Prague wants to announce a competition for the concert hall building in August

Prague – The capital city plans to announce an international architectural competition for the design of a new philharmonic in Vltavská in mid-August. The proposal is expected to be known in May next year, and the project is to be completed in 2025. This was stated to journalists today by representatives of Prague's leadership and Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD). According to estimates, the overall cost of the building is expected to be 6.1 billion crowns, of which 4.9 billion will cover construction costs and the remainder will be for project development. The city envisions that the funding for construction would involve the city hall, the state, and private investors.

"Preliminary interest in competing has been confirmed by 23 foreign studios and many domestic ones as well. We expect great participation and timeless designs that will elevate Prague's already rich architecture to a higher level," said Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates). Zaorálek stated that the building will be a tremendous stimulus and incentive for the musical culture and musical life of the entire country. "We are prepared to participate in this construction, we have prepared a memorandum, and I personally consider this to be a necessity," he said.

The competition jury will consist of 11 voting members, including architect Josef Pleskot. "We are also negotiating with other significant architects," said the mayor's deputy Petr Hlaváček (for TOP 09). According to him, this will also include foreign names. Representatives of the city will also sit on the jury, such as Hřib, Hlaváček, the mayor of Prague 7 Jan Čižinský (Prague Sobě), and the project's lead architect for the philharmonic, Martin Krupauer.

The city will allocate 18 million crowns for so-called sketch fees and rewards for the participating studios. The competition and the first phase of the preparation of project documentation are expected to cost 750 million crowns, with subsequent phases estimated at another 450 million crowns. Involvement from the state and potential private investors is expected to occur only after the construction begins, which is planned for 2027. According to the proposed schedule, it should be completed in 2031.

The involvement of private funds was recommended by an analysis commissioned by the city. The memorandum of cooperation that the city plans to sign with the Ministry of Culture also includes the possibility of launching a public fundraising campaign for the construction. According to Zaorálek, it is still unclear how much money the state will contribute to the project. "Specific amounts cannot be discussed at this moment," he said. However, he reiterated that he considers state co-financing to be essential.

The new philharmonic will house the Czech Philharmonic and the Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague FOK. The building is expected to have three halls – a concert hall for 1,800 audience members, a smaller hall for chamber music with a capacity of 700 seats, and a multifunctional hall for other genres and types of events for up to 500 people. According to the city’s vision, the complex should be open all day and offer not only cultural spaces but also cafes and restaurants. Čižinský added that choirs and other community activities should also be situated there. The director of the Municipal Library, Tomáš Řehák, mentioned that the library's music department should also move there.

Further significant investments will be necessary to modify the currently unused area, such as in transportation infrastructure and more. The city administration is preparing a spatial study for the so-called brownfield Holešovice-Bubny, where the philharmonic is located. This includes plans for extensive residential development.

Discussions about the construction of a large concert hall in Prague have been ongoing for decades. The most debated issue has been finding a suitable location. In the 1990s, a hall could have been built in Letná – at the site where the construction of the National Library was also considered according to architect Jan Kaplický's design. Japanese investors wanted to donate the building to the Czech Philharmonic for its 100th anniversary. The then Minister of Culture Milan Uhde and Mayor Milan Kondr rejected their offer.