Czech Budejovice will announce a competition for the restoration of the Cesky Krumlov carousel

České Budějovice - České Budějovice will announce an architectural competition for the reconstruction of the rotating auditorium in Český Krumlov. On Wednesday, the city councillors of České Budějovice approved this, said Deputy Mayor Juraj Thoma to journalists today. The competition aims to resolve the placement of the turntable in the garden of the Krumlov Castle. Therefore, the city hall will reach out to a certain number of architects and design studios not only from the Czech Republic but also from abroad. The proposals will be evaluated by a jury composed of representatives from local governments, the Czech UNESCO Committee, the Ministry of Culture, conservationists, and renowned architects.
    Originally, as the owner of this structure, which is problematic for conservationists, Budějovice was supposed to dismantle the turntable this year. However, Culture Minister Vítězslav Jandák signed an amendment to the contract with Mayor Miroslav Tetter in January, allowing the auditorium to remain in the castle garden until 2008. Budějovice therefore committed to having a study and project developed by the end of the year so that the turntable could stay in the same location in a form that would not disturb conservationists, the Ministry of Culture, or the surrounding area.
    "We expect that the competition should be completed in the first quarter of 2007. The winning design of the turntable will receive a reward of one million crowns. The competition will immediately be followed by negotiations with the winner for a specific project for building approval," said Thoma. According to him, the costs of the competition are estimated to be between 2.25 and 2.5 million crowns.
    The turntable is located in a baroque garden, which, along with the city and the castle, is listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. Its existence is not only a concern for conservationists; it has also been recommended for removal by the UNESCO committee.

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