The authorities are looking for a designer for the reconstruction of the Klárov Institute for the Blind opposite the government office

Prague – The Office for the Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) is looking for a general designer for the reconstruction of the new building of the former Klárov Institute for the Blind, located in the center of Prague opposite the government office. Strakova Academy announced this in a press release today. The building is expected to have multifunctional spaces for hosting conferences, meetings, and significant events. The ÚZSVM estimates the value of the contract at 97.6 million crowns excluding VAT. It will be the largest investment project of the office.

The government office described the public tender for the general designer of the reconstruction as an important step towards saving the building. "Multifunctional spaces will be created here for hosting conferences, meetings, and significant events. In the area of the former pool, which needs to be preserved due to its heritage value, a unique exhibition space will be created that we would like to make accessible to the public," stated Jana Kotalíková, head of the government office, in the press release.

The head of the ÚZSVM, Kateřina Arajmu, stated that the reconstruction will be the largest investment project of the office, which has created a special website for it. "We are doing everything we can to return the building to a dignified form after many years of neglect and to renovate it so that it can be used for administrative and representative purposes," she said. The general designer will be tasked with developing a comprehensive architectural design for the reconstruction, creating a digital model of the building, and ensuring building permits.

The new building of the former Klárov Institute for the Blind was constructed between 1906 and 1909 as part of the Institute for the Maintenance and Employment of Adult Blind Persons. It was designed by architect Josef Piskač in a historicist style with Art Nouveau elements. It included bathing facilities, gyms, a ceremonial and concert hall, and rooms designed for the development of mental and manual work for the visually impaired.

In 1946, the building was adapted for the Economic Council and later served as the House of Physical Culture, where a pool for recreational swimming and gyms were accessible to the public. The first public sauna in Prague was also located here. From 1993, the building housed the District Public Prosecutor's Office for Prague 1 and 7. In 2002, the basement of the building with the pool was affected by floods. After the relocation of the public prosecutor's office, the building was taken over by the ÚZSVM, which accommodated the government office's interest in using the building for representative and administrative purposes.