The building near the Prague Intercontinental has obtained a zoning decision

Prague – The owners of the Prague hotel Intercontinental have obtained a non-final zoning decision for a project to modify its surroundings, including a new building on the piazzetta named after Miloš Forman. The decision was posted by the building authority of Prague 1 on the official board, and it is possible to appeal against it within 15 days. Some local residents, politicians, and the Czech Chamber of Architects oppose the three-story building on the piazzetta.

In January 2019, entrepreneurs Oldřich Šlemr, Eduard Kučer, and Pavel Baudiš purchased the Intercontinental Hotel through their fund R2G. They subsequently presented a project that includes a comprehensive modification of the hotel’s surroundings, including new public spaces and buildings. The plan for the glass new building at the corner of Pařížská and Bílkovy streets has raised objections. Critics argue that the piazzetta should remain undeveloped.

However, the building authority considers the project, including the new buildings, to be beneficial and in compliance with all requirements and regulations. "The building authority states that the proposed revitalization plan will expand the public space in the project area by almost 6,000 square meters, which it considers beneficial from an urban and architectural perspective," states the zoning decision.

The City of Prague, through the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), along with dozens of individuals, raised objections against the proposal. Prague 1 also submitted an objection but only requested verification that the entire process was conducted as it should have been. The city hall did not declare its disagreement with the construction.

IPR argued, for instance, that the investor did not sufficiently communicate the project to the public. The authority rejected this assertion, stating that "maximum attention was given to the issue of communication with the public." In response to the objection that the building on the piazzetta is not in accordance with the zoning plan, the authority referred to the positive opinion of the Department of Urban Development of the Magistrate, which is binding for decision-making by law. The authority also rejected other objections raised, such as that the building does not comply with Prague's building regulations or the requirements of the Prague Heritage Reserve.

"The building authority of the city district of Prague 1, as the relevant administrative body, assessed the compliance of the project with the Construction Act, reviewed the objections, and agreed with the previously issued favorable opinions of the relevant state administration bodies," commented Jakub Dyba, director of new investments at the R2G fund, on the decision.

The owners have already begun renovations on the hotel, which will be operated under the name Golden Prague Hotel by the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts chain after the reconstruction.

The InterContinental Hotel was built in the brutalist style on Pařížská street between 1968 and 1974 in collaboration with three architectural collectives led by Karel Filsak. It was the first international five-star hotel in former Czechoslovakia and is considered one of the architecturally significant new buildings in the city center. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Culture did not approve its inclusion among heritage-protected buildings last year.