Everywhere’s good, but at the Hrad it’s best

This year we completed our pride and joy: the Zbrojovka icon on the corner of Lazaretní Street, which operated here as an administrative building 100 years ago and whose function we were happy to restore. We rightly named it the HRAD and it’s now our second, office home. Right next to our HRAD, the construction of the expected business premises is in full swing, and every day we watch a building being created before our very eyes, boasting thoughtful design and the latest technologies, while uncompromisingly adhering to the highest environmental standards. Yes, we’re talking about the D4 building, which will provide 10,000 sqm of office space that is unrivalled in Brno.

Construction of the D4A office building

And we’re growing not only in the number of sqm, but also in the number of users of the newly created space. It’s a pleasure to watch Nová Zbrojovka gradually fill up, become inhabited, and operate as planned. This year we’ve welcomed 9 new companies into our Nová Zbrojovka ranks. And not only is our community comprised of adults: in addition to office desks at ZET.Office, school desks have also been added in the newly opened Brno branch of the private school PORG. On its 1,500 m2, it’s opened the first 3 grades of elementary school.

We’re pouring life into spaces unused for years, which logically entails clearing old, no longer usable spaces. This year we said goodbye to the original shooting tunnels and the buildings in the space behind the ZET.Office. The building of the old Lazaretní Polyclinic, which had relocated only a few dozen metres away, was also demolished. And with that, we’ve cleaned up! The last significant demolition work is over.

We have the green light!

As the Czech saying goes: what is written is given, at least we hope so. So far construction is only on paper, but it’s a promising first step. This year, we obtained three more building permits for future residential or commercial buildings, namely for blocks D2+3, D5 and our first apartment block. The first apartment block marks the beginning of another significant phase for us, it will give the Nová Zbrojovka space a new residential dimension and we look forward to it.
The year 2023 has also brought us permission for two crucial infrastructure steps, namely the southern transport connection from Zábrdovická Street and the transport connection in the northern part from Markéta Kuncová Street, which will significantly improve the transport service at Nová Zbrojovka. Inside the complex, too, we can already press ahead with our infrastructure plans. We have obtained approval for the implementation of roads for traffic access, including backbone infrastructure networks. And we close the list with another important green light, which we’ve been given for the construction of a trunk sewer in the new location of the future city avenue.

The progress made by Nová Zbrojovka this year makes us very happy and we believe that we’ll continue this pace in the following year, both in terms of projects implemented together with the City of Brno and in our residential and commercial buildings.

I came, I published, I filmed, and I appreciated

We share all news, events and growth on our website, which we refurbished with a more modern and transparent form this year and added requested features, such as a new 3D visualisation of the entire complex, a blog with news, and comprehensive information about possible leases. What you didn’t learn from our networks, you could listen to in one of the interviews in the third series of our podcast V ODZBROJENÍ. The mix of guests was incredibly varied.
And we’re not the only ones broadcasting and sharing what is happening here. Czech Television has joined us several times with reports from our neighbourhood, and so have many other media organisations.

Guests at a gastrospecial podcast in the V ODZBROJENÍ series	Shooting with Czech Television on the terrace of the HRAD

Autumn saw our plans independently appreciated in the form of the prestigious international certification BREEAM Communities. This certification confirms that we’re creating a new, sustainable district based on the principles of a 15-minute city. And with each of the steps we present here, we’re getting closer to that goal.

We’re simply action-oriented and also quite cultural and charitable

Dozens of events have marked Nová Zbrojovka’s progress this year and attracted to us new fans. For example, exhibitions of the architectural competitions for the design of the school, for solutions to apartment blocks G and H, or popular tours of our area as part of the festival Open House Brno. And also a lot of festivals: Food Festival, Elgfest, Cross the River and the sports event of the year, the Youth Sports Festival. Dozens of breathtaking vintage vehicles drove through here as part of the 1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia race. The trade fair Jobspin Job and Relocation Fair offered job opportunities for expats. And EVENT.Brno brought to us for the second time selected suppliers of local design, fine dining and slow fashion. In the evening, we headed to the Kino Art summer cinema and then we lived one intense dream at the second year of Nebál. Well, it’s been a ride. Listing all the events would take another article. Maybe in the next one? :)

The arts happening Nebál, photo: Vojta Fiko	EVENT.BRNO, photo: Lucie Mojžíšová	Open House Brno, photo: Ondřej Závorka

Even with all this fun and education, we haven’t forgotten the good deeds. Together with the BJP Foundation, we’ve supported (not only financially) the Klokánek Fund for Vulnerable Children. We provided material assistance, organised events for children and we were glad to make children’s dreams come true (with other tenants of Nová Zbrojovka) twice over as part of the Christmas Tree of Fulfilled Wishes project. We put smiles on the faces of almost one hundred children from two departments of the Brno Children’s Hospital.
The number of fans and Nová Zbrojovka enthusiasts is growing, and we’re really pleased. We pride ourselves on open communication, transparency and good relations, and we’re pleased that in this case, we can use the Czech expression: “What you call into the forest, that’s what echoes back.”

The collection handover at Klokánek Brno	The gift handover at Brno Children’s Hospital

And our plans for 2024?

Let’s call it wishes rather than plans, because we’re aware of many factors that can affect and influence our planned visions.
As you might expect, we’d like to act on the building permits obtained and make headway with the preparation of the transport connection from Zábrdovická Street. And, if conditions are right, the northern connection from Markéta Kuncová Street. At the same time, we’re preparing documents for obtaining approval for the construction of another part of Nová Zbrojovka. We’ve already received the environmental approval for the second stage of construction this year thanks to the EIA study. The EIA Directive monitors how a construction or other project will affect the population and the environment. The principle of this procedure ensures an objective assessment of the problem and prevents any negative impacts.
More specifically, we’d like to obtain permission to renovate the original historic buildings, Kotelna and Hala 76, and to build six other residential and commercial buildings. We believe that we’ll also get permission to implement a new city avenue that will connect the two mentioned transport connections and will link to the upcoming bridge over the Svitava River.

Kotelna	Hala 76

And of course we’re counting on the next wave of culture, podcasts, events and sports – in all forms. So don’t forget to follow us on our networks, for example on Facebook or Instagram.
Nová Zbrojovka was, is and will be yours!
We wish you a happy holiday full of laughter and fulfilled wishes. We look forward to meeting you again in the new year 2024!