Kaplického Rejnok has a zoning decision, the investor is unknown

České Budějovice - The construction of the A. Dvořák Concert and Conference Center in České Budějovice, designed in the shape of a manta ray by the late architect Jan Kaplický, has obtained a zoning decision. Who will be its investor is still unknown. The city council wants to know by the end of the year who will pay for the building, estimated to cost around two billion, so that the project does not block the city’s lands and plans. This was stated to journalists after the council meeting by the mayor's deputy Miroslav Joch (ČSSD).
    "The zoning decision has been effective since July 30. The chairman of the South Bohemian Society of Friends of Music (JSPH) Antonín Kazil, who has been advocating for the construction of the concert center for several years, promised us that once he has the zoning decision, he will inform us of the investor. At the council, we learned that they are negotiating with several investors. They asked us for a certain postponement. We have agreed that they will write to us within a week to inform us when they will notify us of the investor," said the mayor's deputy Ivana Popelová (OPB) to ČTK.
    Uncertainties surrounding the construction, according to councilors, are blocking land worth tens of millions of crowns and also the assignment for the reconstruction of KD Slavie. "The councilors want to know the investor no later than the end of the year; otherwise, the city will no longer be able to block the land," emphasized Popelová.
    "We are not going to build two large spaces here where culture should take place. We are waiting to see if Mr. Kazil comes with an investor and we will see the light at the end of the tunnel, whether there will be the Manta Ray, and then we will decide on the method of reconstructing Slavie," Joch stated. A zoning change in the area of the former barracks in Čtyři Dvory, where the Manta Ray is to be built, was decided four years ago.
    Representatives of the JSPH are now discussing, according to Joch, three or four potential investors, one from Italy, another from Japan, and two from the Czech Republic. The company's boards still need to decide on the investment. Furthermore, JSPH representatives did not convince the councilors about how they will operate the center.
    The zoning decision is valid for two years. Before the construction permit, the investor must have resolved their relationship to the land. The city plans to sell the land to the investor at a commercial price.
    Kaplický and his team Future Systems designed an original black structure with organic shapes for České Budějovice. The completed study is Kaplický’s most developed work in the country, but his sudden death in January 2009 temporarily froze further negotiations. The proposed structure has a triangular footprint and occupies an area of nearly 1.5 hectares. The center is to have, for example, two concert halls for 1,000 and 400 listeners.