In Prague-Dejvice, a telephone exchange from the 1970s is being demolished

Prague - The building of the telephone exchange in Prague's Dejvice near the Diplomat hotel has begun to be demolished. A new office building is planned to rise in its place. The exchange was the work of an author team that included Václav Aulický, the creator of the famous Prague television tower in Žižkov. Another complex that he contributed to, the former Trangas buildings in Vinohrady, is also threatened by demolition. "I understand it, but I am sad," Aulický told ČTK today regarding the demolition of the exchange.

The automatic telephone exchange in Dejvice was designed by architects Jindřich Malátko, Jiří Eisenreich, Václav Aulický, and Jaromíra Eismannová from 1975 to 1982. It is notable for its technical design, reflecting the building's technical function. However, it belongs to the buildings whose technical purpose has been exhausted. According to some experts, even the architecture, which many consider ugly, deserves to be preserved as a document of the era. Architectural historian Rostislav Švácha previously stated that the potential demolition of the exchange would deprive Prague architecture of an original, unique, and ingeniously conceived building by outstanding authors.

According to earlier media reports, a Telehouse office building is planned to rise in place of the exchange, complementing the newly constructed buildings in the area. Telehouse has both zoning and building permits, prepared by bpd development, which built the Blox building next to it. The new construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Aulický acknowledged today that the exchange was a building whose purpose has been exhausted, and it would be challenging to find a new use for it. After the transition from an analog to a digital system, the equipment for the entire building fits into an object the size of approximately an automatic washing machine, and there is no justification for the building, he said. The façade would have to be removed, along with all the technology and air conditioning. The façade would potentially need to be replaced with a replica, as it does not meet today's standards. He therefore understands that this particular building from past decades will no longer stand. However, in the case of Transgas, he would be happy if it were preserved.

The company HB Reavis, which owns the Transgas complex on Vinohradská and Římská streets, has plans for its demolition. They intend to build offices based on the design of architect Jakub Cigler. The set of buildings of the former Gas Central Dispatch Transgas and the Ministry of Fuels was constructed between 1966 and 1976 in a brutalist style. The Old Prague Club proposed to declare the buildings as cultural monuments, but the Ministry of Culture did not grant them protection.