On the 18th and 19th of September 2025, another edition of the Biennial Conference of Urbanism took place in Valašské Klobouky, this time with the subtitle “Innovation on the Road to Sustainability”. The event attracted dozens of experts from the fields of architecture, urbanism, construction, urban development, and business, offering inspiring insights into the future of urban and municipal settlements.

Sustainable development of cities and municipalities

The morning session focused primarily on strategies for sustainable development of cities and municipalities. Ms. Dagmar Vránová provided insight into the new European architectural initiative New Bauhaus, which is led by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Hana Šindelková presented the role of the CzechInvest agency in the promotion of investment, particularly in brownfields. “Our goal is to transform brownfield sites into modern spaces that support business and create quality living and housing conditions. The regeneration of these areas is a way to strengthen the economy of cities and the sustainable development of municipalities as a whole,” says Adéla Kattauerová, director of the CzechInvest regional office in Zlín.

The presentation by the State Investment Support Fund, specifically Bára Raková, highlighted possible approaches to urban planning in terms of efficiency and long-term sustainability. “The scale of a settlement is one of the basic factors influencing its quality. If we want to design an environment that is not only functional but also sustainable, we must always consider the proportions and relationships between the city and the landscape,” emphasizes Tomáš Pavlovský from FAST VUT Brno, who concluded the information-packed morning.

Innovative approaches to construction and housing

The afternoon part of the program presented examples of innovative use of wood and modular construction, opportunities for cooperation between architects and developers, and practical experiences of local authorities with investment management.

The fundamental ideals of sustainable construction in harmony with ecology and modern technologies were presented by the owner of the company Kloboucká lesní, Vojtěch Dorňák in tandem with Jan Vondrák from the architectural studio Mjölk. Stanislav Martinec, the innovative director and visionary from KOMA MODULAR, shared his thoughts on the use of modularity, which opens the door to circular and sustainable construction. Vojtěch Juřenčák, co-owner of Eko modular, and Pavel Šánek from the architectural studio Semela Ateliers then spoke about the cooperation of architects in the implementation of modular wooden buildings.

In the final contribution, the mayor of Hanušovice outlined the steps that a mayor must take to ensure a functional housing policy while minimizing the risks and possible negative impacts of housing development. “From the municipality’s point of view, it is important not only who pays, but above all who manages the investment and how. It is our duty as a distant municipality to seek models where the municipality itself acts as an investor and at the same time is able to respond to the needs of its inhabitants,” explains Marek Kostka, mayor of Hanušovice in the Šumperk region.

The Thursday program ended with an engaging lecture by doc. Ing. arch. Kamil Mrva, Ph.D., who showed how sustainability in urban planning can be strengthened through modern design, the use of wood, and cooperation between architects and municipalities. The municipality of Trojanovice in the Beskydy region has proven that this approach is truly beneficial for the development of communities.

The accompanying program of the conference also included an exhibition from the Wooden Buildings Salon, which presented the latest trends in modern wooden buildings constructed in Czechia last year.

Valašské Klobouky as a center of inspiration and interdisciplinary encounters

“I am delighted that the smallest business incubator on the periphery of the Czech Republic has become a place where experts, local governments, entrepreneurs, and students connect. Our goal is to create partnerships inspired by innovation and, at the same time, to support the region in its sustainable development through the best possible projects, which we are currently preparing in the field of housing,” says Petr Kozel, director of the Business Incubator in Valašské Klobouky and main organizer of the event.

On Friday, 19th of September, conference participants went on an excursion to the important regional company JANOŠÍK OKNA-DVEŘE, where craftsmanship meets creativity and innovation. The company’s visionary approach is reflected in the complete renovation of an old hall into a modern building called Spoj – a showroom for windows, doors, and glass walls, which also serves as the company’s headquarters. “For us, this project is the embodiment of our corporate philosophy, where we connect building interiors with the surrounding landscape and literally let nature into buildings with our large frameless windows. For us, innovation is not just about technology, but also about our approach to people and the environment. We want our products to be an example of quality that respects nature,” says Jakub Janošík.

The conference was organized by the Business Incubator in Valašské Klobouky in cooperation with FAST VUT Brno, the national CzechInvest agency, and other partners. The expert guarantor was Ing. arch. Tomáš Pavlovský, Ph.D., from FAST VUT Brno.

Presentations from the event are available upon request from the director of the Business Incubator in Valašské Klobouky.

Contact:

Petr Kozel

T: +420 605 701 120; E: petr.kozel@vpcsro.eu, W: www.vpcsro.eu