The city of Ostrava in Czechia will soon be home to a new 1,300-seat concert hall that will be one of the most eco-friendly buildings in Czechia. This will put Ostrava on the cultural map of Europe and will attract thousands of visitors, thus contributing to the diversification of the economy of the Moravia-Silesia region out of fossil fuels.
- 19 July 2024
The Commission has granted €21 million under the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) to support the construction of a 1,300-seat eco-friendly concert hall in the city of Ostrava, Czechia, that will serve as a venue for diverse cultural and educational events and will contribute to the diversification of the economy of the Moravia-Silesia region out of fossil fuels. The funding will be complemented by a loan worth €84 million issued by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Concert Hall will rely on renewable energy thanks to the installation of approximately 392 solar panels and its connection to geothermal wells. The latest materials used in the building’s construction will ensure better insulation and maximum energy efficiency savings. The use of natural light will also reduce the building’s energy needs as well as its dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said: “This world-class green architectural endeavour will help to redefine Ostrava's identity, symbolising its transition from a coal and steel industry hub to a vibrant, modern metropolis with a flourishing cultural and creative sector that fully embodies the New European Bauhaus spirit and principles. The Ostrava Concert Hall will create jobs and support the diversification of the city.”
Both strands of funding come from the third pillar of the JTM, the Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF). The Facility combines grants from the Commission with loans from the EIB to public sector entities in the regions most affected by the transition to a net-zero economy.
Ostrava is located in the Moravian-Silesian region, which is one of the 96 territories across the EU benefitting from support under the JTM, which comprises the Just Transition Fund, a special just transition window under InvestEU, and the PSLF for a just transition.