The Czech branch of ICOMOS does not agree with the Šantovka high-rise building

Publisher
ČTK
30.11.2013 16:05

Olomouc/Praha - The Czech branch of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) disagrees with the project of the high-rise building Šantovka Tower in Olomouc, which, due to its height of 75 meters, would share the position of the second tallest building in the city with the town hall. Preservationists, some architects, and experts from the Institute of Art History have previously expressed opposition to the planned high-rise building in the immediate vicinity of the historical center of Olomouc, stating that this towering structure would disrupt the city's skyline. The investor has an opposing view.
    "The construction (of the Šantovka Tower), if realized, will disturb the impressive panorama of the city. In all views from the surrounding landscape, it will overshadow the historic urban landmarks with its height and mass and will disrupt the views from the historical spaces of the city," stated Josef Štulc, the chairman of the Czech national committee of ICOMOS, to ČTK today.
    According to Štulc, the Šantovka Tower project is completely unacceptable in its proposed height and mass for historic Olomouc. "The height of the building is not justifiable by any proven necessity. The proposed function does not have any ideological transnational or regional significance that would justify the dominance of the building, and its purely commercial design will not bring any new positive architectural quality to the city," he warned.
    The International ICOMOS association serves as the main expert advisor to UNESCO, which has listed Olomouc as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the Column of the Holy Trinity.
    The Šantovka Tower project is prepared by the company SMC Development. The building, located next to the new shopping center Gallery Šantovka, is planned to have 22 floors. SMC Development estimates the construction costs at 400 million crowns. "We are continuing to prepare the project; the hysteria around it is unnecessary. Thanks to Gallery Šantovka, it is shown that our visualization corresponds with reality. The non-binding assessment from the municipality confirmed our position. We did not present any manipulative images and we believe that this building belongs in Olomouc," said Richard Morávek, the representative of the investor, to ČTK.
    Opponents of the high-rise building argue that the project is contrary to the principles of regional development, which take precedence over the urban plan of Olomouc. The new urban plan, which has not yet come into effect, does not allow for additional high-rise buildings near the city’s heritage reserve. The Ministry of Culture expressed opposition to their construction during its preparation.
    Officials from the municipality are assessing the Šantovka Tower project. However, SMC Development does not intend to wait for the approval of the new urban plan. If it obtains permission based on the current plan, it can start construction even after the new version comes into effect, which will happen only in 2014.

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KennyCZ

01.12.13 03:06

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