Major shopping scheme will create a new retail heart for the city
On 29th May Multi Development Czech Republic celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony in Ústí nad Labem, which marks the start of the construction of Forum Ústí nad Labem, a 24,000 m˛ regeneration scheme in the city. The construction is anticipated to be completed during the autumn of 2009.
The ceremony attracted a significant number of stakeholders, the Mayor Mgr. Jan Kubata, representatives from the City Council and other influential people.
Commenting at the ceremony Ronald Dasbach, Multi Czech Republic’s Managing Director said: "Forum Ústí nad Labem will create a new and intimate shopping area around the beautiful historic church. This monument with its leaning tower will become the highlight of the new centre. It is an example of synergy between retail and leisure and culture. The project will complete the inner city and make an excellent connection with the train station and the bus station. It will transform the area from a location to a destination."
The Project
The Forum Ústí development is located in the heart of the old city. The site was once used as a market place and includes Ústí’s famous Pisa-like church with a leaning tower.
Forum Ústí will significantly improve the city’s retail offer with 24.000 m˛ of prime retail space including a 1.600 m˛ Supermarket on the ground floor, a seven screen Cinema with 1200 seats on the first floor, retail and leisure space, a food court with restaurants and cafés with a pleasant view of the outside, and 640 parking spaces. Forum Ústí will have two levels and will be built around the historic old church and square. The church inspired the design of the project and will once again become Ústí’s defining inner-city landmark. Cafés and restaurants on the ground floor will be situated towards the city square, and have terraces.
The concept
The philosophy behind this project developed by Multi Development and designed by inhouse Architects T+T Design is to strengthen the position of the center of the city, to improve the quality of life and to increase the prestige of Ústí nad Labem as a regional destination by creating a high quality public area pulsing with life and serving the residents of the city.
The combination of a wide selection of shops amongst which are many top retail brands, together with the leisure facilities will prolong the time people spend in the city and stimulate activities during the day and at night. Forum Ústí will give international brands their first opportunity to enter the North Bohemian market. In addition, a modern integrated transport hub will be created.
The development will significantly contribute to regenerating the area by bringing economic growth and new job opportunities to Ústí nad Labem. It is expected that 400-600 jobs will be created.
The city
Ústí nad Labem is the 9th largest city in the Czech Republic and it belongs among the oldest, largest and most important centers of the Northern Bohemia. Before the start of construction important archaeological surveys were performed near the site. The archeologists have discovered prehistoric items which are dating back as early as 5000 years B.C.
Ústí has a population of 120,000 people and is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of the region. Its catchment area covers the whole of Northern Bohemia and extends over the border into the German province of Saxony, a catchment area of approximately 400,000 people.
The accessibility is excellent from many directions. Ústí nad Labem is mainly an industrial city, featuring chemicals - and food industries as well as engineering. Thanks to the university, it has quite a young population. The Ústí region is a popular tourist destination thanks to the natural beauty of the Czech Highland, Elbe Sandstones and Natural Park Eastern Erzgebirge. A lot of cross-border German tourist “shoppers” head to this region through the frontier crossing at Cínovec.