The ministry approved the reconstruction of the house where the Havlová library is to be located

Prague - Minister of Culture Daniel Herman (KDU-ČSL) approved the positions of heritage officials allowing the reconstruction of the house U Drahomířina sloupu in Prague's Hradčany district. The historic house was purchased by entrepreneur Zdeněk Bakala for the Václav Havel Library. The Czech News Agency reported today that the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture (MK) Simona Cigánková announced this.
    The planned reconstruction has been criticized by the Club for Old Prague, residents of neighboring houses, and particularly by the last resident of the house, Bohumil Vejtasa. They have submitted their objections to the territorial proceedings concerning the reconstruction of the house. The review proceedings were supposed to address the opinion of the Ministry of Culture as well as that of municipal heritage officials. Cigánková stated that the previous opinion of the MK was issued in accordance with legal regulations and there is no reason for a review process. The case is now under the construction department of the Prague municipality.
    According to the project, a residential building is to be constructed in the southern part of the object, which has a square floor plan. The other three sides of the square would house the Václav Havel Library along with several apartments for visiting professors. "The atrium should be covered by a lightweight structure and should become part of the lecture space," said the head of the construction office of Prague 1, Oldřich Dajbych, to the daily Právo. He pointed out that the problem lies with the last tenant, who has a lifelong right of use and is blocking the construction. Originally, the house U Drahomířina sloupu was occupied by several people, who moved out after an agreement with the investor.
    The territorial proceedings took place in 2011 and were renewed a year later after the investor revised the building plans. The critics' objections mainly concern the extent of the basement excavation. The underpinning is said to be oversized, unnecessary, and could threaten the stability of the house and the surrounding buildings. Another complaint was directed at the covering of the courtyard. Bakala estimated the costs for the reconstruction at approximately 200 million crowns.
    The Václav Havel Library has not commented on the matter, as its director Marta Smolíková is abroad. "There is no one competent here who could comment on this matter during the vacation period," said Lucie Prachařová, the manager of the office of the Václav Havel Library, to the Czech News Agency.
    Until the end of June 2014, the Havel Library held its public events at the Montmartre Gallery on Řetězová Street, while its offices, archive, and reading room for the public were located on Kateřinská Street. From September of the same year, it moved "under one roof" from its two previous locations to Ostrovní Street. The institution was founded in 2004 after Havel's departure from the presidential office, modeled after similar institutions in the USA.