The Line building at Vítězné náměstí has a zoning decision

Prague - The multifunctional building Line, which is set to be built on Prague's Vítězné náměstí, has received a zoning decision from the relevant building authority. Jan Chromeček from the company Vítězné náměstí, which is part of the PPF Real Estate group, said today that they can now apply for a building permit. The Line project by architect Radan Hubička has elicited mixed reactions from the public and experts, as is often the case with non-traditional architecture. However, in September this year, it was awarded as the best architectural project in the prestigious Building of the Year competition.
    The zoning decision is not final and can be appealed against. The investor anticipates this possibility. "With regard to the compliance of the project with the zoning plan and regulatory conditions for the area, the investor believes that the zoning decision will be confirmed by any appeals authority," Chromeček added.
    The building, which people have started to nickname the Polar Bear, will complete the currently open block of buildings on Vítězné náměstí. The investor states that the construction will bring new civic amenities alongside administrative spaces, including a café, smaller shops, and other services.
    "Like any exceptional building, the Polar Bear faces a number of comments that prolong its realization. Nevertheless, we continue to expect the construction schedule to take place between 2014 and 2016," Chromeček says.
    Some experts have condemned the construction because they believe it does not respect the former plans for the Dejvice development by Antonín Engel. However, Hubička's design won in the invited competition organized according to the rules of the Czech Chamber of Architects. Renowned architects such as Eva Jiřičná, John Eisler, and architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš have positively evaluated the building design. Some local residents also addressed the city council in a petition, supporting the project and promising that it would reduce noise from the square away from their apartments and inner courtyards.
    The zoning decision addresses objections raised by the participants in the proceedings. According to the Building Department of Prague 6, Hubička's project complies with the valid zoning plan regarding demands for public amenities - the building plans include a town hall information center with a publicly accessible media library and lecture halls, which will occupy 15 percent of the gross floor area and meet the mentioned requirement.
    The volume, height, and other parameters of the building are entirely based on regulatory conditions and Engel's concept, as stated in the decision. "Regarding the objection that the building appears as a solitaire, it can be stated that the building appears like a palace, similar to the General Staff building on the opposite side, which again does not deviate from the original Engel concept," the officials stated in their decision.
    At the beginning of the year, there were heated debates regarding the construction at the Dejvice town hall. Opposition councilors and several citizens criticized the coalition for past decisions regarding the municipal land, on which the town hall decided to build a commercial building in collaboration with a private investor instead of its previously planned new building. As a result of the construction, the company Vítězné náměstí was created.
    However, the town hall later forfeited its share in this company for financial reasons. The municipal land remains leased to PPF Real Estate. The opposition criticized the coalition for the fact that the profit from the participation in the Vítězné náměstí company was supposed to amount to tens of millions, but instead, the town hall receives 4.4 million annually. After the issuance of occupancy approval, the rent will increase to nine million.