The Heritage Inspection will not initiate a review of the building permit for the construction near Masaryk Station

Prague – The heritage inspection of the Ministry of Culture will not review the permit for the development of the southern part of Na Florenci street in Prague 1. The Masaryk Centre 1 project is being constructed by Penta Real Estate according to the design by Zaha Hadid Architects. The proposal was submitted by the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), which believes the project is too massive, dominant, and expressive for the location and would irreversibly mark it. The heritage inspection stated in its decision, which CTK has at its disposal, that it found no errors that would lead it to initiate a review. The municipal heritage officials, who issued the necessary binding opinions, described why they believe the project has a predominant positive influence on the area in a reviewable manner, according to the inspection.

According to NPÚ, the project disrupts the environment of the cultural monument Masaryk Railway Station, "it insufficiently reflects the cultural values of the area on which it is situated and which are connected to the historical, architectural, and functional value of the Masaryk Railway Station complex." However, the heritage inspection noted that NPÚ, in its written statement, describes the development of the area only up to the mid-19th century when the station was built and does not emphasize "the subsequent highly diverse development of the entire locality associated with extensive construction, from the end of the 19th century to the present."

NPÚ also refers to the negative stance of the report from the World Heritage Centre mission. The heritage inspection considers it significant, "but at the same time believes that this report is critical primarily of the subsequent part of the overall concept of the Zaha Hadid Architects studio for the area between Masaryk and the main railway station and the Florenc bus station, but not of the assessed first phase of the project."

After studying the documentation, binding opinions, and considering all circumstances, the heritage inspection concluded that it found no errors or any other illegality in the administrative proceedings or in the relevant binding opinions of the municipal heritage preservation office that would justify the initiation of a review proceeding, stated the director of the Heritage Inspection Department of MK, Martin Zídek.

Construction of two office buildings near Masaryk Railway Station in Prague was started by the Penta group in February. Completion is planned for mid-2023. The total costs will reach approximately 2.5 billion crowns, with an additional 200 million allocated for the reconstruction of Masaryk Railway Station.

Simultaneously with the construction, Penta will begin to change Na Florenci street, including its outlet to Havlíčková street. Instead of a parking lot at its end, a small square will be created in front of Masaryk Railway Station. A specific form will gradually be given to the urban planning solution of the remaining area from the station towards the main road, which Zaha Hadid proposed in her study.

At the intersection of Hybernská and Opletalova streets, Penta plans to build a hotel. It already has a building permit, so it expects to complete the hotel by the beginning of 2024. According to Penta, the railway administration will then connect the area with a roof over the tracks.

Recently, disputes have arisen regarding Penta's development around Masaryk Railway Station. In addition to NPÚ, opposition in Prague 1, the Czech National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the Club for Old Prague have criticized it.

The opposition in Prague 1 demanded that the municipality appeal against the zoning decision for the construction, which did not happen. According to the city leadership's statement, the municipality agreed with Penta that at least 40 percent of the apartments in the second phase of the project, which is planned towards Florenc, will be residential.