In 2020, Bedřiška is no longer the site of arson attacks and garbage piles, as it was 10 years ago. Today, Bedřiška has the problem of population decline, poor technical condition of houses, their complex administration and maintenance, and increasingly uncertainty about future development. The key questions are: Whether or how to renew the housing stock at all? Is it possible to repair existing houses, or is it necessary to demolish them and build new ones? Is the existing spatial arrangement of Bedřiška suitable? Should Bedřiška grow in size? How much? Where? And what about the people, the neighbors who live here? How to keep them here?

The city of Ostrava perceives the potential of the locality and the community, but it is aware of the problems associated with them at the same time. Therefore, it commissioned the elaboration of this study, which deals with the issue of revitalization of Bedřiška in a broad context and comprehensively from the design of buildings and public spaces to the description of the possibilities of involving the local community in its restoration.

This study, which was discussed with local government representatives, city unions, but also representatives of the citizens, is the first step, which must be followed by further steps for successful implementation.

The present design is not one of the “simple” solutions. This is not a solution that could be implemented next year. This is a concept that will be implemented gradually, it will require the will to finish it and the will to agree. It will place great demands on coordination.

In essence, however, the design is concise. Stability and development of the Bedřiška locality can be achieved by opening it and connecting it with its surroundings, involving more entities in its restoration, increasing the number of inhabitants and providing the local community with the opportunity to gain responsibility for the future development of Bedřiška. The proposed strengthens the self-governing role of the population and reduced the demands on the city administration. A model that can approach each house and its occupants individually and in a longer term.

A small family house with an archetypal shape and a distinctive wooden structure. Wooden building based on footings. The ground floor has an entrance hall, bathroom and a living room with a kitchenette. Quiet, wood-scented space framed by a symmetrical structure. Connected to the garden view in all seasons. In winter, there is heat coming from the fireplace in the middle of the layout. A bedroom and a guest room on the first floor.

The new kindergarten building is designed as an orangery pavilion in a garden and a town house on a street. It fits sensitively into the rectangular urbanism of the surroundings, has a clear spatial scheme, is surrounded by a large garden and pays attention to simple energy logic.

The new fire station is one of the results of the gradual implementation of the Architectural Concept, which we developed for Úsilné in 2012 and which we are gradually fulfilling in its individual parts. We had started with a multi-purpose playground, continued with the fire station and we are preparing other buildings for the construction.

The new fire station stands on the periphery of the village next to the old fire station, which was always more of a background for athletes and other associations than a real fire station.

The fire station serves the Úsilné Volunteer Firefighters. The Volunteer Firefighters are a large association with many voluntary activities. So they need not only a garage, a workshop, but also a large common room where they hold meetings, install children’s bouncy castles, exhibitions and in the meantime park the old red and white Avia.

We have designed a building that does not raise expectations in terms of scale or appearance. It hides inside generous garage / hall spaces, smaller common rooms, workshops and facilities. Lapidary floor plan free of ballast. Gray concrete masonry, unsealed joints, rough seams and red floor.

There are several buildings, spaces and institutions in the vicinity of the Statenice square that play or in the future may play an important social role in the village and co-create its center.

The intention is that the individual parts are clear in their function and at the same time, co-create a strong and functional whole. What does it mean? Simply, for example, that every passer-by knows where he is and what the village square is. That he understands what the purpose of the village square is and finds the municipal office where he expects it to be, including finding the entry to it. In addition, it means that the user is just as intuitively oriented inside the building. However, clear orientation is not the only goal.
The second goal needed to be mentioned is to create a space for any occasion – that the correct setting of the space initiates events that we can only imagine at the moment. Whether it’s a pilgrimage in the castle garden, birthday parties or an open-air wedding. However, we do not only accommodate large events. We create spaces that encourage you to stay in the center on the way from school or work. To hang out with a bottle of beer in front of the grocery store or by the creek. Overall, it is important that the village square or the center is lively (which does not mean the permanent presence of carousels and crowds though).

We propose to calm traffic in the center of the village by introducing a 30 km/h zone from the narrowing of Statenická street near the castle to Sokolovna. We then “connect” the individual parts of the mentioned mosaic to it.

Part of the design is to verify the location of the town hall building, shop, community center, kindergarten and verify the possibilities of the Sokol gym building.