UNESCO: The Czech Republic should consider the impact of skyscrapers in Prague on monuments

Christchurch (New Zealand) - The Czech Republic should consider projects for the construction of high-rise buildings in the metropolis from the perspective of their potential impact on the values of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Plans should respect the visual integrity of the historical core of Prague. This was stated in a discussion by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Zealand, Lada Pekárková from the Heritage Department of the municipal office, who is participating in the meeting, told the Czech News Agency today.
An ongoing and controversial project in Prague is the construction of new high-rise buildings on the Pankrác Plain. Local civic associations are opposing the investor's intentions. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which is an advisory body to the UNESCO committee, also disagrees with it. In contrast, municipal heritage officials and the Prague branch of the National Heritage Institute have issued supportive statements.
The committee's final conclusion, according to Pekárková, will be refined only at the end of the meeting. It will then be sent to the Czech Republic through diplomatic channels, she stated. The committee also requested that the situation be evaluated by a group of experts who should be officially invited to Prague, Pekárková added.
At the beginning of the discussion about Prague, a report was presented based on materials sent from the metropolis, according to her. "The committee members who spoke in the discussion mostly knew Prague, its historical core, and environment personally, including the geographical conditions and heritage values," noted Pekárková.
According to the investor's plans, the company ECM, two additional high-rise buildings will be added to the current three on the Pankrác Plain. The residential building in the shape of a "V" is said to have 31 floors, while the cylindrical hotel will have ten fewer. The central office of the National Heritage Institute previously pointed out that the buildings are to be located in close proximity to the historical core of the metropolis, which would affect the Prague skyline.
At the end of May, the Ministry of Culture suspended the administrative proceedings regarding the construction permit. In assessing the matter, it must wait for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to discuss the issue. The meeting will end on July 3.