Heritage conservationists will seek the restoration of the fire-destroyed Petrova bouda

Architect Zuzana Hamanová was preparing with her husband a project for the renovation of Petrovka.

Špindlerův Mlýn - Heritage protectors will require Snowy Chalet to create a replica of the original structure on the peaks of the Krkonoš Mountains at the site of the burned-down Petrova bouda. Oldřich Pešek, director of the Josefov regional office of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), told ČTK this today. Karel Janda, managing director of Snowy Chalet, said today that the priority for the company is to secure the site of the fire. He is prepared to negotiate with the heritage protectors.
     "For us, it would be most acceptable if the owner rebuilt the original structure on the remaining foundations, which would be complemented by parts of the original interior that could be preserved in storage," Pešek said. According to him, Petrova bouda remains a heritage-protected site even after the fire. "There are still values there that need to be protected, such as the location, the placement of the building, and the layout," Pešek said.
      Karel Janda, managing director of Snowy Chalet, which owns the Petrova bouda building, said that an official inspection day with representatives of all relevant authorities, including the Administration of the Krkonoš National Park (KRNAP) and heritage protectors, should take place at the site of the fire in the near future. Today he met with representatives of the Špindlerův Mlýn city hall. "Our priority now is to clean up the fire site and secure the stone remains of the building. We have started fencing the entire complex, which is already three-quarters completed," Janda said.
      Janda said that he only knows about the heritage protectors' request to build a replica of Petrova bouda from the media. "Petrova bouda was built in 1811, it changed its appearance several times and went through development. So it is necessary to say what kind of replica, but we definitely do not oppose negotiations," Janda said.
Petrova bouda burned down on Monday, August 1, and only part of the outer walls and a transformer station were saved from the entire complex of three buildings. The fire brigade reported that the fire was likely set deliberately. During a Thursday examination of the rubble, a police dog marked four locations where chemicals could be present. From the marked locations, police technicians secured charred debris, which was sent for analysis. "We do not have the results yet, they may be available by the end of next week," said a spokesperson for the Trutnov police to ČTK today.
      Czech Television reported on Sunday that businessman Vladimír Kovář, who is the de facto owner of the building, halted the work of architects who were preparing the renovation of the building just before the fire. "I realized that he was no longer interested and that he supposedly did not know if he would have the same opinion as the grant officials," said Zuzana Hamanová, who, together with her husband, was preparing a project for the repair of the building, which was to use funds from Norwegian funds.
      Due to the poor condition of the building, the Vrchlabí city hall initiated administrative proceedings against Snowy Chalet. The company faced a fine of up to two million crowns if it did not secure the building against moisture and wind within two months. Speculations about the intentional burning of the entire building are thus appearing. "We definitely reject all these speculations. We were preparing to secure the entire building," Janda told ČTK today.
      Petrova bouda, which is located at an altitude of 1288 meters above sea level, has been closed to tourists since 2008. The building has been damaged in recent years by moisture and vandals. According to some experts, the building was at risk of collapse due to its poor technical condition.