Prague wants to obtain a building permit for the completion of the palace this year

Prague - Prague aims to obtain a building permit this year for the construction of a replica of the burned wing of the Industrial Palace at the Exhibition Grounds. Next year, it plans to select a company to carry out the work. This was reported by Deputy Mayor Pavel Vyhnánek (Prague for Themselves) to ČTK. The project includes the construction of a replica of the fire-damaged left wing and the creation of new facilities, technical spaces, and an underpass to the Křižík Fountain. The left wing of the palace burned down in 2008. The palace was built in 1891.

The city has now completed the study, project documentation for the zoning decision, and documentation for the building permit, according to the deputy. Documentation necessary for the selection of the construction company is in progress. Vyhnánek stated that the building permit is currently being discussed with the relevant authorities, and the city leadership expects that officials might issue it this year. A public competition will then be announced for the completion of the project.

The repair project preserves the original appearance of the building from 1891, when the palace was opened. In addition, it anticipates the completion of additional facilities and technical adjustments to the monument-protected structure. According to previously published city plans, a new feature will be an underpass beneath the left wing of the palace, which will allow access from the entrance or foyer to the Křižík Fountain.

The Industrial Palace was built for the Jubilee Land Exhibition according to the design of architect Bedřich Munzberger. From the beginning, it served as a venue for exhibitions and other cultural events, even though it was originally intended to be a temporary structure. Between 1952 and 1954, the communist regime decided to change its function, and the main hall of the palace was converted into a social and dance hall. Its name was also changed to the Palace of Culture and Leisure of Julia Fučík.

Since the 1990s, the entire Exhibition Grounds, including the palace, had been leased to the company Incheba, but the city terminated the contract a few years ago and is now in litigation with the company, which has since been renamed. Since 2015, the city-owned company Výstaviště Praha has managed the area. The entire Bubeneč Exhibition Grounds are also set to be reconstructed in the future. When this will happen and what it will look like is not yet clear.