Praha 2 and civic associations reject the redevelopment of the Vyšehrad railway station

Prague - Two five and six-story glass structures could be built next to the historical building of the former Prague Vyšehrad station, which is a protected monument. The plan is strongly opposed by Prague 2, the Club for Old Prague, the civic association Praguewatch, and the Atelier for the Environment. According to them, the buildings would disrupt the environment of the Prague heritage reserve and overshadow the view of Vyšehrad. They stated this in a declaration sent to ČTK.
    "Such madness would have to be rejected by any reasonable person," said Václav Vondrášek, Deputy Mayor of Prague 2, to ČTK. He called the project planned by the company TIP Estate a brutality that would destroy the monument.
    The station still stands independently, relatively far from the current buildings. New structures are to be built on the vacant space on both its right and left sides. One of them is supposed to connect to the neighboring buildings, while the other will stand alone. It is to be linked to the station building by a low level. Both objects, according to sketches available to ČTK, are to be taller than the station.
    The newly constructed spaces are expected to accommodate offices, a wellness center, shops, two small galleries, and dozens of parking spaces.
    "The proposed project is not just oversized. The building altogether ignores its surroundings and intrudes in an exceptionally arrogant way," stated Jakub Bachtík from the Club for Old Prague. "Meanwhile, we are still in the Prague heritage reserve, where the strictest architectural criteria should apply," he added.
    His opinion is contradicted by architect Martin Kotík from Atelier Omicron-K, who designed the renovation. According to him, the Club for Old Prague has a similar criticism in its agenda. "If they were a club for quality architecture, they would have to agree with this," he said.
    Prague 2's dissent is explained by personal disputes from the past. "The investor behaved badly at the beginning; Prague 2 is now returning it," he noted. TIP Estate has indeed been in disputes with the authorities multiple times due to tree felling, damage to the surroundings, and the demolition of a protected building, Vondrášek stated. The heritage department of the city hall then imposed on the company the highest possible fine of 100,000 crowns at that time.
    "When such a company behaves as it does, it cannot be surprised that it is not seen favorably," he said. However, he denied that the town hall was taking revenge. According to him, the city council rejects the form of the proposal.
    The placement of new buildings and the reconstruction of the station will now be discussed by the city hall. The investor appealed to it after the construction department of Prague 2 rejected the renovation. Previously, city hall heritage officials had already agreed to the project. According to Vondrášek, the city hall officials will not now assess the project from a heritage perspective but from a construction viewpoint. He stated that the project would disrupt the view of Vyšehrad and the genius loci, which regulations prohibit.