Quadrio is one of the largest construction interventions in the center of Prague

Prague - The administrative building at the site of the former gap and park near Spálená street, which is now open to the public, is one of the largest construction interventions in the city center in recent times. The expansive building, which intensively utilizes the space between the department store and the surrounding development, has sparked numerous controversies even during its preparation. According to the design by Cigler Marani Architects, the project was originally supposed to be completed in 2010. It was initiated by businessman Sebastian Pawlowski, and the three-billion project was completed by the CPI Property Group.
    Construction began in 2008, but was prolonged by issues surrounding the archaeological survey, which is mandatory by law in similar locations. The builder owed archaeologists millions for the survey for six months, for example. Archaeologists discovered valuable findings on site, revealing, among other things, intact Gothic cellars and evidence of settlement from the early Middle Ages, and proposed to declare the entire location a cultural monument. This would mean that the owner would have to preserve the findings, possibly limiting the capacity of the underground garages.
    Archaeologists also found Jewish tombstones, on which painted templates for carving letters were preserved even after more than 500 years. They had been reused as building material, as the nearby Jewish cemetery on the site of today’s Vladislavova street was demolished in the 15th century. However, the actual graves were not found at the site of the Quadrio construction. The archaeological research was considered by heritage conservators one of the most important excavations in the historical center of the city in recent years.
    At the end of 2010, the Ministry of Culture declared the Gothic cellars a monument, but the investor appealed against it, and the then Minister of Culture Jiří Besser (TOP 09 and STAN) revoked the declaration. Throughout this time, about a year and a half, the site was uncovered and the findings were damaged by the weather.
    At that time, in mid-2011, CPI entered the Copa Centrum project by purchasing a 50% stake. Besser's ministry then declared only half of the Gothic cellars a cultural monument, thus accommodating the landowner's wishes.
    Experts opposed the ruling with further appeals, but it was ultimately confirmed by Besser's party successor Alena Hanáková.
    During the construction of the building, which the new owner CPI renamed Quadrio, the Národní metro station was closed for two years. Today, it is part of Quadrio. In the form in which Quadrio was created, according to the city hall, it will no longer be possible to build due to new Prague building regulations.
    Earlier reports indicated that the city hall sold the land on which Quadrio stands unusually cheaply in 2007 to Sebastian Pawlowski, three times cheaper than vacant land just a few meters further on Národní street. Pawlowski was associated with the leadership of the capital city at that time. His companies, for example, rented the Škodův palác to the city hall.