The Opava City Hall is investing CZK 30 million in the reconstruction of the former Breda department store in the city centre this year. It is one tenth of the total estimated cost of saving the listed building. The city bought the building last February and plans to renovate and reuse it. The most frequent talk is about a combination of commercial and non-commercial activities, for example a market, gallery or museum, according to Roman Konečný, a spokesman for the municipality.
“In 2023, the windows in this historic building will be replaced, the facade will be repaired, and an internal construction lift will be provided, which will be used for further work. Furthermore, a new water connection will be built and the entire building will be cleared,” Konečný said. He added that the town consults all activities with the conservationists. The Opava municipality will also have an electronic three-dimensional model of the former department store made for almost CZK 900,000.
The management of the municipality has not yet figured out exactly how it will continue to use the building. However, it is to be a combination of commercial and non-commercial use. A special team is working on the details. For example, there has been talk of placing an exhibition of African culture or a gallery with works by sculptor Kurt Gebauer. Part of the building would be used commercially, for example for offices or business premises. A marketplace could also be built here.
The cultural monument, which belonged to the bankrupt company of businessman Kamil Kolko, was acquired by the city for CZK 39.5 million. The total cost of the reconstruction is expected to be around CZK 300 million. The annual operation of the 10,000-square-metre building alone should cost about CZK 17.7 million. On the other hand, the city should receive CZK 15.8 million in rent and service fees. The difference would be the city’s subsidy for the building’s operation.
At the time of its opening in 1928, it was the largest department store in the country.
Source: Opava City Hall and CTK
Photo: © Lestat (Jan Mehlich), Wikimedia Commons
