Praha will identify locations for the construction of a concert hall

Prague - The leadership of Prague will have an analysis conducted to determine the most suitable location for a new concert hall. This was decided by the council today. Councilor Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL/Trojkoalice) told reporters this. According to him, a site above the C line metro station Vltavská is currently emerging as an interesting option, which needs renovation. The appearance of the building will be determined by an international architectural competition. The hall could be built between 2023 and 2025. It would cost between two and two and a half billion crowns.

The construction of a concert hall and possible locations has been debated in Prague for several years. The latest option mentioned was that a Ray would stand on Štvanice Island, a project created for České Budějovice by the late architect Jan Kaplický. "The owners of the rights can of course apply for the independent competition," commented Wolf today. However, according to him, the project would need modifications, including considerations regarding capacity. Prague intends to build a facility for 1,800 to 2,200 visitors. The Ray has a capacity of about half that. Additionally, České Budějovice has once again expressed interest in Kaplický's project.

Not only will there be a home for the Prague Philharmonic, but also a multifunctional space for exhibitions and restaurants. "Such a project would be realized by Prague after more than 100 years. And we are now the closest to it," said the councilor. The city aims to identify the best location by the end of March. Over the next three months, they will then prepare the architectural competition.

The planned building in České Budějovice received the nickname Ray due to its shape and color. The completed study is Kaplický's most developed work in the country. The proposed structure has a triangular footprint and covers an area of nearly 1.5 hectares. Architect Kaplický is particularly recognized internationally. In his homeland, he gained more fame only after winning the international competition for the new building of the National Library, by which time he was nearly 70 years old. Ultimately, the so-called blob construction was abandoned.