The representatives of Hradec Králové approved a new tender for the museum's renovation

Hradec Králové - The representatives of Hradec Králové approved today the announcement of a new competition for the reconstruction of the Art Nouveau building of the East Bohemia Museum. At the same time, they canceled the original competition, in which the bids from two applicants significantly exceeded the estimated price. The maximum price for the contract has been set by the city at 70 million crowns excluding VAT for the new tender.

According to the original tender documentation, the estimated cost of the repairs was 56 million crowns excluding VAT, but companies offered prices around 90 million crowns. The new competition will delay the start of the reconstruction by months. The repairs were originally supposed to begin in January.

The city hall modified the tender documentation for the new selection procedure to allow more companies to participate in the competition. "The postponed deadline for the reconstruction does not currently jeopardize the possibility of drawing European subsidies, which we want to use for the financing of the repairs," said the deputy mayor for investments, Jindřich Vedlich (TOP 09). The subsidy could reach up to 90 percent of eligible costs.

After the repairs of the museum building, new exhibition spaces will be created, part of which will be managed directly by the city. From the terrace at the dome on the roof, there will be a view of part of the city center along the Elbe riverbank. The reconstruction of the museum building should be followed by the renovation of the adjacent small park behind the building on Kotěrova Street.

The museum building was designed by architect Jan Kotěra and was constructed between 1909 and 1912, making it one of the most significant buildings in Hradec Králové. In 1995, the museum was declared a national cultural monument. The founder of the East Bohemia Museum is the Hradec Králové Region. The owner of the building and the investor for the repairs is Hradec Králové.