Zlín, Regional capital in eastern Moravia, Czech Republic
Zlín is a regional capital in eastern Moravia that spreads across the valley of the Dřevnice river and stands out for its geometrically planned buildings and industrial architecture. Red brick facades and wide, orderly streets define the center and surrounding neighborhoods that climb up the slopes.
In the late 19th century, the founding of a shoe factory changed the character of the small settlement and turned it into an industrial center. During the 1920s and 1930s, a uniform urban architecture took shape that still defines the appearance today.
The town takes its name from the Czech word for clay farmsteads once common in this valley, and today the red brick structures define every corner of the urban fabric. Locals rely on the trolleybus network and wide pedestrian paths that run between the geometrically arranged blocks, shaping the rhythm of daily routines.
Most buildings in the center are accessible at ground level, as the streets are wide and the sidewalks run continuously. Those who want to explore should allow time to wander through the different districts and view the architecture from various angles.
The trolleybus network uses a particular track gauge of 1000 millimeters, rare in Europe and originally laid out to transport workers to the factory. The red brick buildings were constructed following a uniform grid measurement that also repeats in windows and doors.
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