A rally is being organized in Olomouc against the skyscraper in Šantovka

Olomouc - A protest rally against the planned construction of a high-rise building in the new district of Šantovka is being prepared in Olomouc on Tuesday. Its organizers emphasize the protection of the city's historical heritage. The Šantovka Tower in Olomouc, with its height of 75 meters, is expected to share the position of the second tallest building in the city with the town hall, and according to opponents, it would significantly damage the panorama of Olomouc. However, the investors reject this. They recently obtained consent from the city’s monument preservation authorities and plan to start construction in two years.
Members of the civic association For a Beautiful Olomouc, who are organizing the protest rally, point out that the building would overshadow the town hall tower with its height and would contrast sharply with the silhouette of the historical core. They also note that the people of Olomouc expressed their disapproval through two petitions with 932 and 699 signatures, in which they called on the city representative to defend the entrusted public values. "As we can see today, that has not happened. The mayor promised at the time that the matter would be discussed by the council before the city would respond to the investor's request. Now, the city hall is on the same boat as the investor, requesting opinions along with them," stated Tomáš Pejpek on behalf of the protest organizers.
The statement from the city’s monument preservation authorities, which the investors recently obtained, differs from the recommendation of the National Heritage Institute. According to the scientific council of the institute, a tall building in the vicinity of the center of Olomouc is unacceptable, as it would severely damage the panorama of the historic city center. Moreover, the protest organizers point out that the Šantovka location is legally protected by the status of the protective zone of the urban monument reserve.
However, investors reject the concerns of their opponents and claim that the city’s panorama will not be disrupted. "Our position is unchanging. We continue to prepare the project; there is unnecessary hysteria around it. Thanks to the Gallery Šantovka, it is proving that our visualization corresponds to reality. The non-binding report from the city hall confirmed our position. We did not present any manipulative images and believe that this building belongs in Olomouc," said investor representative Richard Morávek in response to a query from ČTK.
According to British architect Robert Bishop, who is involved in the design of the district, the protests are unwarranted. "We are convinced that all proportions and dimensions are appropriate. I consider the building to be elegant, created from quality materials. This is not about disrupting the panorama, but about enhancing it with a quality building," said the architect.
The Šantovka Tower is to be built next to the new shopping center, Gallery Šantovka, which opened today. It is to be part of a new district where investors plan to start another phase focused on the construction of residential units in 2015. Up to 400 apartments are expected to be developed there.