Central European Forum Olomouc - architectural study

Exhibition:
Museum of Art Olomouc – Museum of Modern Art, Denisova 47, 771 11 Olomouc
October 8 – October 18, 2009
Opening: October 8, 2009 | 6:30 PM | Museum of Modern Art | Discussion Hall

ORGANIZER
Museum of Art Olomouc
CONCEPT
Jan Šépka, Pavel Zatloukal
CURATOR
Michal Soukup
VISUALIZATION
Design4function s.r.o.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Václav Derner, Petr Šmalec
LARGE FORMAT PRINTING
GRAPO s.r.o.

The ambitious project of the Central European Forum Olomouc (SEFO) has advanced from the preparation stage to the decisive phase, which involves an investment of 500 million CZK from the Integrated Operational Program for the reconstruction of the Museum of Art Olomouc and the construction of a new building in the gap on Denisova Street. After resolving property and legal issues related to the purchase of land for the new building and the unexpected rejection of the architectural competition by the Czech Chamber of Architects, the Olomouc museum managed, in cooperation with a team of invited architects led by Michal Sborwitz, to complete the architectural study within a short period of two months. The public can get acquainted with the first concrete vision of the future appearance of SEFO at the exhibition taking place from October 8 to October 18.

The Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic is preparing investment subsidies for large cultural projects as part of the Integrated Operational Program. The Museum of Art Olomouc (MUO) is also applying for a subsidy of 500 million CZK. “If we succeed, we will use the subsidy to build the Central European Forum Olomouc, which is to be established through the reconstruction of the Museum of Modern Art complex on Denisova Street and an extension in the neighboring gap,” stated MUO director Pavel Zatloukal.
The realization of this ambitious project, which aims to establish collections, exhibitions, and publications focusing on various expressions of visual culture in the Central European region, particularly modern and contemporary art, has been accompanied by complex circumstances from the start. “Just when we thought we had finally resolved the property law issues related to the purchase of parcels, we had to deal with an unexpected complication in preparing the architectural competition for the new building's design and reconstruction,” Zatloukal recalled, noting that the museum had prepared the tender according to the Public Procurement Law from 2006 for two years, but the Czech Chamber of Architects surprisingly refused to recommend participation in the competition to its members. “Chamber representatives informed us that they consider the competition to be irregular and will impose disciplinary measures against participating competitors or jurors who are members of the chamber. They could only recommend participation if we complied with the chamber's idea of rewards, but at the cost of violating the Public Procurement Act! Therefore, we had to reluctantly withdraw from the competition,” summarized the museum director (the Czech Chamber of Architects' statement on this matter can be found here> (note from the editor)).
The museum had to choose a different path - it commissioned the creation of an architectural study as a smaller scale project. “We turned to two of the most prominent Czech architects, Michal Sborwitz and Jan Šépka, with whom we also had a lot of experience from the past regarding the reconstruction of the Museum of Modern Art as well as the Archdiocesan Museum,” Zatloukal described the process. The result of the collaboration, which due to the necessity of submitting a grant application in the autumn months could only last two months, will be presented at the exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art from October 8 to October 18. In addition to visualizations of the exterior and interior of SEFO, historical photographs and depictions of the location of the projected building, visitors will also be able to “walk” through the future museum via a virtual tour. “And just like in the case of the first exhibition related to SEFO, which introduced the public to the collection items that could form the basis of the new permanent exhibition, we would also like to open a discussion forum surrounding our project in lieu of traditional openings for the current exhibition, but also on current or general questions and issues that relate to it,” the museum director pointed out.
