Ostrava Palace to be transformed according to a design by berlin-based studio Kuehn Malvezzi Architects

The Berlin studio Kuehn Malvezzi Architects has won the international architectural and urban planning competition for the renovation of the former Hotel Palace complex in the center of Ostrava. According to the jury, their design best captured the connection between the historical value of the building and the current needs of Ostrava. The intention of the project investor, the Antracit development group, which is part of the Purposia Group investment holding, is to transform the entire city block into a living organism combining housing, hotel services, and high-quality public space. A total of 89 architectural studios from 27 countries around the world entered the international competition. The designs of the five finalists were evaluated by a jury that also included international experts. The Antracit group, together with Kuehn Malvezzi Architects, is now entering the project documentation preparation phase. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. The implementation will be divided into several stages, which will allow for the gradual commissioning of individual parts of the complex. We currently expect the final stage to be completed in 2031. The Palace will gradually transform into an open and lively place for residents and visitors to the city.

PALACE ENTERS A NEW PHASE WITH KUEHN MALVEZZI, RESPECTING HISTORY
“The jury appreciates that Kuehn Malvezzi’s design sensitively works with the historical traces of the site and references the original architect, Wunibald Deininger. Based on this continuity, the architects have created a clear urban concept and a single composite mass that redefines the city block, connects the preserved parts, and brings flexibility to further planning. The design is convincing with its thoughtful use of materials and strong potential for future development of the project,” says Pascal Müller, chairman of the expert jury and architect, in his evaluation. The design thus shows maximum respect for the historical character of the building, which was opened in 1913 as the Hotel National, designed by Viennese architect Wunibald Deininger. The winning project impressed the jury above all with its ability to build on the morphology of Ostrava, incorporate contemporary architecture into it, and create new spaces that complement the structure of the entire block and its inner courtyards and passageways. “The Palace has a significant place in Ostrava’s history, and we want it to play an equally important role in the future. This transformation will affect life throughout the area, not only for the future residents of the Palace, but for everyone who will naturally use it,” says Jan Hasík, CEO of the Purposia Group investment holding company.

FUTURE USE OF THE PALACE
The winning design creates a fully-fledged city block consisting of a complex of interconnected buildings, combining the reconstruction of preserved buildings, the demolition of existing unsuitable structures, and the addition of new buildings. All this is complemented by passageways and courtyards that open the complex towards nd the surrounding urban structure and support its active integration into the life of the city center. The main function of the new block will be rental housing in high-quality, designer-designed small apartments, complemented by social spaces and services directly in the building. Additional uses will be offered by a modern lifestyle hotel and smaller commercial units on the open and lively ground floor, which offers an attractive public space with shops, restaurants, and other services, as well as a publicly accessible garden. The significance of the complex is underlined by the preserved and restored historic interiors – in particular the Deininger Hall, which will be newly integrated into the daily operation of the complex, and the premises of the former Boccaccio night bar. The existing Kampus Palace student accommodation will remain in its current form.

INVESTMENT IN THE CITY AND WORK SCHEDULE
“The renovation of the Palace is a strategic investment by our development group and, at the same time, a long-term investment in the quality of Ostrava’s urban space. Our plan also includes the operation of the entire complex, which will enable us to ensure its sustainability and development over time. We are now starting negotiations on the contract and the work schedule, including the phasing of construction. The first phase will begin with the renovation of the building on 28. října Street. I would like to thank all participants in the competitive dialogue, especially the jury and invited experts, including representatives of the national heritage preservation authority. Discussions on the conditions arising from cultural heritage protection will also be part of the upcoming schedule,” adds Zuzana Bajgarová, director of the Antracit group.

