The reconstruction project of the embassy in Berlin will cost 19.5 million CZK

photo: Lukáš Beran

Prague - The project for construction, interior design, and author supervision during the reconstruction of the Czech embassy in Berlin is expected to cost approximately 19.5 million crowns. This is indicated by information about a planned public procurement, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will present to the government on Monday. The overall plan for the reconstruction, costing more than half a billion, was approved by the government three years ago. Employees complain about working in the building, which is only used one-third due to its inadequate condition, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They attribute some of their health problems to the poor state of the embassy.

The ministry states in its information for the cabinet that the only supplier can be the architect of the building, Věra Machoninová. "The involvement of the original author in the project process is crucial due to the necessity of preserving architectural quality during changes to the building. This can be ensured either by directly executing the contract for the preparation of project documentation or through the closest possible collaboration - author's supervision in accordance with the law," stated the ministry. Because comprehensive modifications are planned and there is a risk of damage to the original work, the author's consent or the assignment of the contract directly to them is necessary, the ministry added.

The future of the 1978 building, located in the center of Berlin at the prestigious address Wilhelmstrasse 44, has been addressed repeatedly. In September 2017, the cabinet approved the reconstruction that was supposed to take place from 2021 to 2023, according to previous plans. The total costs are expected to be 500 million crowns, and with a twenty-percent reserve that the government-approved plan considers, they could soar to about 727 million. The current material estimates a contract closure for the years 2020 to 2024.

The ministry states in the document that the building, while without obvious static defects, has material conditions reflecting its age and urgently requires renovation. "The chosen materials correspond in their properties and technical parameters to the 1970s, and the presence of asbestos can be expected," states the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some embassy employees, according to ČTK information, connect their health issues with asbestos, but according to the Černín Palace, the levels are within normal limits.

Despite high energy consumption, it is also not possible to maintain an appropriate temperature in the building. "Partial modifications have managed to partially reduce operating costs; however, annual energy consumption costs are around ten million crowns," writes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to new offices, the reconstruction plans to create the residence of the ambassador and 22 apartments for employees.

The embassy building is a typical representative of architectural brutalism, which is a significant asset of many buildings designed by the architectural pair Věra and Vladimír Machonin. However, according to diplomats, it no longer meets today's needs. While during the Cold War, between 350 and 500 employees worked at the embassy in the eastern part of Berlin, there are many fewer today.