In Prachatice, they are protesting against the demolition of an important villa

Prachatice - The Prachatice Initiative Living Villa is holding a protest event on Saturday, May 23, against the demolition of the significant villa of Johann Nepomuk Kral. It is to make way for a planned section of the city's bypass. The goal of the protest Vivat Villa is to highlight the architectural value of the building and to provoke a public discussion about the need for its preservation. This was stated today by one of the organizers, Pavla Zelenková. According to Mayor Martin Malý (ODS), the demolition is necessary, as there is no other route for the bypass.
    “Students and professionals from the fields of architecture, heritage conservation, and transportation will speak at the meeting, and we have also invited representatives from the city,” Zelenková said. Several local bands and musical groups will perform from 4 PM. The proceeds from the benefit will go towards the maintenance of the villa, which the initiative has rented from the city. They want to create an unusual space for cultural gatherings, gardening, and workshops there.
    The villa stands at the site of the last section of the city bypass. According to the mayor, construction began two decades ago, and the final third remains to be completed. The construction of the new road, which costs hundreds of millions of crowns, would divert traffic from the elementary school and housing estate. “I know the villa has historical value, but in this case, I must prioritize the public interest; thousands of cars pass by the road near the school every day,” the mayor stated.
    If the Ministry of Culture were to declare the villa a monument, the county office would not be able to complete the bypass, according to him. However, Prachatice does not treat monuments barbarically; the city has frequently scored high in the Historical City of the Year competition for exemplary care of heritage sites and historical legacy.
    In January, the National Heritage Institute's regional commission recommended declaring the villa a cultural monument at the proposal of the Pelyněk Prachatice association. The family house of Johann Nepomuk Kral, designed by the prominent Viennese architect Fritz Reichl in the 1930s, is considered one of the highest-quality purist-functional buildings in Southern Bohemia, reflecting the influence of Adolf Loos's architecture, according to heritage experts.
    The architectural value of the house is complemented by its historical significance. Its builder was Johann Nepomuk Kral, who ran a wholesale business with colonial goods, freight transportation, and a malt coffee factory in Prachatice. The establishment of the company was related to the introduction of the railway into the Prachatice area at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Most recently, the villa served as a kindergarten. The city relocated it due to the planned bypass.