Architects are arguing with heritage conservationists about the concept of heritage care

    PRAGUE - The Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) today presented its own concept of heritage care to journalists. It reacted, among other things, to the warnings of certain experts in the field of heritage care that the leadership of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) has come into close contact with architects. Heritage specialists argue that architects are often in direct conflict with the protection of heritage due to their profession. The Chamber of Architects states that it is also concerned about the protection of heritage but has reservations about the current state of heritage care.
    The new General Director of the National Heritage Institute, Tomáš Hájek, has appointed three architects and the secretary of the Chamber of Architects, Josef Plos, to his seven-member expert council. According to some heritage specialists, the director is thus coming under the influence of one lobbying group. Plos and heritage care methodology expert, Josef Holeček, who are members of the advisory board, were also members of the selection committee for finding a new director of the NPÚ. According to heritage specialists, there were no experts in heritage care in the committee.
    The idea of creating licensed heritage specialists, which is the most significant change presented by the ČKA in its heritage care concept compared to today, has faced the greatest criticism from heritage specialists. “In all civilized Europe, the state retains the execution of professional heritage oversight,” said heritage specialist Karel Ksandr today. He also stated that the state should reduce the restrictions of heritage care that affect heritage owners through subsidies provided for repairs. “The path of licensed heritage specialists is not possible in our country,” he said.
    Representatives of the Chamber argue that licensed heritage specialists should have personal responsibility for their decisions, just as licensed architects do according to the Chamber. The Chamber is particularly disturbed by visible controversial decisions made by heritage departments of local governments, especially in Prague.
    Heritage specialists argue that while architects represented by the Chamber have responsibility, sanctions for violations of the Chamber's statutes are inadequately enforced. Ksandr mentioned the example of an architect who proposed the conversion of the former Expo restaurant into offices. “The Supreme Administrative Court in Brno ruled that the conversion was contrary to the law on state heritage care, yet this architect still has a license,” he said.
    According to the ČKA, its concept of heritage care has been prepared since 1997, and it has now presented it at a time when Culture Minister Vítězslav Jandák wants to reform heritage care. The Chamber states that its concept is one of the possible approaches and offers it for discussion.
    Heritage specialists and architects are also disputing whether a crisis in heritage care is occurring or not. Plos stated today that there is indeed and that other countries (Germany, Austria) are facing this fact as well. Several heritage specialists, including the chairman of the Czech Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Josef Štulec, argue that Czech heritage care is internationally recognized, evidenced by the high number of Czech monuments inscribed on the UNESCO list. “The committee always particularly assesses whether the specific object and its heritage protection have a good perspective,” stated Štulec.
    The Czech Republic has 12 monuments on the list, while Germany and France have 30 each. Experts attribute the great success of the Czech Republic in this area to former employee of the UNESCO Department at the Ministry of Culture, Michal Beneš. Jandák reportedly dismissed him in November due to their differing opinions on the retention of the rotating stage in Český Krumlov. Today, Štulec was dismissed by Hájek from the position of chief conservator of the NPÚ.