Věžový dům Ostrčilova, Modernist skyscraper in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
The Věžový dům Ostrčilova is a 65-meter tall tower with 22 above-ground floors and 2 basement levels in Ostrava's city center. The structure uses a cast concrete core with elevator shaft, combined with metal staircases and thin-wall partitions throughout.
The building was completed in 1971 and originally housed 110 residential units before being converted to office space in 1978. The change followed structural modifications that made a different use of the space possible.
The building embodies late modernist design principles and shows how Ostrava transformed its city center during the socialist era. The architecture reflects the period's belief that tall structures could redefine urban living.
The upper third of the building from the 14th floor onward has been off-limits since 2004 after evacuations due to insufficient fire safety measures and emergency exits. Visitors should know that only lower levels are accessible, if the building is open for tours at all.
The building was constructed using the experimental V-OS system, an innovative construction method of its time that combined a prefabricated concrete core with flexible interior walls. This approach was unusual for the early 1970s and shows the technical ambition behind the project.
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