- Location: Ostrava
- Status: Diploma thesis
- Phase: Study
- Supervisor: prof. Ing. arch. Petr Hrůša
Moravian-Silesian House of Art and Culture
Placing the Moravian-Silesian House of Art and Culture on Dr. E. Benes Square in Moravian Ostrava gives this underused place an important new cultural role. It strengthens the historic centre as a cultural counterpart to the commercial Nova Karolina area.
Historically, the cultural programme follows the former German Cultural House, demolished after the Second World War. The proposal restores this position. The cultural house closes the square and separates it from busy Nadrazni Street, while returning character to the smaller square in front of the Ceske sporitelna building.
The main entrance faces the square, which gradually transitions into park areas. In relation to neighbouring buildings and to increase the attractiveness of the site, the ground floor offers as many areas for shops and services as possible.
The building is conceived as a public music hall with additional spaces for a music and drama laboratory, used by a university with a performing-arts focus and by the wider public. It is divided into a private part for performers, staff and students, and a public part for visitors.
The limited footprint is addressed through cantilevered upper floors, which also create galleries. These galleries allow audiences, performers and students to stay in contact with the exterior environment, so the building does not close in on itself and its function appears on the facades.
