Architects have called on the city of Cheb to announce a competition for the extension of the Cheb theatre

Cheb - Architects, architecture students, and other individuals from the field of visual arts have urged the leadership of Cheb to hold an architectural competition for the extension of the West Bohemian Theatre Cheb building. So far, the city prefers the project by architect Luboš Mašek, who has proposed an extension at the back of the historic building to replace the already inadequate d-club opposite the theatre. The organizers of the appeal also want to push for a change in stance through a petition, they informed ČTK today. Over 400 people joined in the first five days.

The leadership of Cheb chose the path of assigning the design to a specific processor partly due to the current agreement within the city council to support this project, which makes it possible to initiate and implement the extension in the foreseeable future, said Cheb's deputy mayor Michal Pospíšil (ODS) to reporters a few days ago. "Personally, I have nothing against organizing an architectural competition. However, it would set us back another two or three years with uncertainty regarding the realization of the project," Pospíšil stated. However, he also mentioned that the proposal will still be discussed by the advisory bodies of the city.

Although the interior arrangement according to architect Mašek's project would likely suit the theatrical community, the discussion was mainly sparked by the external envelope of the building, which is to be attached to a structure from the 1870s.

"The impetus (for the petition) was the public discussion on November 10, which did not satisfy the expert or civic public. The presented proposal did not convince with its quality and the process of its assignment remained non-transparent. Our appeal emphasizes that this is not just about the extension itself, but about the long-term approach the city takes to public space. Therefore, we are requesting a competition according to the standards of the Czech Chamber of Architects, which is the only one that can ensure a quality and legitimate solution," states the statement from a group of architects and architecture students from the Cheb region, which has also been supported by well-known individuals.

Among those supporting the appeal are director Janek Lesák, originally from Cheb, industrialist, vice-chairman of the UMPRUM Board, and chairman of the Association of Czech Industrial Design Martin Wichterle, director of the Moravian Gallery Jan Press, and architect, set designer, and employee of the Interior Institute of the Faculty of Architecture at ČVUT Vladimír Soukenka.

According to the organizers of the appeal, the Commission for Strategic Development and Urban Planning did not support the continuation of the preparation of Luboš Mašek's proposal in its current form on November 12. "We believe that now is the right moment to reassess the entire process and to direct the extension project towards openness, quality, and legitimate selection of the best possible solution," state the organizers of the appeal and petition. They argue, among other things, that the original historic building of the theatre was also created through an open competition. In 1871, the city announced an architectural competition for the construction of the theatre, resulting in a building that, according to the petition organizers, became a symbol of Cheb and a cultural institution of timeless significance.