New house on Revoluční causes controversy

Prague - Sharp disputes among experts are sparked by the Novomlýnská brána project, which architects propose for the center of Prague at the end of Revoluční street. It is intended to conclude the street and act as a kind of gate into the city center from the direction of the river. However, a prerequisite for its creation is the demolition of an old building. The project is not well-received by experts from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), but city conservationists have already granted it permission.
The owner of the land and building expects an investment of 250 million crowns. Investor representative Radovan Karas told reporters today that his main motivation is profit. "The second aspect is social, to build something that everyone would agree on. But it is evident that everyone will certainly not agree on this. We certainly will not go against any permits," said Karas.
The building is expected to have multiple functions, primarily stores, offices, and parking spaces, and the investor does not rule out that it could also include more apartments - depending on demand. According to him, the project can always be adjusted in this regard.
The land is owned by Brobosu Properties, whose business is leasing real estate and real estate activity; the company’s registered capital, according to the commercial register, is 200,000 crowns. The company was formed by merging with the previous owner of the property, Walter Titze, and the assets of the dissolved company were transferred to the successor company; the registered capital of Walter Titze’s company was 12.6 million crowns, according to online sources. Both companies have only two of the same executive directors. According to Karas, the company intends to borrow from an investment fund to finance the construction.
The bulky structure, which involves the demolition of a neo-Renaissance building, now devastated, and the incorporation of a low Baroque house, is designed by the DaM studio. The investor called on five architectural studios to propose solutions for the site at the forecourt of the Štefánik Bridge, which many have attempted in the past. Several competitions have been held; for example, in 2004, architect Daniel Libeskind presented his design for a Salvador Dalí museum in Prague, which paid little attention to the surrounding development.
Some experts also criticize the current method of selecting the project - it is not an architectural competition announced according to the rules. "As a private investor, we are not legally required to announce any competitions," states Karas. Most developers operate this way today.
DaM proposes a building that is not a traditional urban house - it does not have a classic façade with windows. The relatively large mass has an abstract shape, and the building’s skin is to be covered with perforated copper-colored sheet metal. The object is expected to have a passage that will provide access to a picturesque nook adjacent to Lannova street.
The DaM architectural office received the Grand Prix from the Association of Architects this year for a multifunctional building in the nearby Petrská district and has several realizations in historical development. They also focus on renovations; among other projects, they spent 12 years restoring the Palace of Noblewomen at Prague Castle. For the Euro Palace in Prague, they received an award from the Club for Old Prague, awarded to new architecture in a historic environment. However, the Novomlýnská brána project is not favored by the club - especially because it would result in the disappearance of the old building.
According to the NPÚ, the old building does not have exceptional artistic-historical value, but it is part of the Prague Monument Reserve, thus it is legally protected as part of it. The scientific council of the NPÚ previously agreed that it could be demolished if replaced by a new object of exceptional quality. However, the proposal presented today does not bring any added value that the old building should be sacrificed for. According to architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš, such a sacrifice for the creation of new architecture and in the interest of resolving a long-standing urban planning problem in the area is acceptable.