The astonishing feature of the city's architectural development was a characteristic synthesis of two modernist urban utopian visions: the first inspired by Ebenezer Howard's Garden city movement and the second tracing its lineage to Le Corbusier's vision of urban modernity. From the very beginning Bata pursued the goal of constructing the Garden City proposed by Ebenezer Howard. However, the shape of the city had to be 'modernized' so as to suit the needs of the company and of the expanding community. Zlin's distinctive architecture was guided by principles that were strictly observed during its whole inter-war development. Its central theme was the derivation of all architectural elements from the factory buildings. The central position of the industrial production in the life of all Zlin inhabitants was to be highlighted. Hence the same building materials (red bricks, glass, reinforced concrete) were used for the construction of all public (and most private) edifices. The common structural element of Zlin architecture is a square bay of 20x20 feet (6.15x6.15 m). Although modified by several variations, this high modernist style leads to a high degree of uniformity of all buildings. It highlights the central and unique idea of an industrial garden city at the same time. Architectural and urban functionalism was to serve the demands of a modern city. The simplicity of its buildings which also translated into its functional adaptability was to prescribe (and also react to) the needs of everyday life.

Tomas Bata University in Zlin or Tomas Bata University in Zlin (TBU, Czech Univerzita Tomase Bati ve Zline) is a newly established university in the town of Zlin, the Czech Republic. Tomas Bata University in Zlin (TBU) is a dynamic and fast growing higher education institution. It has six faculties which offer students the opportunity to pursue various degree programs in the fields of humanities, economics, technology, management, natural sciences and art. Tomas Bata University in Zlin (TBU) is a progressive university, open to all kinds of practically and academically stimulating ideas. Over the years, TBU has grown to become one of the most prominent research centres in the Czech Republic and, in many respects, also abroad. Currently, the student population of university stands at 13,500. Therefore, Tomas Bata University ranks amongst medium-sized universities in the Czech Republic. A vital aspect of the activities of the University is research and development. In review of this, TBU has developed formidable partnership and cooperation with a number of research institutions all over the world, both within the European Union and in Canada, India, the United States, Russia, Japan and China among others. The Polymer Centre of the university is an outstanding research unit which primarily conduct basic research into polymer materials and polymer processes.