Plzeň wants a proposal for a new theater only from three studios

The Portuguese chose Koolhaas. We will choose the Portuguese. Who will choose us?

Plzeň - Plzeň will invite three selected European architectural firms to design a new theater for it, costing more than 300 million crowns. The city hall wants to have the proposals for the construction of a building that will replace the inadequate stage of the J. K. Tyl Chamber Theater (DJKT) by the end of August. A specially appointed commission will select the winning design in September. It will mainly assess the functionality of the building. This was said today by Deputy Mayor Marcela Krejsová. The procedure still needs to be discussed by the council and approved by the city representatives on April 10.
    "After 12 years of negotiations, change is finally coming. The poor condition of the chamber theater is beginning to be addressed," stated DJKT director Jan Burian. According to him, there is already a clear idea of what the new theater at the exhibition grounds between Palackého and Jízdecká streets will have. In addition to the main hall with a capacity of 500 spectators, a variable studio stage for another 200 people is also planned. The project will include exhibition spaces, boxes, an orchestra pit for 75 musicians, an orchestra rehearsal room, a ballet company rehearsal room, spaces for alternative theater that would offer modern dramatization, and more. The total area designated for construction is nearly 8000 square meters.
    According to Krejsová, the city will not announce a public competition that would only delay the implementation, but will approach specific architectural firms. "These will be firms that already have experience with theater construction," Krejsová stated, adding that the city has already talked to two of them. "We will definitely approach the Portuguese. They managed to build a theater for ten million euros (about 250 million crowns) including equipment," she added.
    Once the winning design is known, the city will procure a detailed implementation project and then award the contract for its actual realization. "If everything goes ideally, we could start groundbreaking in 2010 and finish construction by 2012," Krejsová added. The project will also include parking, which will ensure visitor comfort. A parking lot with an entrance to the theater will be connected by a covered pedestrian bridge.
    The city already decided last year to allocate 200 million crowns from the budget for the construction. Another 100 million crowns have been tentatively promised by the Plzeň Region. Plzeň will try to obtain the remaining funds from European funds or the state budget.
    The new theater will replace the Chamber Theater from 1937, which has long been in poor to emergency condition. According to Burian, it does not have the required fire protection. The scenery has to be transported through a private facility, which is inadequate. The rehearsal spaces are insufficient. For example, the operating modular part was originally built for ten years and has been standing for almost 30. "If it were to be reconstructed, it would cost 700 million crowns," Burian added.