The new ND scene will be repaired by Metrostav DIZ, OHLA ŽS, and Trigema for 1.8 billion CZK excluding VAT

Prague - The New Stage of the National Theatre (ND) will be reconstructed by a consortium of companies Metrostav DIZ, OHLA ŽS, and Trigema. They succeeded in the tender with a price of 1.8 billion crowns excluding VAT. The construction is expected to last two years. The National Theatre anticipates that work will begin by the end of the current theatre season, which is in the first half of the year. Tomáš Staněk, spokesperson for ND, informed ČTK about this.

The decision on the winner of the tender came a day after the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) ruled that ND acted correctly in the competition. The exclusion of the consortium of companies Geosan Group and Avers due to non-fulfillment of one of the conditions was deemed appropriate by the office.

The reconstruction, according to ND, will not change the external appearance of the building and will preserve architecturally valuable elements of the interior. During the renovation, particularly sensitive restoration is planned for the green serpentinite cladding, the spiral staircase, or the generous light object designed by Pavel Hlava and Jaroslav Štursa. Builders will follow the same approach with the building's facade, which consists of 4,000 glass panels. The facade made of glass blocks was designed by Karel Prager along with leading Czech glassmaker and artist Stanislav Libenský.

Today, the building technically does not meet operational requirements and differs from the original vision of the architects. "The planned reconstruction will fulfill the dream of architect Karel Prager and scenographer Josef Svoboda and, thanks to the latest technologies, create a truly multifunctional space,” stated Staněk.

The reconstruction concerns not only the New Stage but also the theater's operational building B known as Themos. Additionally, it is designed to connect the facilities of the New Stage and the historical building of the theatre underground.

The two-year reconstruction aims to maintain heritage-protected elements while providing a variable arrangement of the stage and auditorium in a multifunctional hall with a capacity of up to 500 seats. A chamber theatre, rehearsal rooms, and a café on the ground floor will also be created. The modernization is expected to bring energy savings, reduce operating costs, and lessen the environmental impact.

The contract for the reconstruction was announced by the Prague National Theatre last January. The expected costs were a maximum of 2.3 billion crowns including VAT.