<html> <head> <title>Article</title> </head> <body> <p>Heritage conservationist Hrubý: It is not possible to prevent the potential demolition of the Snake Baths</p> </body> </html>

Publisher
ČTK
14.08.2019 07:45
Czech Republic

Teplice

Teplice/Praha – Although the protection of the dilapidated Neoclassical Snake Baths in Teplice continues, as the building is within a protected monument zone, the heritage conservationists can no longer prevent its potential demolition. The structure is no longer a cultural monument. CTK was informed today by Petr Hrubý, director of the regional expert workplace of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) in Ústí nad Labem. The cultural monument status was revoked from the Snake Baths by former Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk (ČSSD) just before leaving office. Staněk stated on Twitter that he thus unblocked a long-standing deadlock during which the building was deteriorating increasingly.

"A cultural monument cannot be allowed to be demolished; property in a city monument zone can be allowed to be demolished. That is a fundamental difference between the protection in the form of a cultural monument and a property in a heritage zone," Hrubý said in response to a CTK inquiry.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Martha Häckl, told CTK today that for a building that is not declared a monument but is located in a heritage zone, a binding opinion from state heritage care is issued regarding the intention to remove it, in this case by the heritage care department of the Teplice magistrate. This opinion is issued based on the professional assessment of an expert organization of state heritage care, which is the regional expert workplace of NPÚ in Ústí nad Labem, whose director is, in fact, Petr Hrubý.

"The content of such a binding opinion may also include a conclusion that the removal of the building is unacceptable in terms of heritage care interests. The building authority must take such a binding opinion into consideration," she stated. According to her, Hrubý is inappropriately prejudging how his NPÚ workplace will approach the creation of a professional assessment for the binding opinion. "Any potential removal of the Snake Baths building is, among other things, in the hands of Mr. Director Hrubý and his subordinates," added the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture.

"By lifting the protection, I allowed unblocking a long-standing deadlock during which the building was deteriorating increasingly. I thought it better and more logical to give the Snake Baths a chance for further usage for 200 disabled children rather than let it continue to deteriorate senselessly," Staněk wrote on Twitter. He added that the appearance and exteriors of the building remain protected and that the interior is devastated and there is nothing to protect there.

"When we encounter a decent owner, it is possible to enforce the protection. At the moment when the owner seeks reconstruction in a way that he demolishes the building and builds it again, our powers are low," Hrubý stated. The owner of the Snake Baths is the influential Teplice developer Jaroslav Třešňák.

The same situation arose with the Art Nouveau City Baths in Teplice. In 2007, Třešňák bought them as a cultural monument. At his proposal, the Ministry of Culture revoked the status, and Třešňák had them demolished based on a structural engineer's report. Two apartment buildings from the 19th century in the middle of the Teplice heritage zone were also demolished, and in their place are now department stores.

The Teplice building authority ordered the owner of the Snake Baths in the spring to secure the property due to its deterioration. The head of the office, Lenka Mirgová, told CTK today that the owner has completed all necessary works. "We will continue to monitor the building," she stated.

The city leadership wants to meet with the owner soon, who had previously made an offer to purchase the Snake Baths before the decision on the revocation of the cultural monument status. CTK was informed today by Deputy Mayor Jiří Štábl (ANO). The city has commissioned an expert valuation of the property. The matter will be discussed by the council next week.
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