The magistrate canceled the issued land decision for "marshmallow"

Prague - The City Hall has revoked the zoning decision for the "marshmallow." The criticized new building near the Anežský Monastery was granted permission by the appellate authority in violation of the construction law. Moreover, the consent of the owner of part of the land for the placement of the building is missing. The investor, Praga Progetti e Investimenti, considers the revocation of the decision to be unlawful and will appeal against it. Hundreds of people protested against the construction, which is to be built in close proximity to the Anežský Monastery in the center of Prague, in front of the Prague 1 office, and a petition was also created.
    The City Hall stated in its decision that there was a violation of the construction law because not all requirements for the zoning decision were met. "The relevant zoning decision does not include certain requirements, for example, the type of land, distances from neighboring buildings, sufficiently clear and comprehensible description of the shape of the building, and the definition of the area affected by the construction," it is stated in its decision.
    The City Hall also considers it unlawful that some documents for the decision were issued concerning the originally discussed documentation, which has since changed. This includes, for example, the position of environmental authorities.
    Part of the building is to be constructed on National Gallery land, but the investor does not have its valid consent. The file material shows that the landowner only provided consent to the 'project documentation for the zoning proceedings,' not consent to the placement of the building on their land," writes the Building Code Department.
    According to Francesco Augusto Razetto from the investor company, the Building Code Department did not take into account the decision of the higher authority - the Ministry for Regional Development, which stated that the deadline for the commencement of the review has already passed. "In any case, this is a scandalous procedure. We have been preparing this project for seventeen years, complying with all the laws of the Czech Republic and respecting all affected authorities and institutions," Razetto stated in a press release.
    The project, which people have nicknamed marshmallow due to the allegedly proposed color of the façade, evokes strong emotions in Prague. 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 historical center of Prague and the immediate vicinity of the Anežský Monastery.
    The house was designed by architect Zdeněk Fránek, and the project has changed several times. The original design from 2008, which called for a glass façade, was rejected by the Ministry of Culture based on the opinion of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) and the Prague heritage officials revoked the permit in 2010. However, the new project by Praga Progetti e Investimenti with windows shaped like faces was approved by both the NPÚ and city hall heritage officials, and construction permission was issued on this basis. The author of the design rejects the criticisms of the opponents, claiming he never planned a façade in the pink color that gave the project nicknames associated with pink-and-white cotton candy.