<Rada památek> criticizes the proposed completion of the Invalidovna

Prague – The Czech National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) criticizes the design of the proposed extension of the Prague Invalidovna even after the author of the proposal has reduced the height of the planned parts. According to the committee president Václav Girsa, the architectural solution is too contrasting to the monument, and the extension is oversized, which was not necessary according to the construction program. The ICOMOS committee stated this in a press release sent to ČTK.

The Invalidovna is managed by the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), and Girsa claims that advocating for the extension negatively affects the prestige of the institute. According to NPÚ, the chosen solution does not violate the principles of heritage protection.

NPÚ presented a visualization of the Invalidovna after reconstruction this September. The proposal received mixed reactions. The reconstruction of the national cultural monument includes the extension according to the design of architect Petr Hájek. The Baroque building is to receive two multi-storey wings, which will house, for example, a concert hall. Together with the palace, the two proposed white wings create a strong contrast. The renovated complex is intended to serve as the headquarters for NPÚ and the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with part of it being accessible to the public in the form of a tour route.

In November, the architect presented a slightly lowered variant of the extension. The previously critical Club for Old Prague responded positively to the proposal. "We lean towards the opinion that the extension, under the aforementioned circumstances, is an acceptable solution to the situation that has arisen. Furthermore, we evaluate very positively that the operation of the concert hall will undoubtedly contribute to the overall revitalization of the Invalidovna complex," stated the club.

"Although there has been a slight correction in the height of the newly proposed extensions, they are still in direct contact with a nationally significant cultural monument and present a methodically problematic solution in the heritage zone of Karlín. The bombastic proportions and scale lacking fully glass constructions ignore the outstanding architecture of K. I. Dientzenhofer. This is a solution that is systematically maximally contrasting, which, if realized this way, will permanently parasitize on the famous monument," say the national committee of ICOMOS. According to them, the proposed extensions do not respect the NPÚ methodology for new buildings in heritage-protected sites.

"We respect the position of ICOMOS; however, we insist that the chosen solution does not violate the principles of heritage protection in any way. This was also confirmed by the Scientific Council of the Director General of NPÚ, which unanimously supported the utilization program and the possibility of implementing extensions to the blind Baroque wings and approved the lowered variant of the extensions by a majority vote," NPÚ spokesperson Jana Hartmanová told ČTK today. According to NPÚ, the chosen renewal solution with extensions at the back is the best way to sensitively restore the Baroque building and give the entire complex a meaningful use beneficial to Karlín and all of Prague.