Praha plans to analyze the monument reserve, it will take three years

Prague - Prague will have an analysis of the Prague Monument Reserve created. The document is intended to serve as a guide for the protection of the city center in the coming years. The order for the project, amounting to eight million crowns, was approved today by the city council. Deputy Mayor Václav Novotný (TOP 09) told CTK that the preparation of the analysis will take about three years and will cost eight million crowns.
    According to Novotný, the current problem with monument protection is the concept of Prague as a whole. "We perceive the city as a space that is equally significant all over. But it is not equally significant," Novotný said. Different parts of the city were created in different periods and have varying significance.
    Moreover, the situation is complicated by the law on monument care. When deciding on the reconstruction of a building, the conservator has the final say. However, another monument care worker may have an opposing opinion, and the decision will still be issued based on the law, noted Novotný. "If the law is so vague that it allows for multiple opinions on each individual case, we have no choice but to adopt a precise document," said the deputy mayor.
    Thanks to the analysis, applicants for reconstructions will already know in advance "what is possible and what is not." The measures should also reduce the possibility of corrupt practices, according to Novotný.
    The architectural and urban analysis of the Prague Monument Reserve will be processed in detail and will address every building in the protected area. It will describe the current state, discuss their development or the authenticity of the individual architectural units.
    The total project is expected to cost the city eight million crowns. The first phase for two million crowns could be launched this year, followed by three more phases. The study could be completed in 2016. "We believe that we will obtain the most qualified experts for its implementation," added Novotný.