What kind of architectural study is it? According to Zatloukal, its fundamental motif is the polarity applied and developed in many positions. “The architects managed to connect the polarity of two Olomouc worlds that intersect at the site of the projected project – the monumental masses of the Castle and the fine subdivision of the city itself. On one hand, there remains a clear structure and rhythm of the Enlightenment and Classicist-designed old museum palace. On the other hand, five new houses have been proposed in the gap where five houses once existed, which, in addition to just one, not only respect the street line but also, through varying depths of development, become a kind of essence of Gothic urbanism,” he summarized and emphasized that the museum is extremely satisfied with the study. “We believe that it will enable the creation of a unique work,” he added.
Since the SEFO project has advanced from the preparation stage to the decisive phase, the museum considers it appropriate to continuously inform the public about its current status according to Zatloukal. This will primarily be done through the website. Within the internet presentation of the Museum of Art Olomouc www.olmuart.cz, a separate section for SEFO will be created in both Czech and then also in English. “Through the web, we want to inform the public not only about the characteristics of the project, including its ideas, architecture, exhibition activities, acquisition activities, the content of the O. F. Babler Library, but also about its history. The most important part of the SEFO website will be the news section, which will cover both traditional updates and press services for the media, as well as a video library, through which interested parties can watch video recordings from press conferences or public discussions related to the project, and a webcam – a camera focused on the location that will allow users to monitor the progress of the construction,” informed MUO deputy director Michal Soukup about the content of the project's internet presentation.
What will follow in terms of project realization? In the autumn, the museum will announce a competition for the author of all subsequent design phases while simultaneously preparing to submit an application for a subsidy. An archaeological survey of the construction site will also begin. “If we succeed with the subsidy application, next year will be dedicated to completing the construction project, processing the building permit, and the competition for the general contractor. Construction and reconstruction are expected to begin in 2012. Concurrently, we will prepare both permanent exhibitions and other accompanying events, including publications. We must also plan the challenging relocation of collections and some operations, not only of the museum but also of the Music Theatre. SEFO could be handed over to the public in the autumn of 2014 – a quarter of a century after 1989 and simultaneously after the museum's independence,” concluded Zatloukal.
The Central European Forum Olomouc (SEFO), which was ceremonially founded on June 20, 2008, at the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc during a meeting of representatives from the ministries of culture of the Visegrad Group countries, represents the largest investment project in terms of Olomouc's culture. It is one of 16 projects that the Ministry of Culture intends to support with European funds from the Integrated Operational Program. SEFO will systematically capture the visual culture of the Central European region after World War II, build its permanent exhibition, organize short-term exhibitions, and larger mid-term exhibitions like triennials; it will also include a new central repository for artworks, an international research and training center, including a large library, a newly transformed Music Theatre, and the former Central cinema for approximately 200 spectators, as well as a café, restaurant, and bookshop (bookstore (note from the editor)).

