The Mazutka at Prague's Invalidovna is not a monument, it can be demolished

Prague - The boiler house in the Prague housing estate Invalidovna, built in the Brussels style, has not been declared a cultural monument. This was decided by the Ministry of Culture. The owner can therefore demolish the building from the 1960s. Supporters of the building appreciate, above all, the organically conceived cable roof made of a concrete shell. However, according to the ministry's decision, the experimental roof structure has serious construction defects and is in a state of emergency. The decision has been final since February 6, the ministry spokesperson Simona Cigánková informed ČTK in response to an inquiry.

According to her, the officials concluded that the object is indeed a quality example of architectural and construction experimentation from the 1960s, but that after necessary restoration it would lose a significant part of its heritage value. Therefore, it does not meet the conditions for being declared a cultural monument under the law on state heritage care, the spokesperson stated.

According to the ministry, the roof's structure is very seriously compromised and its repair is not possible, as the damaged parts cannot be replaced. "It is also not possible to create a replica of it, as the original design already contained serious construction errors, not to mention the fact that heritage value is associated with a necessary degree of authenticity that replicas lack. The chimney itself is a completely utilitarian construction of its time and loses its interpretive value without the boiler house, which is its complement," the decision states.

The preservation of the boiler house, which is already not in use, has been supported by the Club for Old Prague. The building belongs to a company under the developer Finep, which already stated last year that the boiler house is in a dilapidated state. The owner already has a positive opinion for its demolition from municipal heritage protectors. He considers the site a classic industrial brownfield suitable for revitalization. According to him, the object is in a dilapidated state after the floods, years of neglect, and repeated attacks by vandals and thieves, which threatens safety.

According to the club, the boiler house is one of the unique examples of industrial architecture. It is said to represent a significant part of the architectural heritage, as it is part of a holistically conceived residential complex of the experimental housing estate Invalidovna. The boiler house was designed by architect Jan Zelený and structural engineer František Bäumelt, and was built between 1964 and 1966.

In support of the preservation of the fuel oil boiler house, an initiative "Mazutka Lives" has emerged; similarly, people are trying to save another industrial building, the boiler house in Zlíchov from 1873, which is threatened with demolition due to the construction of the Radlická radial road. Even in the case of the Zlíchov boiler house, its proponents are trying to declare it a monument.