Machoň's Passage in Pardubice is about to open

Pardubice - The Machoň Passage in Pardubice is set to open after two years of repairs. The Art Deco style building was completed in 1925 and was inspired by Parisian passages. Many original elements had to be replaced with copies, but the display windows and the stairs with metal railings have been preserved, said Martin Charvát, director of the Pardubice Development Fund, to ČTK.
     "The reconstruction was demanding. The floors had poor statics, we had to demolish the ceiling structures. The building was reinforced around the perimeter with static elements and new ceilings were constructed," said Charvát.
     A precise copy is the mosaic floor, which has been "thickened" by one centimeter to last longer. It consists of approximately 800,000 pieces. The original flooring had been worn down by people to the underlying layers. The mosaic comes from the same stone quarries in Germany and Italy as the old one.
     "The only change is that we raised the flooring by two centimeters. The surface will feature materials that extend longevity, because some stones are softer and wear out more quickly," noted Charvát.
     To this day, the original lighting has not survived, and restorers had to create replicas based on period photographs. Most of the display windows have been renovated; only the displays facing Míru Street were poorly repaired in the past and needed to be replicated.
     "The original staircase with railing remains. The skylights were completely reconstructed, the glass was replaced, and new coatings were applied. For the painting, restorers took samples and compared Machoň's work in Prague and its surroundings," said Charvát.
     The passage is no longer in striking green tones but in a combination of beige and brown. The ceremonial opening is scheduled by the fund for April 5. The repairs cost 180 million crowns. The spaces will offer shops, offices, and apartments. The buildings are also associated with a parking lot for dozens of cars.
     According to Charvát, finding tenants was more difficult due to the situation in the real estate market, but ultimately a mix of retailers has come together that might attract people again after the forced pause.
     "I think it's a pleasant space where people can buy wine, there will be home textiles, and they can have something in the garden," said Charvát.