The fate of the house on Wenceslas Square still depends on the decision of the MK

Prague - The Ministry of Culture (MK) has not yet decided whether the building on Wenceslas Square, which is to be demolished, will be declared a cultural monument. The relevant proceedings were initiated in April. "Due to the complexity of the proceedings, they are still ongoing; a decision on the matter can be expected soon,” said MK spokesperson Markéta Ševčíková to ČTK. The fate of the building depends on whether it will become a monument or not.
      The owner plans to demolish it, for which he has already received permission, and to build a new structure in its place. However, there is a legal opinion stating that even if the building becomes a monument after the construction proceedings have started, this fact is new evidence that all parties involved must address.
      The demolition of a building that is part of the Prague heritage reserve was allowed by a decision of the heritage department of the municipal office. Although the heritage experts from MK found its stance unlawful and revoked it six months later, it was too late, as this can only be done within two months. Therefore, the MK appeals committee recommended the revocation of the decision made by the ministerial heritage experts, as the building's owner had already counted on the municipal decision for six months, and its annulment by the ministry could allegedly jeopardize his investment.
      Experts protested against the demolition of the building, emphasizing that the minister should defend the interests of the state in heritage preservation rather than those of a private investor. The Art History Society submitted a proposal to MK in January to declare the building a monument. In March, Jiří Vajčner, the director of the Heritage Care Department of MK, told ČTK that the ministry would not address the proposal, as the proceedings (...) could not prevent the demolition of the building anyway. He added that the purpose of declaring cultural monuments is to assess their heritage value, not to "regulate actions according to the building code."
      However, a month later, the officials decided to initiate proceedings. In a document from April, the MK states that the building demonstrates high artistic, urban, and architectural values that significantly contribute to the appearance of one of the most important locations in the Prague heritage reserve.
      According to the municipal decision, the owner can demolish the corner building with the rear annex of the Jalta Hotel and the remains of the former Joint Stock Printing House, of which only part of the facade remains. The previous owner of the printing house demolished it and then requested the annulment of its heritage protection, which the MK granted, as there was nothing left to protect at that time. Only the land remained protected, and nothing now prevents the demolition of the remaining fragments of the facade either.
      Regardless of the outcome of the proceedings regarding the corner building, a hole has been gaping for six years between historic buildings just a few meters from Wenceslas Square, after a building that had both architectural and cultural-historical qualities. The printing house was built in 1919 in the spirit of constructivism, and the editorial office of Národní listy, where Karel Čapek worked as an editor for many years, was located in the building.