In České Budějovice, a discussion began about the future of the KD Slavie

České Budějovice - České Budějovice are looking for further uses for the former German Community House, now KD Slavie. Speculations have arisen that the city wants to sell it in order to co-finance European projects. The council confirmed that the city will retain the building and intends to renovate it. Today, the town hall held a panel discussion. Two projects dealing with the modernization of Slavie from the prestigious architectural competition for the Peter Parléř Award were also discussed.
    Preservationists suggested that any radical intervention in the architecture of the city’s conservation area will not be easy at all.
    "The goal of the debate is to outline an analysis of the current state and future possible use of the building and its facilities and to recommend further steps in preparing for its renovation," said Deputy Mayor Ivana Popelová (OPB). Attendees included professionals from architecture, cultural facility operators, preservationists, and young activity organizers from the city.
    The discussion revealed that Slavie is a matter of the heart; getting rid of it would be politically untenable. There was also consensus that the city lacks quality halls, especially for so-called young culture. The only one - in the IGY shopping center - will now be used differently by its owner. Set designer Šárka Havlíčková pointed out that a turning point in cultural infrastructure is occurring, that young people want to do it differently and need spaces for that. Questions were raised about whether the building should serve ballet dancers and chess players, or transform into a cultural center of the 21st century.
    A team of young architects from the Prague Atelier Edit! presented a project that combines new illuminated architecture with the historic building. It includes an extension of the eastern wing and a unifying space for gatherings. In addition to a representative hall, it plans to include a club stage and rehearsal rooms. The České Budějovice Atelier 8000 focused primarily on competitiveness and economic sustainability.
    Vlastislav Ouroda from the České Budějovice National Heritage Institute noted that restoring the architecture should have some limit of feasibility. The city’s leadership should ask whether people want the city’s heritage reserve to remain a reserve and if they would accept radical solutions.
    The German Community House was built between 1871 and 1872, two years after the Czech Beseda constructed the Beseda Na Sadech. It was designed as a cultural, social, and political center for the German-speaking community in České Budějovice. Under Hitler, it became the center of German Hitlerite nationalism; later, it housed the regional secretariat of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, then it was handed over to the city, subsequently served the army, which is why it is locally referred to as Armáďák. In 1960, the Ministry of Defense transferred it to the state, and in 1962 the state handed it to the city.
    DK Slavie competes in the city with halls and focuses primarily on DK Metropol, DK Vltava, or the Exhibition Grounds with its recently opened multifunctional pavilion. The construction of the concert center Rejnok, for which councilors have already approved a change in the zoning plan, is still in play.