In the centre of Zlín, just a short walk from the railway and bus stations, you will find the 14|15 BAŤA INSTITUTE – a modern cultural and educational centre that is unquestionably worth a visit. This unique complex was created through the sensitive transformation of two former factory buildings in the Baťa factory complex.
The industrial buildings, marked with the characteristic Baťa numbers 14 and 15, were designed between 1946 and 1949 by the distinguished architect Jiří Voženílek, one of the most influential figures shaping Zlín’s post-war development. The buildings replaced factory halls destroyed during the bombing of Zlín in November 1944, when Allied air forces targeted the industrial zone. Building No. 15 was completed first, in 1947; two years later, it was joined by Building No. 14. Both structures represented a new type of production building – Voženílek preserved the characteristic three-bay layout of Baťa buildings, but expanded the modular grid to 7.85 × 6.15 metres with an emphasis on improving working conditions.
Under the national enterprise Svit, shoe production continued here until the 1990s. After the Svit conglomerate went bankrupt in 1994, production ceased and the site gradually deteriorated. It was only in 2008 that the Zlín region purchased the derelict buildings. Following extensive reconstruction completed in 2013, the buildings were transformed into a vibrant centre of culture and education – now home to the Regional Gallery of Fine Arts, the Museum of South-East Moravia and the František Bartoš Regional Library.
The Regional Gallery of Fine Arts is a place where art really comes alive. In addition to the permanent exhibition + - Zlín, you can explore the print room, visit numerous exhibitions, events and accompanying programmes held throughout the year. There are also creative workshops and an art playground called Galeřiště for children. At the Museum of South-East Moravia, you will discover the unique permanent exhibition The Baťa Principle: Today Fantasy, Tomorrow Reality, the largest shoe collection in Central Europe, an exhibition dedicated to animation, and displays on the adventurous expeditions of travellers Hanzelka and Zikmund. The František Bartoš Regional Library, the largest library in the Zlín region, has also found its home in modern spaces. It offers more than half a million documents in various formats – from traditional books to magazines to digital resources.
On the ground floor of Building 15 you will also find the Red Brick Design Shop, full of stylish clothing, handbags and jewellery from dozens of Czech brands, many of them originating directly from Zlín and its surroundings. After your dose of inspiration, stop by the bistro, which tempts visitors with dishes made from regional ingredients – the perfect stop for coffee, a light lunch or a snack.
The two buildings are linked by a large concrete platform that hosts concerts, festivals and open-air events throughout the year. And while you are there, do not forget to look up – between the buildings run the original belt conveyors that once transported materials and finished products.
14|15 BAŤA INSTITUTE is a place rich in art, architecture and history. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the Baťa phenomenon and to understand how Zlín evolved into a city known around the world.
Contact:
14|15 BAŤŮV INSTITUT
14 a 15. budova továrního areálu, Vavrečkova 7040, Zlín
Phone Number: +420 573 032 111
website: www.14-15.cz/en/
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