
    The so-called Baťa palace, located between the streets Kobližná, Jánská, Pohořelec, and Malinovského náměstí, was built in the 1920s directly on Baťa's order. The project by his court architect Vladimír Karfík originally planned for 24 floors. However, due to structural issues and disagreements with the then city leadership, the Zlín manufacturer backed down from the plan and halted construction at eight stories.
    The building was included on the list of cultural monuments 20 years ago, despite insensitive alterations. Operating under the name Centrum, it functioned as a department store primarily for clothing, which it still does today. Orco plans to expand the building's use. According to a company representative, repairs are necessary.