On Tuesday, the courtyard of the Karlín barracks will reopen for the public

Prague - The association Prague Center plans to reopen the courtyard of the Karlín barracks to the public on Tuesday, May 27, where there will be tents with refreshments and toilets. The smaller buildings in the courtyard that the association previously used will remain closed for now and are awaiting re-licensing. The association informed about this on its website. The cultural and social center had to close last June by the decision of the building authority, which determined that the spaces were neither licensed nor structurally designated for such operation.

The association established a fundraiser for the reopening, which raised approximately 230,000 crowns. The councilors changed the zoning plan which officially allowed the center's operation. "As soon as all administrative processes are completed, we hope to finally return inside and gradually to full functionality," the association stated.

The barracks were taken over by the Prague City Hall from the state at the beginning of last year, and the management is the responsibility of the city company Trade Centre Praha (TCP). The city plans a complete reconstruction of the extensive building and its use for various purposes; there could be apartments, a cultural center, a technology park, or educational facilities.

According to TCP spokesperson Ondřej Šrámek, nothing prevents the courtyard from opening, as the association still has a valid loan agreement. Prague 8 spokesperson Martin Šalek told ČTK that, from the building authority's perspective, the use of the courtyard with only tents is also fine.

The center previously faced criticism from some local residents due to noise. Both the operators and the city company want to address this. "TCP is collaborating with experts in noise measurement and regulation to ensure that any future operations in the Karlín Barracks area not only fully comply with applicable legal regulations but also go beyond them in an effort to minimize noise," Šrámek stated.

The Prague Center association reached out to neighbors with a letter, stating that refreshments in the courtyard would be open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and the area would close at midnight. Outdoor concerts will be a maximum of three per year. "If we get the chance to screen a summer cinema again, we plan to play only through headphones, so it won't produce any sound at all," the operators further stated.

The historic building of the Karlín barracks dates back to the 19th century and was used for military purposes during Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The building has been protected as a monument since 1958. In the past, the state tried repeatedly to sell the complex but was unsuccessful.