The Czech Embassy in Berlin will undergo renovation, the government has approved

Prague - The reconstruction of the Czech Embassy in Berlin for more than half a billion crowns was approved by the government today. The press department of the Office of the Government informed ČTK. According to information from ČTK, the proposal anticipates that preparations should begin next year, with the modifications expected to be completed by 2023. The future of the 1970s building, located in the center of Berlin at the prestigious address Wilhelmstrasse 44, has been addressed repeatedly in recent years.

The reconstruction should take place from 2021 to 2023. In addition to new offices, the building is also planned to include the ambassador's residence and apartments for employees, of which there will be more than 30. The overall appearance of the building is expected to remain preserved even after the reconstruction.

The comprehensive reconstruction is estimated to cost approximately 550 million crowns, with an additional over 50 million for the rental of spaces needed by diplomats and other office employees during the building's renovation. Total costs, including a twenty-percent reserve anticipated in the proposal, could rise to around 727 million crowns.

The embassy building is a typical representative of architectural brutalism, which is a significant asset of a number of buildings designed by the architectural couple Věra and Vladimír Machonin. However, it no longer meets today's needs according to diplomats. It is both oversized and outdated in several respects.

While during the Cold War the embassy in the eastern part of Berlin housed between 350 and 500 employees, there are now many fewer, leaving parts of the building empty. People working there often complain that the building easily heats up to unbearable temperatures in the summer, while in the winter it is difficult to heat. Additionally, the building still contains asbestos.

For these reasons, discussions about its fate have taken place repeatedly in recent years. Several options have been considered, including the possibility of completely demolishing the building and constructing a new embassy in its place, or relocating the embassy to the Berlin district of Tiergarten. However, the Czech side ultimately decided on a fundamental reconstruction.