Conservationists still want the Invalidovna, they published the budget for its renovation

Prague - Even ten months after the unsuccessful sale of the Prague Invalidovna, this baroque monument has not been transferred to the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). Discussions about the transfer to this institution began immediately after the auction, in which no one participated. Meanwhile, the government declared the building a national cultural monument. The Office for State Representation in Property Matters (ÚZSVM), which manages the property, claims that the conservationists did not submit the required documents. The institute states that it has acted according to the law and has published communication with the office, including repair costs that would fit within one billion crowns, on its website today. ÚZSVM's statements are being verified by ČTK.

“In the last nine months, NPÚ has submitted to the Office for State Representation in Property Matters the necessary documentation to demonstrate the appropriateness and efficiency of transferring the authority to manage the real estate in the Invalidovna complex to NPÚ, and this has been done in an exceptional manner. Since ÚZSVM still considers the documentation to be insufficient, we have decided to make it public,” said NPÚ director Naďa Goryczková in a press release today.

On the NPÚ website, there are letters exchanged by the management of both institutions since last year, including an investment plan for the restoration of the property. According to NPÚ's vision, Invalidovna should offer the public cultural and educational uses of this monument and should serve as the headquarters of the Prague Philharmonic Choir and other contributory organizations established by the Ministry of Culture.

NPÚ claims to be one of the most competent state institutions capable of properly restoring this heritage valuable object and using it in the future in a way that does not compromise its heritage qualities. As an example of its capability, it cites the baroque hospital Kuks, for which the Czech Republic recently received a prestigious European award in heritage care.

In addition to making the monument accessible, NPÚ suggests that some state-established galleries or museums should have their exhibition spaces in Invalidovna. Collections currently stored in depots due to a lack of exhibition space in these institutions could also be displayed there.

NPÚ expressed interest in the historical object even before the auction date. However, it officially expressed interest in the transfer only after the auction, in which no one participated last August. The starting price was 637.7 million crowns. The investment plan published on the website estimates reconstruction costs at 941 million including VAT, with the possibility of reducing the price by ten percent to approximately 847 million including VAT if a tender is used.

The Karlín Invalidovna has been in state hands since its inception, built between 1731 and 1737 according to the plans of the famous architect Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. It is one of the significant baroque buildings. Later, it belonged to the army, and it housed archives of other institutions, but after being damaged by floods and the transfer of archives, the army declared the property unnecessary.