Due to the building for Mucha's Epiphany, the boundaries of Stromovka have changed

PRAGUE - The Prague City Hall has changed the boundaries of the protected natural area of Královská obora due to the planned construction of a new building for the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha. Stromovka extended into the Holešovice exhibition grounds, where the building is expected to cost approximately 150 million crowns. ČTK was informed about this by councilor Bohumil Černý (ODS) after today's city council meeting.
He is convinced that construction will begin this year. The city has allocated 43 million crowns for this in this year's budget. "Nothing prevents the issuance of the zoning decision," Černý stated. The modern building with a steel structure will look like a box set on edge. Mucha's canvases will be suspended in a uniquely designed space. The building could be completed next year or in 2008.
Because Stromovka is a sensitive area in terms of nature conservation, the government also had to give its approval regarding the planned construction, according to Černý. If the boundaries of Stromovka were not changed, it supposedly could not be built there according to regulations.
Currently, the epic is at the castle in Moravský Krumlov in the Znojmo region. The relocation of the works back to the metropolis has been discussed for many years. There have been numerous proposals regarding where the artwork should be displayed. Some time ago, there was a discussion about the plan to place the canvases in the Art Nouveau Industrial Palace, which was rejected by conservationists.
Recently, proposals have emerged suggesting that the best place for the Slav Epic would be the Klementinum, which is managed and utilized by the National Library. The library will build a new headquarters in Letná, and Klementinum is located on main tourist routes.
"It would be logical, but (Mucha's) condition is different, hence the construction of a new building," Černý stated earlier. Mucha (1860 - 1939) donated the paintings to Prague with the condition that they be exhibited in a hall built for this purpose.