Investor of marshmallow is suing the Ministry of Culture

The annulment of the opinions of Prague’s conservators means that a new building permit procedure must be held. If the investor continues to pursue the construction, the project needs to be re-evaluated by the municipal conservators, who must issue a new opinion. The permission of the conservators is a necessary basis when planning construction in a heritage reserve.

The spokesperson added that the ministry has approximately three weeks to respond to the lawsuit. It is also addressing the appeal initiated by the minister at the request of the investor against the decision of the conservation inspection.

Last November, the conservation inspection annulled the binding opinions of Prague's conservators from 2012 and 2014. The investor filed an appeal on December 4, arguing that the decision had not taken legal effect and requested that the minister annul the decision of the conservation inspection. The minister initiated the appeal process at his request, although the inspection's decision, which ČTK has, states that an appeal cannot be filed against it and it cannot be reviewed in appellate proceedings. The outcome of the appeal process is not yet known, according to the spokesperson. However, according to information from ČTK, the appeals committee confirmed the decision of the inspection; the minister may choose to follow or not follow the committee's opinion.

The project, which people have nicknamed marshmallow due to the allegedly proposed color of the façade, provokes strong emotions in Prague. The author of the proposal rejects the criticisms of opponents, claiming he never intended for the façade to be pink, which gave the project its nickname after the pink-white candy. In the past, hundreds of people gathered in the city center in protest against the construction. Associations and residents of nearby houses are upset that some permits were issued many years ago for a building that was supposed to look different.

They also criticize the inappropriateness of the building for the historic center of Prague and its immediate proximity to the St. Agnes Monastery. The National Gallery, which has an exhibition of medieval art at the St. Agnes Monastery and is now revitalizing its entire garden, is also protesting against the construction.

The building was designed by architect Zdeněk Fránek, and the project has changed several times. The original form of the project from 2008, which included a glass façade, was rejected by the Ministry of Culture based on the opinion of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), and the permission of Prague’s conservators was annulled in 2010. However, the new project with windows shaped like faces was approved by both NPÚ and the municipal conservators.