Read how the New Myslivna project was born, which replaced the original dilapidated buildings. We bring you answers to the most interesting, most frequent and most controversial questions related to the topic of this iconic Brno place, which is now getting a new face and life.
Question 1: Why did you demolish Myslivna?
We have been running the Myslivna hotel and restaurant since 2011, and for more than a decade it has grown on us despite all the "tricky things" it has prepared for us. We have spent tens of thousands of hours there - with guests and our friends, but also with the dozens of people who helped us keep the dilapidated building alive. The decision to demolish it was not an easy one for us, and it came after a confluence of factors made the operation unsustainable. The first "blow" to Myslivna was dealt by the covid crisis followed by the energy crisis, which made it extremely expensive to operate the hotel and restaurant built decades ago. At the same time, the tourist industry was dampened and Brno lost several important events that brought hundreds of guests to Myslivna - especially the Grand Prix of Motorcycles, part of the trade fairs. We could still run the hotel for some time, but we would never be able to ensure its reconstruction.
Question 2: Did you foresee the demolition of the hotel from the beginning?
We didn't. Myslivna was also our heartthrob, and that was one of the reasons why we bought it from the city of Brno in 2011. By the way, the city tried unsuccessfully to sell it since 2008, but no one was interested. After we took over the hotel, we continued to operate it, and thanks to us, it served as a popular accommodation for visitors to Brno and a tourist destination for people from the surrounding area for more than ten years. It is likely that without us the hotel and restaurant would have been closed much earlier.
Question 3: Was Myslivna a listed building?
It wasn't. And it is not true that Myslivna had conservation protection in the past and lost it because of an official mistake, as you will sometimes read. We understand the "personal" relationship of the Brno people to Myslivna, and we had it too. But from a construction point of view it was not an exceptional building. Let's take a closer look at it: the whole complex consisted of two parts - a cruise restaurant built according to a project by architect Bohuslav Tureček in 1938-1939 and a hotel complex built in the 1970s and 1980s. Both buildings did not differ significantly in their conception from similar contemporary buildings. The hotel had some interesting interior elements and furnishings. Some of these elements and furnishings have been preserved and we expect to keep them as a reference to the original building in Nová Myslivna.
Question 4: Was it really not possible to reconstruct the Myslivna?
In theory, reconstruction would be possible, but at an extreme cost that would not allow an economic return. Before we took over Myslivna in 2011, it was only maintained at the lowest possible cost. The biggest problem was the outdated technology, such as the electrical wiring, water and heat distribution, sewage system or even the roof insulation. After the events of 2020 - especially the covid crisis, the reduction of tourism and the end of some major events in Brno - it was clear that reconstruction was not economically viable. Therefore, we started looking for a new way.
Question 5: Why not rebuild the hotel instead?
We considered this option as well, but Brno has enough accommodation capacities given the current economic strength and level of tourism, and more are being built near the business parks. At the same time, we believe that the New Myslivny project will return the place to Brno residents more than if it were only used by guests coming to the city for a few nights.
Question 6: Will Nová Myslivna be accessible to people who do not live there?
We ourselves perceive the symbolism of the place and we have designed the whole project so that it will remain an important point on the map of Brno. Nová Myslivna will once again house a restaurant that will be open to the public. It won't be a closed complex that visitors from the surrounding area won't be able to get to and look at it through the fence.
Question 7: How much bigger will Nová Myslivna be? Will it not destroy the surrounding countryside?
A whole team of renowned architects has worked on the Nová Myslivna project with one goal in mind - to create a pleasant place to live that will blend in with the surrounding countryside. This is no more restrictive than the original complex; the surrounding forests will remain untouched. We have also tried to design the whole building to fit in with its surroundings. Its proportions are more respectful of the surrounding terrain and it fits in with its surroundings.
Question 8: Couldn't we at least keep the restaurant?
The original cruise restaurant, to which the hotel building from the 1970s was connected, was built between 1938 and 1939 according to a design by the architect Bohuslav Tureček. The building has not undergone any significant reconstruction in all this time, it was partly made of wood. When the hotel was completed, it was connected to the new complex. It was not possible to preserve it separately, moreover the building was at the end of its life after 85 years.
Question 9: Who will live in Nová Myslivna?
We have a clear philosophy. We want to make Nová Myslivna a place that is truly liveable. A place where people will meet, where new friendships will be formed between neighbours. We are doing everything we can to sell the flats to those who will actually use them, not to speculators. We don't want to turn Nová Myslivna and out of respect for the place into a tourist hostel using shared accommodation online platforms.
