The marshmallow investor has a zoning decision, not the approval of heritage conservationists

Prague - The Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) has revoked a decision by the Prague City Hall regarding the planned construction of an apartment building on U Milosrdných Street in the center of Prague. According to the investor, who appealed against the city hall's decision, the MMR confirmed the validity of the zoning decision for the construction. However, Praga Progetti e Investimenti does not have the approval from heritage conservationists, whose positive opinions were revoked by the Ministry of Culture in November. The revocation of the opinion means that a new construction proceeding must take place.
If the investor continues to pursue the construction, the project must be reassessed by the city hall's heritage specialists, who must issue a new opinion. Residents of Prague and the National Gallery, which is located in the neighboring St. Agnes Monastery, have protested against the proposed construction.
The MMR's decision is reported on Prague's official bulletin board. The investor welcomed the opinion. Hundreds of people from both laymen and experts have previously protested against the building nicknamed marshmallow, which is to be built in close proximity to the St. Agnes Monastery in the center of Prague. A petition was initiated. The controversial project has been under review by the Ministry of Culture for several months.
This year, the city hall repeatedly stated that the construction office of Prague 1 violated the building law by not complying with all the requirements of the zoning decision. However, the ministry revoked the city hall's opinion before Christmas. "We consider the zoning decision to be valid. We are pleased that the ministry agreed with us," said Francesco Augusto Razetto, managing director of Praga Progetti e Investimenti, in response to a query from ČTK today.
The building was designed by architect Zdeněk Fránek, and the project has undergone several changes. The author rejects the critics' objections, claiming that he never counted on a façade in pink color, which earned the project its nickname after the pink-and-white candy.
The design from 2008, which included a glass façade, was rejected by the Ministry of Culture based on the opinion of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), which annulled the approval of Prague's conservationists in 2010. However, the new project by Praga Progetti e Investimenti, featuring windows shaped like faces, was approved by both the NPÚ and city hall's conservationists, and based on this, a building permit was issued.