Plzeň will not return the house with the valuable interior by Loose to the state for now

source: plzen.eu

Plzeň - Plzeň will not yet return the house at Klatovská Street 19 with valuable interiors by Adolf Loos to the Ministry of Defense. The ministry transferred the house to the city free of charge in 2005 on the condition that Plzeň would renovate it and use it for services for residents. The city changed its plans for its use but has not yet started the overall renovation, estimated to exceed 90 million crowns. Because according to the original agreement Plzeň was supposed to complete everything by 2015, the councilors proposed returning the property to the state. However, the representatives did not approve this. The city will continue to negotiate; what exactly will happen next is unclear, Mayor Martin Zrzavecký (ČSSD) told reporters today.
    The city hall first attempted to negotiate an extension of the deadline to 2020 with the ministry. However, the ministry wanted guarantees, such as a project that would demonstrate the intent to carry out the reconstruction, a guarantee of financing, or the inclusion of the reconstruction in the city's budget priorities. Plzeň is currently unable to provide this, and therefore the councilors, although reportedly reluctantly, proposed returning the house.
    In recent years, Plzeň has renovated several of Loos's interiors, and their reconstruction has always been completed within five million crowns. The collection of interiors has become one of the major attractions and architectural treasures of the city. The costs for the house at Klatovská 19 are so high because it is not possible to only repair the extraordinarily valued interior; the entire house needs to be renovated.
    It is still unclear what the next steps will be. The city wants to continue discussions with the ministry. The contract from 2005 includes a fine for the city of approximately 4.6 million crowns for non-compliance with the conditions, which is the value of the house. However, the contract is not clear, and it does not specify, for example, whether the house will return to the ministry after the penalty is paid or remain with the city.
    Plzeň originally wanted to use the property for issuing identification cards, later changing the plan and intending to move the General Patton Museum there and create exhibitions about displaced Jewish families and the war history of Plzeň. However, that plan also fell through. Zrzavecký admitted that the city hall is currently struggling to find a way to utilize the property on the main busy street. The necessary funds for reconstruction have been allocated to other projects by the city in recent years. "Now it has caught up with us," he conceded.
    Even though some representatives claimed that the state would not be interested in the dilapidated house, heritage conservationists fear that someone might buy it. According to municipal heritage conservationist Petr Marovič, the city has made Loos popular worldwide. Hundreds of foreign journalists have come to Plzeň because of his interiors. Therefore, they fear that if Plzeň returns the house and the state sells it, a private individual could buy it who might not make the interior accessible. The key is the remnant of Hugo Semler's apartment on the first floor. Loos realized his modifications in the early 1930s. Significantly, it is primarily the music room. According to experts, it is most likely the last of Loos's works in Plzeň; it belongs to the most significant collection of Loos's realizations in all of Europe.