Kaplický's 'rays' in Budějovice could stand in 2015

Ceske Budejovice - Work on the construction of a concert and conference center in Ceske Budejovice, designed in the shape of a manta ray by the late architect Jan Kaplický, has not been interrupted. It is expected to be completed in 2015. Antonín Kazil, chairman of the South Bohemian Society of Friends of Music (JSPH), told reporters today. Architect Eva Jiřičná and her team are supposed to finish the project documentation for the zoning decision by the end of August. The investor is awaiting this. The estimated costs are two billion crowns.
The company of the investor still remains secret, according to Kazil, who does not wish to be named. "Everything is valid; once we have the zoning decision, negotiations about money will begin. They themselves are asking if we already have it. No one wants to be named, but it certainly won’t be ČEZ," Kazil told ČTK. ČEZ has been speculated as an investor before. Now, there are whispers in the corridors about the Russian company TVEL, which is a manufacturer of nuclear fuel and also a donor of the Ema Destinn Festival organized by JSPH. The costs for the construction of the "manta ray" were previously estimated at two billion, but will be specified this year; according to Kazil, they will not differ much. The center is supposed to be operated by JSPH and should be self-financing.
Over the past year, Kazil stated, many things have happened in the preparation of the construction. The working group of people was replaced with personalities, and after many discussions about the land and utility solutions, the Concert and Conference Center of Antonín Dvořák began to be designed this year, with a one-year delay.
"Among other things, we had to negotiate with Mrs. Kaplická, who was convinced that her demands could be addressed later, not in this phase, which she understood. We reached an agreement," said Kazil. Many companies were interested in working on the documentation; ultimately, the construction company Swietelsky became the partner, which also funded the study. JSPH then agreed with Jiřičná that work on the "manta ray" would be done without claiming a fee, and only the employees' overhead would need to be paid.
Other donors provided geological surveys for free. According to Kazil, the idea is still appealing to many people. The documentation is expected to be completed by the end of August, and the feedback process will take two and a half months. After the issuance of the zoning decision, a building permit will follow. Work could start in December 2013. The company plans to complete it in December 2015 and commence operations in January 2016.
The company has been striving for several years to build a dignified musical sanctuary in the South Bohemian regional city. The city, with a population of 100,000, lacks an adequate concert hall that could host symphonic orchestras. Kaplický and his team Future Systems designed an original black building with organic shapes for Budějovice. The completed study is Kaplický's most developed work in the country, but his sudden death in January 2009 temporarily froze further discussions. The proposed building has a triangular floor plan and occupies an area of almost 1.5 hectares. The center is supposed to have two concert halls for 1,000 and 400 listeners.