The Institute of Art History is against the demolition of the building on Wenceslas Square

Prague - Experts from the Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences have unequivocally opposed the demolition of the building at the corner of Wenceslas Square and Opletalova Street. The decision that it will not be protected as a historical monument was made by the Minister of Culture in resignation, Alena Hanáková. The owner can demolish the building and construct a new one in its place. The institute considers this a completely inappropriate and unacceptable intervention in the integrity of the Prague monument reserve. Martin Mádl from the Institute of Art History informed ČTK about this today.
    "The demolition of the historic building and its replacement with an average new construction is not seen by the Institute of Art History as an enhancement of the Wenceslas Square space, but rather as a degradation and irreversible devastation of its urban qualities," the statement, which ČTK has access to, reads.
    Minister Hanáková made her decision based on the opinion of her appeal committee, which had been reviewing the verdict of the Ministry's heritage department for several months. Last year, that department already decided not to declare the building a cultural monument. The implication of the minister's decision is that the ministry cannot protect all architecturally interesting buildings by declaring them monuments; that is primarily the task of local governments.
    The institute is convinced that the building no. 1601/II meets architectural, urban, historical, and cultural criteria to warrant protection as a cultural monument. The fact that the outgoing minister did not seize the opportunity to prevent the demolition of the building in the historical core of the Prague monument reserve, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is regarded by the experts of the Institute of Art History as a regrettable mistake and failure of the state. According to the institute, its task should be to protect cultural values and the public's right to enjoy these values.
    For several months, heated debates have been ongoing around the controversial project, and protests have occurred several times. Opponents of the demolition are still waiting to see the outcome of the zoning procedure at the Prague 1 building authority regarding the construction of the project that is to replace the corner building.
    The Institute of Art History once again protested the decision of the Prague City Council, whose committee for the protection of monuments and tourism agreed to the new construction three years ago. It also considers the stance of the Prague City Hall's heritage department to be an unprecedented mistake and failure of heritage care. In 2010, this department agreed to the demolition of this building and part of the neighboring Hotel Jalta, which has the status of a cultural monument. The institute is convinced that the corner building on Wenceslas Square should be preserved and protected in accordance with the valid decree on the Prague monument reserve.
    Nonetheless, the decision of the Minister of Culture is welcomed by the owner of the building, the company Flow East. "The decision (that the building is not a monument) is a recognition of the right before succumbing to the voices of lobbying groups opposing change," the company stated previously. It claims that the new building will be sensitive to the surrounding architecture and will bring new jobs and investments to the city center.