Praha will renovate the market in the Holešovice market hall for a maximum of 186 million CZK

Prague - The building of the former exchange at the Prague market in Holešovice will undergo renovations. The city will announce a public procurement for reconstruction this February. The reason is its very poor condition. The estimated value of the contract is a maximum of 185.6 million crowns. This is according to a document that was approved today by Prague councilors. When exactly the work will begin is unclear. The exchange building is a cultural heritage property. The owner of the market area is the city, which is gradually repairing it.

The building is in very poor structural condition, particularly its southern annex and extensions. It also faces a number of static defects that threaten the stability of the structures and the safety of visitors to the area. In places where the original southern wall was located, there are noticeable static defects, and wood-destroying fungi have been found in the wooden structures.

"Several renovations and modifications have been carried out in the building that did not contribute to the good condition of the property. The original southern wall was removed with the southern annex, leading to a concentration of forces on the remaining pillars at the adjoining walls. Static defects are noticeable in these places," the document states.

The selected company will carry out, among other things, demolition work, take care of the foundations and other structures, repair floors and wall surfaces, and build new installations. It will also perform plumbing work and restore the interior decoration, stucco, stone and locksmith elements, or doors. The outdoor areas and fencing will also be reconstructed.

"We are not only focusing on the exchange. Preparations for the repairs of other buildings and outdoor spaces are underway. Dozens of building surveys have been completed, allowing for repairs," said Deputy Mayor Pavel Vyhnánek (Prague Sobě). The city is also preparing a tender for the repair of public spaces and entrances to the area and the reconstruction of engineering networks. "They are in absolutely dire condition and even prevent the use of some buildings," Vyhnánek added.

The capital city will invest two to three billion crowns into the repair of the Prague market in Holešovice over the next 15 years. The area will serve cultural, commercial, and gastronomic functions. There will also be offices, a supermarket, and a viewing tower will be created. Access will be expanded, new greenery will be planted, and rainwater will be collected into underground tanks.

The area of the original Prague slaughterhouse was established in 1895. It operated as a slaughterhouse until the 1980s, when it began to transform into a market. The area was declared a cultural monument.