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(the audio version of the interview can be listened to (
here)
Before we begin talking about the Black Meadow Cluster, it would be good to define what exactly a “cluster” is.
The term cluster originally comes from computer technology. It is basically a group of computers all linked together. But today it is used in a much more general sense to mean a group of individual components whose mutual synergy or cooperation create a whole that is stronger than its individual parts.
There are quite a number of cultural clusters in the world today. Could we look at some concrete examples of how a cultural cluster works in practice?
When you looks at how cities have developed in the past ten to twenty years, then you see this strong tendency. We’ve been in the post-industrial period for a long time now, and the creative industries, which are closely tied to culture, are starting to dominate. A number of cities have realized this, and when they build new things, when they invest in culture and the creative industries, insofar as possible they try to concentrate these things all in one place, based on the principle of the cluster which we just spoke about. They try to situate all of the structures close to one another and derive some mutual benefits from this proximity. A number of cities have already done this. We can name some of those which are comparable with Ostrava due to their industrial past, such as Lille, Manchester, certainly a famous example is Bilbao, also Liverpool, in part also Rotterdam, Almere in the Netherlands or Valencia in Spain. These are cities that have selected a suitable area for building a cluster and then are trying to concentrate all the components there. It is important to note that these are never bad, hopeless areas which they wish to improve through investment, but they are mostly very good areas with great potential, in proximity to the historical city centres, close to parks, rivers. These structures then help to improve the given area, to boost its importance.
Now we come concretely to the Black Meadow Cluster. How should it look? What buildings should be constructed on this land?
From the general characteristics that I described when I spoke about various European and international cities, several possibilities came to mind for Ostrava, of which the most significant and interesting proved to be the former exhibition grounds on Black Meadow, because it fulfils the aforementioned criteria. It is in close proximity to the historical city centre, the Ostravice River runs along it, it is essentially a green area with plenty of trees and dilapidated buildings, and it is terribly underutilized, so the potential is there. But it isn’t necessary to build everything from scratch. We can compare this with the project at the former Karolina mine and coking plant, where a huge investment is required just to get to a basic level from which to start. So Black Meadow presents a great tablecloth on which it is possible to serve individual meals. And what should appear there are things that Ostrava has been lacking for a long time. Whether a concert hall or a Kunsthalle, which isn’t a municipal museum with its own permanent collection but a lively art gallery. It is important to state that the purpose isn’t to create some kind of “ghetto of high culture” and enclose it with walls, but if it is to be a true cluster then it can’t be aimed in only one direction. It is a well-known fact that stability is found in diversity. So individual components are sought that relate to one another and whose close presence can be mutually beneficial. Therefore these two important structures that I mentioned are complemented by a trio of schools – preschool, elementary and high school – and a creative incubator for educating people in the area of cultural management. Simply being situated there, in direct proximity to the rest of the cultural buildings, presents a huge advantage. For example, ideas that are investigated in the incubator or at the university can be tested out just a few metres away. The same is true for schools, for which connection with a high-quality green outdoor environment is extremely important. This also applies to the so-called Music Pavilion or centre for modern music. When we name all the individual components, it is clear that the long-term presence of people is essential. To a certain extent that is taken care of by the cluster being near the historical city centre. Nonetheless, I think that it will be necessary to complement this cultural programme with residential housing.
One of the main goals mentioned in connection with the establishment of the Black Meadow Cluster is to retain city residents, to prevent their outward migration. How can the cluster achieve this, aside from the fact that it provides a pleasant place to spend leisure time and possibly to reside?
All the structures that I’ve mentioned are certainly a source of employment, and for a relatively large number of people. Another thing is the creative industries about which I spoke. The principle of a cluster depends on things that are relatively similar being bundled together. It’s possible that rentable living spaces for people who work in the creative industries would be established in close proximity, perhaps with more advantageous conditions, so that they could live in the area. I would not, however, neglect this high-quality and pleasant space. It can have a huge influence on people’s decision whether or not to live in a given city. Certainly, when people don’t have employment in a city, they don’t have a reason to live there. But there’s also the question of whether they live well in that city, if they like it, if it seems pleasant to them – these factors are extremely important in a person’s decision about whether to stay or not. And a number of international cities have realized this. In the world today, there is competition for people. All cities not only try to prevent people with high potential from leaving, but they also try to attract people from elsewhere. In in this competition, cities must have something to offer their residents. When you make a ranking of priorities, access to a high-quality environment, to be able to go to the park, to be satisfied with the environment in which people find themselves. All that has an enormous influence on whether people feel well or poorly.
The first step towards developing the Black Meadow Cluster was the announcement of an urban planning competition. Who all was contacted? And what are the requirements of the competition?
It is primarily an urban concept competition, which is terribly important to emphasize. It isn’t a competition for a building commission, for a project. It isn’t a competition in which whoever wins will realize great thing. It is a survey of ideas about how to proceed in such places in connection with the programme we spoke about. It is a combined competition. We invited five prestigious architecture studios to take part in the competition, but at the same time it is open to any other studios both in the Czech Republic as well as in the European Union. It is not only a competition for the investigation of favourable places and placement of the individual structures which we spoke of, but possibly much more about the layout of the space between the buildings. In essence, it might be said that it is a competition about public space in the 21st century, which sounds somewhat pretentious, but it’s necessary to remember that the utilization of public space has changed enormously in the past twenty to forty years. This competition should look for answers to the questions of what are people’s needs are today and how this outdoor environment should look.
A practical question that will probably be of interest to all Ostrava residents: Who will pay for it? From what sources will the construction of the cluster be financed?
One issue is the expenditures for running this urban planning competition. That certainly will be paid for from municipal funds. But these funds are negligible in comparison with the finances that will be needed to realize the cluster. This project is part of Ostrava’s application in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2015. And I think that it is very dependent on the success of the application. Winning the competition certainly doesn’t guarantee you a huge flood of money, but it gives you the opportunity to be able to apply for individual grants for important projects. I think that a big part of the money would flow in from these sources.
That means that should Ostrava not succeed, the Black Meadow Cluster would be endangered?
I think that it would definitely be endangered. But that doesn’t mean that the entire project would be abolished. Certainly it would mean major modifications, reductions and a lowering of goals. The aims I described are quite maximal. Even if only a minimal version were realized, which would consist of a streamlining and revision of the grounds, in changes to pedestrian paths, clearance, clean-up, maintenance and removal of things that have already served their purpose and are in bad technical condition, then even that would be a giant gain for Ostrava. But individual cultural buildings are highly dependent on Ostrava’s success in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture.
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