Ombudsman advises building authorities in the protection of valuable buildings

Brno - Ombudsman Anna Šabatová issued a ten-point guideline for building authorities, advising them on how to assess cases where construction modifications change the appearance of a building. According to her, authorities have been acting inconsistently, which in some cases leads to insensitive interventions in the architectural values of buildings that, while not historically protected, contribute to the appearance of municipalities and cities. This was stated today by the spokesperson for the Office of the Public Defender of Rights, Iva Hrazdílková, in a press release.

According to the law, a building permit is required for modifications that change the appearance of a building, with the interpretation being the responsibility of the building authorities. They must assess not only changes to the external elements of the building when issuing a building permit but also evaluate changes in relation to the character of the surrounding development and the nature of the territory within their administrative district. However, in practice, according to the ombudsman, building authorities assess changes in the appearance of buildings differently.

“Protecting the architectural image of the municipality or city is the responsibility of local administrations and is primarily achieved through quality urban plans. However, building authorities must contribute to the cultivation of the environment by making thoughtful decisions to protect and develop the value of buildings and the urban structure in general,” the ombudsman stated.

The issued ten-point guideline is intended to help authorities evaluate construction modifications, especially for architecturally and urbanistically valuable buildings. According to the ombudsman, the building authority primarily needs to gather information about the extent of anticipated or completed construction modifications and evaluate whether the appearance of the building will change or has already changed. They consider the height and orientation of the building, its dimensions and shape, the technical execution of the facade and its color, the shape of the roof, and the placement and division of window and door openings. When evaluating construction modifications, the ombudsman believes they must also consider the building's placement within the area and the character of the surrounding development. In case of doubt, they should invite an expert to assess the construction modifications, such as a licensed inspector, an expert, or a specialized professional workplace.