Heritage protectors disagree with the cancellation of the fine for the demolition of the Matragi house

Prague - Prague municipal heritage protectors do not agree with the decision in which the Ministry of Culture annulled the fine of 150,000 crowns that the municipality imposed on the company Matragi Design for the demolition of a villa in Prague's Ořechovka. The ministry is providing guidance to investors on how to demolish without consequences in Prague's heritage zone, said Jiří Skalický, the director of heritage protection, in an interview with ČTK today.
    The company, co-owned by the famous fashion designer Blanka Matragi, claims that the blame for the destruction of the house lies with the construction firm. According to the ministry, the municipality was unable to address this objection. Therefore, the matter has been returned to the heritage protectors for reconsideration.
    According to Skalický, however, the penalty should fall on the owner of the heritage site, who is responsible for it. "It is a guide for all unscrupulous investors on how to demolish in a heritage zone," the director claims about the ministry's decision. The case from Ořechovka is likely to remain unpunished. Due to a loophole in the heritage law, the heritage protectors will have to shelve it.
    The family house, which stood in the heritage zone of the Villa Colony on Pod Vyhlídkou Street, was demolished at the beginning of December last year. According to Prague's heritage protectors, the law was violated when this happened without a binding opinion, that is, the permission of their department. Therefore, they imposed a fine on the company. The construction office of Prague 6 also imposed two fines - one on Matragi Design and the other on the builders, who had been granted permission for modifications to the villa since last November but demolished it due to an alleged disaster.