8. 6. 2026
Michaela Dvořáková
2026
ANTRACIT
The architectural study for the renovation project of the historic complex of the former PALACE Hotel in downtown Ostrava is now complete. The Berlin-based firm Kuehn Malvezzi, in collaboration with the Czech firm SOA and the ANTRACIT development group, has developed the winning proposal from the international competition into a concrete vision for the future operation of the entire complex. The document is the result of several months of intensive dialogue, during which the architects, together with the investor—the ANTRACIT group from the PURPOSIA Group holding company—examined every aspect of the complex’s future operation. The extensive renovation will transform the entire city block into an open and vibrant part of the city center—featuring rental housing, a bustling arcade with dining, services, and cultural offerings in the historic part of the complex, and a separate new-build lifestyle hotel with 126 rooms.
“The completion of the study marks another step in our long-term work on this project—together with the architects, we have refined the winning design in detail to a form that will stand up not only architecturally but also in day-to-day operations. We also involved industry experts in the preparation, who helped us verify the functionality of individual components—from the hotel through dining to cultural operations—and we continuously consulted the entire design with the relevant stakeholders. The study confirmed the quality of the original concept and simultaneously demonstrated that PALACE can offer a top-tier standard of modern urban living while fully respecting the historical value of the site. This is not just about renovating a dilapidated complex—we are bringing PALACE back to life in Ostrava,” says Zuzana Bajgarová, director of the ANTRACIT group.
PALACE AS A “CITY WITHIN A CITY”
PALACE will be transformed into an open, walk-through city block that connects 28. října Street with the inner courtyard and offers a combination of residential units, services, a hotel, and public space, with an emphasis on an active ground floor, accessibility, and everyday usability. Underground garages will then ensure the complex’s operations without burdening the surrounding environment. “Our goal was to create a true ‘city within a city’—a place that is not a closed-off building, but a living part of Ostrava,” adds architect Wilfried Kuehn from the Berlin-based studio Kuehn Malvezzi.
HOUSING THAT COMBINES HISTORY WITH THE COMFORT OF THE MODERN CITY
A total of 89 rental apartments will be created in the historic part of PALACE, mostly with 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom layouts; there will also be fully barrier-free apartments with adapted layouts and 3 duplex units on the top floors. Apartments facing the quiet courtyard will feature loggias, and approximately one-third of them will offer private outdoor space. The quality of living will be enhanced by rooftop gardens and shared spaces, such as a two-story library, a two-story fitness center, and a shared laundry room.
Practical amenities will also include cleaning rooms and storage spaces for bicycles and strollers on every floor in the immediate vicinity of the apartments.
The residential section will be crowned by a social space designed primarily for residents, situated on the top floor with a view of the city. It will offer a place for gatherings, private events, or for working outside the apartment. Residents will be welcomed by a representative entrance lobby with a central reception, which will connect the new residential section with the existing Kampus Palace and provide the necessary services and facilities. “PALACE will offer living spaces naturally integrated with services, dining, and cultural life. The study confirmed that it is possible to combine quality housing with an active urban ground floor and create an environment that functions not only architecturally but also in everyday use,” says Zuzana Bajgarová, director of the ANTRACIT group.
A LIVELY PARTERRE WITH DINING, SERVICES, AND CULTURE
The ground floor of the entire complex will be enlivened by a well-thought-out dining cluster that will connect various types of establishments into a single vibrant whole. In addition to the main restaurant, it will offer smaller dining concepts and compact retail spaces. Thanks to this interconnection, an environment with a natural dynamic will emerge, adapting to both daytime and evening operations. The ground floor will be complemented by a walk-through passageway and an inner courtyard with greenery and outdoor seating. This open and permeable system builds on the site’s historical tradition while simultaneously creating a new urban environment for daily gatherings, leisure activities, and cultural life.
CENTRAL HISTORIC SPACES RETAIN THEIR PUBLIC FUNCTION
The restoration of the historic spaces, particularly the Deininger Hall, restores the space to its original monumental proportions from 1913. The spaces have their own separate, representative entrance from 28. října Street, while also being internally connected via a passageway to the dining area. This solution provides top-notch facilities for a wide range of events and strengthens the mutual synergy between the individual parts of the complex. The well-thought-out layout allows for flexible use of the halls (foyer, main hall, and daytime social hall), which can be acoustically separated or, conversely, connected into a single unit; in addition, the historic skylight has been reintegrated into the space. The halls can thus function either as a single open space for large social events with a capacity of 350 people, or as several independent zones for parallel programs that do not interfere with one another. In addition to the main halls, the design also includes a recording studio and spaces for creative use. Artistic and social life, which historically belongs to the PALACE, can thus return there.
A HOTEL THAT WILL BRING A NEW ACCOMMODATION CONCEPT TO OSTRAVA
The project includes a lifestyle hotel with 126 rooms, which will be built as a separate new structure in the courtyard with its own entrance from Na Karolíně Street.
Its public spaces will be naturally connected to the ground floor and the courtyard, while operationally it will remain separate from the residential section. A key element is the open lobby connecting the reception, bar, and social areas, which will be integrated into the life of the entire complex. Specific details regarding the hotel concept and its future operator will be presented in the coming weeks.
NEXT STEPS FOR THE PROJECT
The completed architectural study will now be followed by design work and permitting processes. Construction itself will begin once the necessary permits are obtained, and the process is scheduled in several phases with gradual implementation and the start of operations. ANTRACIT plans to fully complete the project by 2031. More at: https://antracit.eu/projekty/palace/
media contact
Kontakt pro média: Michaela Dvořáková / +420 732 372 424 / michaela.dvorakova@antracit.eu / www.antracit.eu