The designs for the new Prague Philharmonic will be prepared by 20 teams, with the Czech ones being in the minority

Prague – The jury of the architectural competition for the design of a new concert hall on the Vltava River in Prague has selected 15 studios that will prepare competition proposals. Five studios were directly approached by the city earlier, so the jury will choose the winner from a total of 20 proposals next April. City representatives told journalists today. Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates) added that the city hall will negotiate with the new Minister of Culture about the previously promised co-financing of the construction by the state. The building is expected to be completed in 2032 and, according to earlier estimates, will cost around six billion crowns.

According to jury chairman Michal Sedláček, 115 applicants registered for the competition, and selecting 15 was demanding. In the 20 studios that will prepare proposals, there are representatives from 12 countries, five of which are from the Czech Republic or involve Czech architects. "I think that 20 studios truly guarantees that we will receive not just a few, but many very high-quality proposals," he said. The results of the competition are expected to be announced in May next year, followed by a vote by city councilors.

According to Hřib, the jury considered not only the building but also the public space around it, which is to be part of the planned new quarter in the currently unused extensive area known as Bubny-Zátory. "We want the concert hall and its surroundings to thrive even beyond the performances themselves. Thus, it should not only be a tourist attraction but also a place where Prague residents would like to visit often and willingly," said the mayor.

The mayor's deputy Petr Hlaváček (for TOP 09) added that the city, besides the competition, is continuing with other preparatory activities, such as conducting vibration surveys on the parcels or surveying the public. A working group at the city hall is also discussing financing, which, according to previous promises, should also involve the state. However, the project documentation for the building, estimated at 750 million crowns, will be paid for by the city. Prague 7 Mayor Jan Čižinský (Prague Ours) added that a skatepark has been established on the parcels for now, and more sports facilities are planned there.

The involvement of additional investors – both state and private – is expected to come into play for the construction itself, which is currently planned to begin in 2027. "We perceive great interest from the private sector," Hlaváček said today, adding that the city will most likely establish a fund for financing. However, a final decision on the financing structure has yet to be made. The deputy added that considering the rising prices of construction work, materials, and energy, the city hall is preparing for ongoing updates to the budget.

The new concert hall with several auditoriums will house the Czech Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague FOK, and the music department of the Municipal Library in Prague. According to the city's vision, the complex will be open all day and will offer not only cultural spaces but also cafes and restaurants. Additional significant investments will be necessary to modify the surrounding, currently unused area, for example, in transport infrastructure and similar. The city hall is preparing a zoning study for the brownfield site Holešovice-Bubny, where the concert hall will be located. It also includes extensive residential construction.

Discussions about building a large concert hall in Prague have been ongoing for decades. The most debated issue has been the suitable location. A hall could have been built in Letná in the 1990s – at the site where there were also considerations for the construction of the National Library based on a design by architect Jan Kaplický. Japanese investors wanted to donate the building to the Czech Philharmonic for its 100th anniversary. Then-Minister of Culture Milan Uhde and Mayor Milan Kondr rejected their offer.

advancing	country
Opočenský Valouch architects + ALA Architects	Czech Republic + Finland
MVRDV	Netherlands
Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen + Crist & Gantenbein Architekten	Belgium + Switzerland
Mecanoo + Chybik Kristof Architects & Urban Designers	Netherlands + Czech Republic
Barozzi Veiga + Atelier M1 architects	Spain + Czech Republic
Sou Fujimoto Architects	Japan
Cobe + Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter	Denmark
Šépka architects + Mangado Y Asociados	Czech Republic + Spain
Foster and Partners	United Kingdom
Bjarke Ingels Group	Denmark
Henning Larsen Architects	Denmark
Carrilho da Graça Arquitectos	Portugal
Jaja Architects	Denmark
Bevk Perović architects	Slovenia
Petr Hájek Architects	Czech Republic
Diller Scofidio + Renfro (directly approached)	USA
Snøhetta (directly approached)	Norway/USA
Ateliers Jean Nouvel (directly approached)	France
David Chipperfield Architects (directly approached)	United Kingdom
Sanaa (directly approached)	Japan

Source: IPR, ČTK