Invalidovnu should be complemented with elements of contemporary architecture during the restoration

Prague – The Baroque building of the Prague Invalidovna will undergo an extension as part of its reconstruction, featuring two multi-story wings that will house, for example, a concert hall. The two proposed white wings create a strong contrast with the Baroque palace, significantly overshadowing it. The restored complex will serve as the headquarters of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) and for the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with part of it being made accessible to the public through a tour route. Exhibition and conference spaces, as well as areas for education and community activities, will also be created in the Invalidovna. The project to restore the Invalidovna was presented to journalists today by NPÚ director Naďa Goryczková.

The current estimated cost is 1.95 billion crowns. The restoration of the Invalidovna is part of the state program for the Care of National Cultural Heritage I. This is the largest investment project of the NPÚ and also the largest investment project of the Ministry of Culture funded from the state budget. The complete restoration is expected to be completed by 2027 at the earliest.

"We will open the Invalidovna for use by the general public, rehabilitate a unique Baroque monument, and at the same time ensure a dignified environment for the outstanding choir. We chose the form of a modern extension as a declaration of the era in which it was created, and we want to show that heritage care can and wants to work with modern architecture," said Goryczková.

She added that a solution based on the principle of contrast between the authentic monument and new architecture cannot be applied generally; it is always necessary to work with the individuality of the specific place. "Karlín is a city heritage zone, but also a modern progressive district, where the new Invalidovna will symbolize the intersection of the old and the new, further developing the dynamics of this locality and supporting the community life here," the director added.

"The external shape of the extensions is the result of regulating the basic volume with regard to archaeological finds, the requirements of heritage care, and limits of statics and acoustics. The extensions feature a façade of profiled glass, which adds a dignified and festive atmosphere to the place in the evening lighting," said Petr Hájek, the author of the architectural design.

Upon completion of the restoration, the complex will serve as the headquarters of the Territorial Heritage Authority of the NPÚ in Prague and the headquarters of the Prague Philharmonic Choir (PFS). Despite its 85-year history, the choir still does not have its own premises.

The Invalidovna was built from 1731 to 1737 according to a project by the prominent architect of Czech Baroque, Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, as a refuge for war veterans and their families. The building served to accommodate war invalids until 1935. Later, it housed the Military Central Archive, which significantly damaged it during the floods in 2002, after which the building was transferred to the Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters. The NPÚ acquired the Invalidovna in 2018 after the state unsuccessfully attempted to sell the monument at auction. The building was offered for approximately 640 million crowns. Today, cultural events are held in part of the building during the summer before the reconstruction.