The award-winning Czech embassy in London is set for extensive renovation

London - Construction of the new embassy of the then Czechoslovak Republic began in the 1960s at one of the most luxurious addresses in London, in the private street of Kensington Palace Gardens. The architects designed it in the style of the then-fashionable brutalism. After nearly 50 years, however, it no longer meets the needs of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is a need to reconstruct the building's technical facilities. The embassy is thus set for an extensive reconstruction that should start this September and last approximately two years.
    "I believe that the reconstruction will not only bring a more modern infrastructure but also a significant enhancement of the entire building, allowing the concentration of other Czech government agencies along with the embassy in one location," stated the Czech ambassador in London, Michael Žantovský.
    The main component of the reconstruction will be the renovation of the interior. It will be newly divided to accommodate all Czech agencies operating in London, namely the Czech Centre, CzechInvest, CzechTrade, and CzechTourism. "The reconstruction will enable all agencies responsible for promoting the Czech Republic to be housed in one building, thereby creating something like a Czech house," said the press secretary of the London embassy, David Steinke.
    The ground floor of the embassy building also includes a cinema with a capacity of 40 seats, which, however, needs extensive modifications. After the reconstruction, it will be available for both Czech government agencies and the diplomatic representation. "For all agencies and especially for the Czech embassy, this will mean an improvement in operations. Moreover, we will constantly have various events, Czech artists, concerts of Czech music, and people will get used to visiting one place for Czech culture," added Steinke.
    For the construction of the embassy, the Czechoslovak Republic rented a plot from the queen at the border of the Kensington and Notting Hill districts. Work on the project began in 1965, the building was completed in 1970, and architect Jan Šrámek and his collaborators Jan Bočan and Karel Štěpánský participated in it. The architects divided the embassy into two buildings; the smaller one, facing Kensington Palace Gardens, served the embassy's operational needs and included a large hall for representative purposes and offices. The larger building, facing Notting Hill Gate, primarily had a residential function. Four floors were filled with staff apartments, as well as an office for the consulate and a communal dining room.
    In the final realization of the embassy, the famous British architect Robert Matthew, creator of the Royal Festival Hall, also collaborated. The authority of this esteemed personality contributed to the fact that the London embassy received the most prestigious British award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1971 for the best building created in Britain by foreign architects.
    After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the embassy complex was divided between the two successor states. The original embassy building went to the Slovak Republic. The building intended for apartments, the commercial and consular department became the embassy of the Czech Republic.
    "The current condition of the building does not meet the present requirements and needs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and at the same time, some parts of the building and its technical equipment exceed their lifespan. The engineering networks are in poor technical condition, suffering from frequent failures, and it is necessary to ensure their reconstruction throughout the building," stated the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) regarding the reconstruction. "The goal of the embassy reconstruction is primarily to renovate the technical facilities of the building, reduce energy consumption, and improve the operational system of the building," it added.
    Given that the building received a prestigious British award in the 1970s, it has come under the scrutiny of heritage protectors, and its façade cannot be modified much. Architect Jan Bočan found this out when he proposed revitalization in the late 1990s, but British heritage protectors rejected it. During the current reconstruction, the focus will mainly be on cleaning the façade of the building, located on a busy street.
    The most significant changes will occur in the interior. As described by David Steinke, the building was quite modernly designed for its time in the 1970s, but technological developments have progressed. "The electrical network was designed to handle a television, radio, or electric stove; however, now there are servers, computers, and other electrical devices. It often happens that when several appliances are turned on at once, the network fails," says Steinke. Additionally, water and drainage will be updated because the pipes from that time are thin and occasionally leak.
    "The embassy building needs renovation not only to be more attractive, making the Czech presence in London more visually appealing, but also to make it functional for work," concludes Steinke. Operations at the embassy will not be interrupted during the reconstruction; work will first be done on one part of the building and then on the other.