Plzeň presents proposals for the reconstruction of Peklo, dominated by the golden concert hall

Pilsen – From today, Pilsen has presented proposals for the reconstruction and expansion of the central part of the Peklo complex in the cultural house Peklo from this year's architectural competition. Visitors will see all five competition proposals, which showcase diverse approaches to connecting the historical building with modern architecture. The city will ultimately realize the winning project, which features a golden building with a new concert hall. The exhibition will last throughout the autumn, open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and entry is free.

"The exhibition is a unique opportunity to glimpse into an important urban project. We believe that the exhibition will spark public interest and open up a discussion about the future of the cultural scene in Pilsen," said the first deputy mayor Pavel Bosák.

The Peklo workers' house complex consists of three interconnected buildings – the neo-Renaissance western part with a hall for more than 700 people from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the functionalist connecting part from the 1930s, and on the eastern side, the so-called Fischer villa from 1886. Next year, a half-billion reconstruction of the western part with the large hall should begin. Once this phase is completed, the city could be ready to proceed with the expansion and modification of the central part, which is also expected to cost around half a billion. However, they must first issue a public contract for the preparation of complete project documentation and resolve all construction requirements. Bosák expects that work on the central part could begin in 2028. The current structure will most likely need to be demolished and replaced due to its poor technical condition.

The winning solution by the team of local architects Jiří Zábrana, Jakub Sýkora, and Kateřina Svobodová, according to the jury's statement in June, sensitively connected contemporary architecture with the historical buildings and, besides the proposal for the expansion of the central part of Peklo, also suggested modifications to the space in front of it. The architects kept the Fischer villa as a standalone object to highlight its historical significance and dignity. The new buildings consist of three separate structures that are subtly interconnected.

Bosák considers the revitalization of Peklo to be one of the most significant cultural projects in Pilsen's history. "Of course, the most striking is the golden polygon, which I believe creates a beautiful balance between those structures – the Fischer villa and the historical hall. That very attractive golden facade reflects the golden accents that we already have in Pilsen – on the fountains, on the plague column, on elements of the theater or the Citizens' Society. That golden object in the context of the surroundings will act as a kind of almost lantern. For me, it is an iconic building," said Bosák.

The councilor for culture Eliška Bartáková is also pleased with the appearance of the winning building. "Our wish was to create a really new technically advanced hall that would meet the technological conditions of a modern cultural space. That’s what I liked most about it. And when I saw the proposal for the first time, I thought that we would also have a golden chapel," she said.

The new part will provide facilities for the Pilsen Philharmonic, and a smaller concert hall for about 300 people is expected to be created here, along with rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, storage areas, and a small restaurant.