Praha 1 is negotiating with the magistrate about the rescue of Wichterlová's studio

Prague - The Prague 1 city hall is negotiating with the magistrate about the transfer of the former studio of sculptor Hana Wichterlová in Malá Strana. It is supposed to be handed over from the city hall's administration to the capital city, with Prague 1 receiving another property in exchange. This was stated today by Mayor Oldřich Lomecký (TOP 09) at a meeting of the municipal district council. Originally, Prague 1 intended to sell the studio along with the adjacent building, but according to Lomecký, that plan has been abandoned. The Ministry of Culture is currently deciding whether to declare the studio a cultural monument. According to Prague councilor Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL/Trojkoalice), the city wants to take over the building, but not for compensation.

The studio is located in the garden of a block of houses on Újezd. The famous sculptor lived and worked there for 50 years. The artist's family, along with a part of the public and the opposition in Prague 1, began fighting for the preservation of the building after the municipal district expressed interest in selling the entire house along with the studio.

Now, Mayor Lomecký stated that the city hall leadership wants to preserve the studio and is negotiating this with the magistrate. "As part of the property exchange, the municipal district would transfer the studio to the administration of the capital city in exchange for compensation," he stated. At the same time, the land around the building is to be reduced so that a sufficiently large garden remains for the surrounding houses. Both the city hall and the capital city are concurrently negotiating with the Gallery of the Capital City, which has expressed interest in the house.

The interest from both the gallery and the magistrate has been confirmed by Prague's culture councilor Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL/Trojkoalice) for ČTK. However, he rejects the municipal district's demand for compensation. "We are willing to help Prague 1, but we will not be blackmailed," he stated, adding that the capital city is willing to take over the building and invest in its renovation but refuses to provide Prague 1 with any compensation for the house.

Hana Wichterlová was among the most significant interwar sculptors. Her brother was the chemist Otto Wichterle. The now dilapidated studio in Malá Strana and the adjoining garden were among the favorite meeting places for Czech artists and intellectuals. The sculptor died in the studio in 1990.