The reconstruction of the interiors of Fant's building is set to begin in April

Prague – The reconstruction of the interior of the protected Fantova building of Prague's main railway station is expected to begin in April. The Railway Administration has initiated a tender for the contractor for the first phase of the interior repairs, which mainly involves the halls on the ground floor of the historic building. The estimated cost is 250 million CZK. Today, this was announced by the Railway Administration. The reconstruction will follow the ongoing repairs of the roof and facade.

The first phase of the interior repairs will focus on the large historical halls in the northern part of the Fantova building and their facilities. The representative spaces should be restored to their original historical appearance as much as possible. Construction work is also planned for the ground floor, in the first underground level, and in the mezzanine. The building is expected to gain connection to the underpasses, in the form of escalators located in the left part of the northern underpass. Work in this area should be completed in the first half of next year.

This part of the reconstruction will be followed by work in the remaining spaces, with the exception of the already renovated former Fantova café. Barrier-free access to individual floors will be ensured by elevators. There will also be additional connections to the new check-in hall of the main station. Repairs should be completely finished by 2023.

The Fantova building, together with the adjacent hall above the platforms, forms the largest Art Nouveau monument in the Czech Republic. Therefore, all modifications are being prepared by the administration to respect the requirements of state heritage care. Depending on technical and static possibilities, some non-original constructions will be removed.

The Railway Administration expects the reconstruction to revitalize the building. Passengers should find a café, restaurant, waiting room, or children's corner in the building once it is completed. Currently inaccessible spaces on the ground floor will be opened to the public. The columned hall is intended to function as a VIP waiting area, and the large hall will become a multifunctional space for cultural and social events. New sanitary facilities for visitors to the cultural halls will also be created in the reconstructed spaces. Currently, the building is used by the Railway Authority, Czech Railways, the Railway Administration, and the police. They will still be based here after the reconstruction.

Currently, the reconstruction of the facade and the roof of the building is underway for 212 million CZK. Outdoor work should be completed by mid-this year.

The reconstruction of the Art Nouveau building named after the architect of the structure, Josef Fanta, was originally supposed to be completed by 2013. However, the company Grandi Stazioni, which had leased the station since 2003, did not manage the repairs in time, and the Railway Administration did not extend its contract in 2016. The Italian company only managed to renovate the interior of the central part with the so-called Fantova café. The case is still pending in court, as the Italian company has filed four lawsuits.