January and the beginning of a year that, after a long time, seemed like it might be free of Covid measures. And so it proved. For us, it meant getting fully stuck into the construction, events and overall development of the complex. We completed the first major phase of remediation and demolition work. During the year, the individual parts of the project were able to push ahead.
February clearly brought the biggest event of the year – the Olympic Festival. 17 days, over 50,000 visitors and 70 athletes and famous personalities. During the Winter Olympics, our area was transformed into one large sports venue, where you could try skating, biathlon, curling, as well as ski jumping, bobsleigh or snow volleyball. And also get to meet a large number of Olympians and see several medals. Just feeling like you’re in the thick of it without having to go all the way to China.
In March, we symbolically crossed the river. The form of the bridge over the Svitava River was determined by the results of an architectural competition. The design of the first bridge in Brno in 60 years will be undertaken by the British architectural firm William Matthews Associates. We also launched this blog on our website, where we describe what’s happening here and try to explain what’s involved in brownfield restoration. Like why it’s taking so long.
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| Finishing the cleanup and demolition work | Olympic Festival 2022 | Starting season 2 of the podcast V ODZBROJENÍ |
April on-air, i.e. we released into the ether the second season of our podcast V ODZBROJENÍ. Ten episodes starring personalities who are in some way connected with the destiny of Nová Zbrojovka. In April we also dressed our unique event space – Hala 76 – in its finest glad rags for the first time. Since we’re not penny-pinchers, we kicked off with a fashion show by leading designer Beata Rajská. April was also a big month for us because we finally broke earth and started constructing the first new building, D4, and also the reconstruction of the administrative building.
It’s May, and Thursday has become the new Friday. From May until September, our Amenities Park was transformed into a small stage with great DJs and drinks every week. As is customary, we also participated in Open House Brno. Visitors could visit the Shooting Tunnels, Kotelna, Hala 76, Amenities Park and ZET.Office. Simply take a look under our bonnet.
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| Open House 2022 | Beáta Rajská fashion show | The summer season gets underway in the Amenities Park |
Outside, things were getting prettier, so in June it was one event after another – a children’s day, a sports day for clients or the great ELG Fest. And was just the beginning of summer. Our site also won the Public Award and the Ministry of Industry and Trade Award in the Urban Project of 2022 competition. YES!
July was marked by long evenings at the summer cinema and beautiful mornings during yoga on the ZET.Office terrace. Any type of slow season passed us by this year, instead we released a new promo video that connects the past, present and future of the area. At the same time, as part of our long-term cooperation with the Na1Lodi Endowment Fund, we helped send 40 children to the seaside for the first time.
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| Urban Project of 2022 | Summer Cinema | Cooperation with the Na1Lodi Endowment Fund |
In August we literally crossed the river. Once again, we joined in the festival of that name - Překročme řeku. Any mention of boxing? One event followed another, but compared to what came in the autumn, this was just the start. On the last day of August, we also shifted the entire project of Nová Zbrojovka to the next phase. On the foundations of D4, our first new building, we laid the foundation stone of Nová Zbrojovka!
Autumn was at full throttle! In September, at the event Experience Nová Zbrojovka, we opened the square in front of Kotelna. Another part of the area was opened to the public. Hala 76 was transformed into the backdrop of the mysterious Nebál, a party like Brno had never seen before. We also helped launch the book The Zbrojovka Phenomenon, which we participated in creating. The book, from the TIC Brno workshop, maps the stories of witnesses who worked in the former Zbrojovka.
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| Tapping the cornerstone | Nebál | Book launch of The Zbrojovka Phenomenon |
In October, Hala 76 took centre stage. It hosted a gala evening of Brno’s “Michelin-starred” Gourmet event, as well as danced away the Židenice Feast-Days, which we hosted for the second time.
In November saw the beginning of Advent. We started it by lighting the tree and also by organising among our tenants the first year of the competition for the title Punch Master Nová Zbrojovka. We love to start new traditions and this has been done to the max. Hala 76 hosted its last event of the year, the refined EVENT market.
And December? We certainly didn’t slow down. An architectural competition gave final shape to one of the most important parts of our area – the elementary school and kindergarten, plus their adjacent areas designated for school and public amenities. Another architectural competition then revealed the form of the apartments on the waterfront. Our year-long collaboration with the Na1Lodi and BJP foundations also came to a climax. Thanks to the Tree of Fulfilled Wishes, we also donated to children from children’s homes and to young patients at the Children’s Neurological Department of the University Hospital Brno. Our donation will also help the Masaryk Cancer Institute purchase new equipment.
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Lighting the Christmas tree | Gifts from the Tree of Fulfilled Wishes | Punch Master 2022 |
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| Winning design of housing block H (MS Architects) | Winning Design of the Elementary School and Kindergarten (SOA Architects) |
And saving the best for last. During the year, our Zbrojovka community grew. We welcomed new tenants from UlovDomov, Spring Walk, OxyShop and Cucine LUBE. And we already know that in 2023 a lot of us will be joining the party again. As part of our events, thousands of people passed through the area, many of whom found their way back here for a walk or other events. That’s the most important thing for us. Because it’s you who give life to Nová Zbrojovka! THANK YOU!
