Prague Exhibition Centre is closer to reconstruction, approved by the committee for culture

Prague - The Prague Exhibition Grounds is one step closer to its renovation. The city council's committee for culture, heritage preservation, and tourism approved the concept of redevelopment at its meeting today. The reconstruction is expected to affect the pathways within the area, its surroundings, and the overall internal layout. In order for the city to begin changes, the proposal must receive approval from the city council. Starting next year, the area will be managed by the city company Development Projects Prague, while the company Incheba currently holds the lease.
    "The concept is very realistic and aims to be financially feasible,” said Deputy Mayor Václav Novotný (TOP 09) during the committee meeting. According to him, the concept is based on the fact that the southern part of the area towards Holešovice includes monuments that will be reconstructed, including the burned-down Industrial Palace. It is set to be restored to its original form with multifunctional uses.
    In the northern part, no new buildings are planned as it is largely a flood zone where permanent structures cannot be constructed. This section should be used, for example, for organizing festivals. A new stop is also set to be built at the exhibition grounds on the train line from Prague to Kladno.
    In the past, the area was used for the Matějská Fair, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and trade fairs, but it was not fully utilized. The city hall considers the current structure and routes of communication within the Exhibition Grounds, established during the renovation in 1991, to be inadequate. In the future, the paths should respect the historical layout and better connect the individual parts of the area.
    A portion of the current fencing near the sports hall is also set to be removed. Conversely, the fence between Stromovka and the grounds will be preserved, but with more entrances. "It is essential to ensure maximum accessibility to Stromovka,” Novotný said. This accessibility is expected to help increase the number of visitors, for example, to Marold's Panorama of the Battle of Lipany.
    The internal layout of the Exhibition Grounds will also undergo changes. The area is to be divided into zones according to predominant activities. There should be five zones: a cultural zone, an open-air and amphitheater zone for cultural-commercial events, a recreation zone, an entertainment zone, and a sports zone.
    Incheba holds the lease for the Exhibition Grounds until the end of 2014. In the future, it will only host some exhibitions there, but will no longer manage it. As of January 1, 2015, it will be under the management of Development Projects Prague, which is wholly owned by the city of Prague.
    For many years, no investments have been made in the buildings at the Exhibition Grounds, and their condition has also been affected by floods. A huge fire caused significant damage when the western wing of the Industrial Palace burned down in 2008. Prague is currently addressing how to fund the expensive repairs.