Zlín is a city in southeastern Moravia in the Czech Republic, the seat of the Zlín Region, on the Dřevnice river. The development of the modern city is closely connected to the Bata Shoes company and its social scheme, developed after the First World War.
Architecture in Zlín
Urban utopia
The city’s architectural development was a characteristic synthesis of two modernist urban utopian visions: the first inspired by Ebenezer Howard‘s Garden city movement and the second tracing its lineage to Le Corbusier‘s vision of urban modernity. From the very beginning Baťa pursued the goal of constructing the Garden City proposed by Ebenezer Howard. However, the shape of the city had to be ‘modernized’ so as to suit the needs of the company and of the expanding community.
Zlín’s distinctive architecture was guided by principles that were strictly observed during its whole inter-war development. Its central theme was the derivation of all architectural elements from the factory buildings. The central position of the industrial production in the life of Zlín inhabitants was to be highlighted. Hence the same building materials (red bricks, glass, reinforced concrete) were used for the construction of all public (and most private) edifices.
The common structural element of Zlín architecture is a square bay of 20×20 feet (6.15×6.15 m). Although modified by several variations, this high modernist style leads to a high degree of uniformity of buildings. It highlights the central and unique idea of an industrial garden city at the same time. Architectural and urban functionalism was to serve the demands of a modern city. The simplicity of its buildings translated into its functional adaptability was to prescribe (and react to) the needs of everyday life.
The urban plan of Zlín was the creation of František Lydie Gahura, a student at Le Corbusier’s atelier in Paris. Le Corbusier’s inspiration was evident in the basic principles of the city’s architecture. On his visit to Zlín in 1935, he was appointed to preside over the selective procedure for new apartment houses. Le Corbusier also received a commission for creating the plan for further expansion of the city and the company. His plan represented a paradigm shift from his earlier conceptions of urban design. Here he abandoned an anthropomorphic, centralized city model in favor of the linear city format. The change in Le Corbusier’s thinking was reflected by the abandonment of the à redents residential pattern in favor of free-standing slab blocks. His Zlín plan, however, was never fully adopted.
Architectural highlights
- The Villa of Tomáš Baťa was an early architectural achievement in Zlín (the construction was finished in 1911). The building’s design was carried out by the famous Czech architect Jan Kotěra, professor at Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts. After its confiscation, in 1945, the building served as a Pioneers’ house. Being returned to Tomáš J. Baťa, the son of the company’s founder, the building now houses the headquarters of the Thomas Bata Foundation.
- Baťa’s Hospital in Zlín was founded in 1927 and quickly developed into one of the most modern Czechoslovak hospitals. The original architectural set up was designed by František Lydie Gahura.
- The Grand Cinema (Velké kino) was built in 1932 and became the largest cinema in Europe (2580 seated viewers) in its time. The cinema also boasted the largest movie screen in Europe (9 x 7 meters). This technological marvel was designed by the Czech architects Miroslav Lorenc (1896–1943) and František Lydie Gahura.
- Tomas Bata Memorial was built in 1933 by František Lydie Gahura. The original purpose of the building was to commemorate the achievements of Baťa before his unexpected death in a plane crash in 1932. The building itself is a constructivist masterpiece. It has served as the seat of the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra since 1955.
- Baťa’s Skyscraper (Baťův mrakodrap, Jednadvacítka) was built as the headquarters for the worldwide Baťa organization. Designed by Vladimír Karfík, the huge building was erected in 1936–1939. It included a room-sized elevator housing the office for the boss, comfortably furnished – with a sink, a telephone, and air conditioning. When it was built it was the tallest Czechoslovak building (77.5 m). After a costly reconstruction in 2004, it became the seat of the Zlín Region and the headquarters of the tax office.
Education
The city is home to the Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín, which opened in 2001. With approximately 12,000 students, it ranks as a medium-sized Czech university, and offers courses in technology, economics, humanities, arts and health care.
Culture
Given Zlín’s history as one of the biggest centres of filmmaking in the Czech Republic, probably the biggest cultural event is the International Film Festival for Children and Youth.
International music festival Masters of Rock takes place in near town of Vizovice, while winter version (Winter Masters of Rock) on it takes place in Zlín. MoR focuses mainly on heavy metal and symphonic metal, while on WMoR often perform death metal bands.
Sport
Zlín’s ice hockey team, PSG Zlín, plays in the Czech Extraliga and has won two national titles, first in 2004 and the second one in 2014. The football team, FC Fastav Zlín, plays in the first level of Czech professional football, the Czech First League, having played there sporadically since 1993. The city also has teams in other sports including volleyball, basketball, Czech handball, softball and rugby.
Public transport
Public transport in Zlín has a long history. In 1899 Zlín was connected with to the railway network, helping its expansion. In the 1920s local passenger transportation started to operate. Later, in 1939 the town council decided to build three trolleybus routes, numbered lines A, B and C. New trolleybus lines were finished in 1944, after the construction proceeding during the Nazi occupation. Through the times, Zlín’s public transport, now owned by DSZO (Zlin & Otrokovice Transportation Company), was one of the fastest-growing public transportation networks in the Czech Republic.
The city is currently served by 14 bus routes and 14 trolleybus routes, and also railway services on line 331, which runs from Otrokovice (located on the international corridor) to Vizovice. There are nine stations on this line within the city of Zlín, the largest of which is Zlín střed (Zlín central).
