The Minister of Culture rejected the investor's appeal regarding the marshmallow

Prague - The Minister of Culture has rejected the investor's appeal, known as a remonstrance, submitted regarding the residential building in Prague 1 referred to as Marshmallow. The Prague City Hall will have to issue a new opinion on the project, informed CTK spokeswoman for the Ministry of Culture Simona Cigánková. The residential building project on U Milosrdných Street has been in development for many years and has changed several times. Officials approved the latest design with windows shaped like faces, but both the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Regional Development annulled their decision.

"The Minister's decision effectively means that the matter returns to the City Hall for further proceedings, which will have to issue a new binding opinion," Cigánková stated. In the new opinion, the City Hall will have to address the criticisms made by the heritage inspection of the Ministry that annulled the original verdict allowing the construction. Practically, however, the minister's decision does not change anything, confirmed the decision of the heritage inspection.

The heritage inspection annulled the binding opinions of Prague heritage officials from 2012 and 2014 last November. The annulment of their opinion means that a new building permit process will have to take place. If the investor continues to pursue the construction, the project must be reassessed by city heritage officials, who must issue a new opinion. The approval of heritage officials is a necessary basis when planning construction in a heritage reserve.

Among other things, the inspection is interested in why the City Hall deviated from the originally requested design with a gabled roof and traditional appearance. The investor of the building, the company Praga Progetti e Investimenti, has also filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Culture due to the inspection's decision.

The project, which people colloquially call Marshmallow due to the allegedly proposed color of the facade, evokes strong emotions in Prague. The author of the design rejects the critics' objections, claiming he never counted on a facade in pink, which gave the project its nickname after the pink-and-white candy. In the past, hundreds of people gathered in the city center in protest against the construction. Critics are bothered by the fact that some approvals were issued many years ago for a house that was supposed to look different.

The building was designed by architect Zdeněk Fránek, and the project has changed several times. The original design from 2008, which included a glass facade, was rejected based on the opinion of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), and in 2010, the Ministry of Culture revoked the permit from the Prague heritage officials. However, the new project with windows shaped like faces was approved by both the NPÚ and the city heritage officials.