Open letter for the preservation of the metro exit at Jiřího z Poděbrad Square in Prague

Dear Deputy Mayor Hřib,
Dear Deputy Mayor Hlaváček,
Dear Deputy Mayor Pospíšil,


We are reaching out to you because our anxiety is growing regarding the fate of the artistically shaped ventilation shaft in Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, where a comprehensive reconstruction of the entire square began this year. On August 1, 2022, news circulated in the Prague artistic community that the City Council had approved the preservation of the ventilation shaft – at least that is how politicians presented it. The relevant resolution no. 1851 imposed on the Investment Department, within the contract "Construction No. 45568 Reconstruction of Jiřího z Poděbrad Square," a task inter alia "to propose, with the selected contractor and in cooperation with the Prague Public Transit Company, possibilities for preserving the existing metro ventilation shaft."
In response to our inquiry about how this task has been fulfilled, the head of the Department of Civil Engineering sent us the position of INV MHMP, which recommends replacing the ventilation shaft due to the necessity of applying for new permits in land use and construction proceedings. Based on our consultations with construction law experts, we are convinced that Prague, as the investor of the extensive reconstruction, can utilize the institution of changing the building before completion, as allowed by the Building Act.
We would like to remind you that the ventilation shaft in Jiřího z Poděbrad Square is a quality work of art that Prague is fortunate to have in its public space. Its concept emerged from an art competition held in connection with the construction of the metro, which was won by sculptor Petr Šedivý against a competition of other artists. We would consider the demolition of the ventilation shaft an unfortunate and inappropriate step, as it was built as part of a comprehensively thought-out whole – it forms a spatial counterpart to the fountain "Unified Europe," with both elements created within the same distinct aesthetic framework, which is also reflected in the design of the metro vestibule. Both the fountain and its surroundings, as well as the ventilation shaft, have received numerous mentions in professional publications and exhibitions, where they are categorized among the most successful works of art created in the Prague public space in the 1980s, in connection with the construction of the Prague metro.
We understand that the fact that the revitalization project for Jiřího z Poděbrad Square originated from a competition in 2002 plays a role, when artworks created in the 1980s did not yet enjoy such great interest from art historians. However, more than 20 years have passed since the competition, during which time there has been a shift in the art historical discourse and public opinion. Artifacts from the 1980s have begun to receive the attention they deserve, and the art associated with the construction of the Prague metro is becoming something of an artistic phenomenon, with its "heritage potential" being emphasized by the National Heritage Institute.<