ABOUT THE WINNING STUDIO KUEHN MALVEZZI ARCHITECTS
Kuehn Malvezzi Architects is a Berlin-based architectural firm founded in 2001 by architects Simon Kuehn and Thomas Malvezzi. The studio quickly established itself as one of the leaders in modern architecture with a humanistic approach. It is known for its innovative work in the field of public and cultural buildings, but also for its ability to design projects that are aesthetic, functional, and sustainable. Notable projects include the renovation and new construction of museums and cultural institutions such as the Julia Stoschek Collection in Düsseldorf, the Museum Belvedere in Vienna, the Rieckhallen at the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin, the Insectarium in Montreal, the Prinzessinnenpalais in Berlin, and PHI Contemporary in Montreal. Awards: Canadian Architect Award, nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Award, and finalist for the DAM Prize for Architecture in Germany. www.kuehnmalvezzi.com

HIGH-QUALITY COMPETITION, STRONG PROPOSALS, DIFFERENT APPROACHES
The competition dialogue yielded exceptionally high-quality proposals offering diverse perspectives on the restoration of the historic block. After more than six months of competition dialogue, the jury, composed of independent experts and representatives of the investor, agreed on the following ranking of finalists: 1st place: Kuehn Malvezzi Architects (DE), 2nd place: NEUHÄUSL HUNAL (CZ), 3rd place: re:architekti + onsitestudio + Transsolar (CZ/IT/DE). Other finalists were Objektor + Atelier Altan (CZ/FR) and ROAR architekti (SK). These five teams will share the total prize money of CZK 2,650,000 – the first prize is CZK 800,000, the second CZK 600,000, the third CZK 450,000, and the fourth and fifth CZK 400,000 each. The entire competition was organized by the CCEA MOBA platform , and the Czech Chamber of Architects issued a statement of regularity for the competition conditions.

THE PALACE PROJECT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AT THE MEAT DESIGN FESTIVAL
The winning design by Kuehn Malvezzi was first presented on November 21 at the competition results ceremony held at the Palace itself. The public can learn about the project in detail through a program that offers exhibitions of all competition designs, guided tours of the Palace complex, and accompanying events as part of the Meat Design Ostrava festival (November 21–23).. Program at the Palace complex (entrance from 28. října Street, Ostrava): Guided tours and exhibition of all final designs (November 21 at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., November 22 at 9:00 a.m. and November 23 at 9:00 a.m.). MEAT UP: PALACE TRANSFORMATION (November 22 from 5:00 p.m.) – a series of dynamic lectures and interactive installations not only about architecture and design. Program at MEAT DESIGN at the National Agricultural Museum, Dolní oblast Vítkovice, Ostrava: Debate with the winning architectural team Kuehn Malvezzi (November 21 at 5:00 p.m.). Throughout the festival: Antracit Lab – an exhibition of a small apartment that suggests possible layouts for future apartments in the Palace. In addition to activities related to the Palace, the festival will also offer debates on housing and demonstrations of 3D printing of a concrete house from the upcoming Bydlení Meandry project, which will be presented by the affiliated companies Antracit and Coral Construction Technologies. www.meatdesign.cz

Media contact:
Michaela Dvořáková, Marketing Manager at Antracit and Operations Manager at Kampus Palace
T +420 732 372 424 / Emichaela.dvorakova@antracit.eu / W www.antracit.eu

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The international ANTRACIT group provides comprehensive development services through its companies, and its portfolio includes residential construction, logistics, industrial and administrative buildings and complexes in Czechia and Slovakia. It currently manages or is preparing more than 20 projects with a focus on individual solutions according to the specific requirements of its clients. www.antracit.eu

PURPOSIA Group is one of Europe’s leading investment groups with Czech roots, established in 2023 as a holding structure around its construction companies HSF System in Czechia and Slovakia and other companies mainly in the construction industry. Today, the group is involved in the entire life cycle of construction projects, from design and development to construction and property management. The holding company now includes a total of 43 companies with annual revenues reaching CZK 4 billion. In addition to the aforementioned HSF System group in Czechia, Slovakia, and now also Austria, its subsidiaries include companies from the ANTRACIT development group, SK Facility, Pruniwerk, floorING, PREFA ONV, Bezecný, Foredeck, and now also Coral Construction Technologies. The PURPOSIA Group operates in a total of 10 European countries. www.purposia.eu