A new high-rise building might be built in Pankráci

Prague - In the future, there may be another high-rise building on Pankrác in Prague. The investor wants to build an administrative center on the Pankrác plain, and according to the civic association Arnika, the building should be nearly 80 meters tall. The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) deemed the construction infeasible, while Prague's heritage conservationists have not yet issued a statement.
    It is still unclear how much the planned building will cost or when construction might begin. "Other than the architectural design and a few consultations with the authorities, nothing else has happened," Antonis Timiopulos from the Pankrác joint-stock company told ČTK today. However, Timiopulos confirmed that the structure called the Ice Tower could be built in the future on Pankrác if the company manages to complete the zoning process. But, according to him, that is not in sight. Currently, discussions concerning the construction are not taking place at the city hall, and the company withdrew its request for a statement from the city's heritage conservationists.
    The proposal for the Ice Tower emerged from an architectural competition commissioned by the investor. It was designed by the Kaama studio. According to the architects' website, the building could have 18 floors.
    Prague's heritage conservationists have already discussed it once. "The expert committee expressed a positive opinion on the latest proposal," Jan Kněžínek, director of the Prague heritage conservation department, told ČTK today. Originally, there was a problem with the height of the project, but according to him, the building is now supposed to be shorter. "I personally like the design," added Kněžínek. An April report from the expert group also indicates that the proposed tower does not compete with the height of the multi-story buildings dominating the panorama of the Pankrác plain, but "becomes a suitable height complement."
    Civic associations hold an opposite view. They are also fighting against the constructions by ECM, which plans to build a high-rise building with luxury apartments and a hotel on Pankrác. The City Epoque project is awaiting zoning approval and a building permit from the Prague 4 building authority.
    "There is a risk that the city's skyline will be destroyed by additional high buildings," the Arnika association stated in a press release today. The civic initiative of Pankrác points out that the area has exhausted its transportation capacity, and due to the new buildings, 70,000 cars are expected to pass through the plain daily. "The local street network can no longer handle additional traffic volumes," states the Pankrác initiative's declaration.
    The ECM project includes the construction of nine buildings. In 2004, a five-story administrative building City Point and City Empiria (formerly Motokov) were approved, and three years later, City Tower (the former building of Czechoslovak Radio). The City Epoque building is expected to contain luxury apartments and a hotel, while City Deco and City Element will host offices.
    Due to the planned construction of high-rise buildings in Pankrác, UNESCO expressed "serious concern" a year ago. Shortly after, the Ministry of Culture closed the administrative proceedings regarding the skyscrapers and confirmed the city hall's decision, which permitted the buildings. The Pankrác plain is within the protective zone of the heritage reserve. However, the exclusion of Prague from the World Heritage list does not currently seem to be at risk.
    The city hall also has a new methodology for the construction of high-rise buildings in Prague. It aims to prevent disputes about where high-rise buildings can and cannot be built. The evaluation of the construction will be determined by the view from approximately 25 locations in Prague, and the relief of the metropolis will also be taken into account.