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2007
August 1, 2007
The Museum of Art Olomouc received the first offer to present a project within the Integrated Operational Program.

August 10, 2007
The Museum of Art Olomouc submitted the first draft of the SEFO project, warning about possible complications in acquiring parcels in the gap adjacent to the museum.

August 24, 2007
The Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička visited Olomouc, announcing that SEFO had become part of the so-called Indicative List of projects that the ministry counts on supporting within the IOP.
Simultaneously, negotiations began regarding the possibilities of buying land in the gap neighboring the museum.

September 2007
The Museum of Art announces through professional journals that it is working on preparing an architectural competition for the SEFO project.

December 2007
Specification of the project proposal, its ideological content, acquisition activity of the new institution, and the libretto of its permanent exhibition.

2008
June 20, 2008
The ceremonial establishment of the Central European Forum culminated on Friday, June 20, at the Archdiocesan Museum with a two-day meeting of culture ministers and ministry experts from the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. The symbolic founding charter was signed by the Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička, the State Secretary of the Republic of Poland Piotr Żuchowski, the State Secretary of the Republic of Hungary Ferenc Csák, and the State Secretary of the Slovak Republic Jozef Augustin Lang.

August 18, 2008
The SEFO project is in jeopardy. It has become a hostage of one of the landowners in the gap in the city center, where the new building is supposed to be constructed. The land is owned by a total of five different owners, including the Statutory City of Olomouc. Four of them agreed to the financial settlement offered by the museum. However, the owners of the remaining parcels (Nos. 458 and 254, covering an area of 395 m2) have not been willing to accept the settlement of 17,270 CZK/m2 after three-quarters of a year of negotiations (the current price map for this part of the city indicates 9,770 CZK/m2). The limit of around 17,000 CZK per square meter is considered non-negotiable by the Ministry of Culture.

September 2008
The owners of the last unbought parcels sold the properties not to the Museum of Art, but to businessman Miroslav Barnet. State officials are searching in three regions for land or property to offer Mr. Barnet as a replacement. A replacement is being sought in the Olomouc, Zlin, and South Moravian regions. Miroslav Barnet wants to exchange the disputed land for the former Zenit complex, which he leases. However, this is no longer possible, as the complex has been exchanged for two other parcels.

2009
January 22, 2009
To introduce the public to the Central European Forum Olomouc (SEFO) project and simultaneously to what has already been acquired for its planned permanent exhibition. These are the main goals of the exhibition Central European Forum Olomouc 2009. The opening exhibition of the year is symbolic for the year-round efforts of the Olomouc museum. The Olomouc museum intends to preview the opening of the new institution with a chamber exhibition every year.

February 2009
The owner of the remaining land on which SEFO is to be built did not choose from the offered properties. He demands not only financial compensation but also the historical Edelmann Palace in Olomouc's Upper Square, which is owned by the Statutory City of Olomouc.

March 25, 2009
The Olomouc City Council decided that the city would sell the Edelmann Palace to businessman Miroslav Barnet for 38 million CZK. Part of the price will be paid by the businessman through the transfer of his land on Denisova Street, which the Museum of Art needs for the future SEFO. He values the 395-square-meter plot at 9.5 million CZK. The city will then sell it to the museum. The businessman will pay the remaining price. 32 of the 41 present council members approved the sale of the Edelmann Palace, while eight were against it.

March 31, 2009
The city of Olomouc signed an exchange contract with Miroslav Barnet concerning the exchange of the land needed for the construction of SEFO. However, the contract only becomes effective upon the issuance of a positive Decision on Rental Funding from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic for the SEFO project. If this condition is not met, the contract is canceled.

End of March 2009
Completion of the grant application including feasibility study.

April 2009
The Ministry of Culture informs the Museum of Art that it cannot submit a grant application without a prepared architectural study. The Museum of Art is subsequently ready to announce an architectural competition.

May, June 2009
On the final wording of the competition conditions for the proposal according to the Public Procurement Law No. 137/2006 Coll., the museum worked with both a specialized firm and the Ministry of Culture, as well as the Czech Chamber of Architects. Based on § 102, paragraph 1, it was to be a one-round anonymous competition for obtaining an architectural study, which was to be followed by a public contract in negotiated procedure without publication according to § 23, paragraph 6 of the cited Public Procurement Law. In short, the entire project contract was to be awarded to the competition winner. The competition was to be announced on July 7. However, the Chamber of Architects refused the competition, stating that it would impose disciplinary action against competing participants or jurors if they participated. The chamber, contrary to the law, required that alongside the project contract, the winner also be granted prizes and rewards. As a state-funded organization, however, the museum must unconditionally comply with the law. It had to withdraw from the competition and proceed by another lawful means - commissioning the architectural study as a smaller project to architect Michal Sborwitz, who involved Jan Šépka for collaboration.

September 12, 2009
On the occasion of the Europa Nostra award presentation, which the Museum of Art received for a series of restoration exhibitions, a Declaration of Cooperation on the Central European Forum Olomouc project was signed. The general document was signed by Minister of Culture Václav Riedlbauch, the Governor of the Olomouc Region Martin Tesařík, the Olomouc Mayor Martin Novotný, the Rector of Palacký University, and MUO deputy director Miroslava Týralová.