The AVU studios, which were established 120 years ago, have been reconstructed for 48 million CZK

Prague - The Academy of Fine Arts (AVU) has been using the renovated sculpture and painting studios on Jana Zajíce Street from this academic year, which were built 120 years ago according to the design of architect Václav Roštlapil. The listed building has long been loaned to the school by Prague 7, and its renovation cost over 48 million crowns. A large part of the costs was covered by a 41-million crown grant from the Ministry of Education, with the remaining costs paid by AVU. This was communicated to ČTK today by the deputy mayor of Prague 7, Lenka Burgerová (Prague 7 for Us), during a tour of the studios.

"Prague 7 actively supports culture and artistic creation in its area, and we are therefore very pleased that we managed to repair the listed studio building together, which belongs to the municipal district and is used by AVU," said Burgerová.

The building not only saw renovations of the studios themselves but also of installations, heating, and sanitary facilities. The façade and roof were also repaired, and measures against humidity and heat loss were implemented. "The result is a compromise between heritage protection and what we need in today's world," Burgerová stated. The reconstruction was carried out by the company Metrostav, which previously also renovated the AVU School of Architecture in Prague 7.

The elongated studio building was constructed in the courtyard of house number 215 on Jana Zajíce Street between 1897 and 1903. Since the late 1990s, it has been a cultural monument. According to information on its website, AVU has established a Preparatory Studio in the building, where first-year students can take preparatory painting and sculpture courses. Diploma exhibitions are also held here.