The high-rise buildings in Pankrác are an investment of 2.5 billion crowns

Prague - Investments in publicly discussed high-rise buildings in Pankrác, namely the residential building City Epoque and the Epoque hotel, will reach 2.5 billion crowns. Both buildings are part of the City project valued at eight billion crowns and are expected to be completed by the end of 2010. This was announced to reporters today by the vice president for commerce and marketing of the construction investor ECM, Tomáš Vlček.
    "We have all 50 necessary permits required to start the construction. After completing the zoning and building permit procedures, which we expect to finish by the end of 2009, we will begin construction," said Vlček, adding that both buildings should be completed a year later.
    The thirty-story residential building City Epoque, reaching a height of 104 meters, will offer 150 apartments. The four-star Epoque hotel will have more than 300 rooms available. Each of the buildings will feature 320 parking spaces.
    The planned construction of the high-rise residential building and hotel has been accompanied by complaints from cultural institutions, which argue that the high-rise buildings would endanger the heritage values of Prague. In response to criticisms from some heritage conservationists and especially members of civic associations involved in the administrative proceedings concerning the building permits from a heritage perspective, the developer recalls historical contexts.
    "The Pankrác Plain is historically predestined for high-rise buildings. As early as the 1920s and 1930s, architects Hlaváček and Krise planned the construction of high-rise buildings, and in 1960 another study was created, followed by another in 1999, when it was established that new buildings should not exceed a height of 104 meters," said architect Radan Hubička, who is the author of the City Epoque and Epoque projects. Exactly 104 meters is the height of the existing Motokov building, and the higher building from the City project will also be the same height. The well-known project of the building in the shape of the letter V will be a residential building, while the lower hotel will be 75 meters tall.
    The ministry of culture recently gave the green light to the constructions after eight years of discussions, concluding the administrative proceedings and confirming the municipality's decision that approves the buildings.
    According to the ministry, the buildings will not disrupt the values of the Prague heritage reserve, which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. However, this aspect of the buildings is currently being addressed by the UNESCO committee, and Prague has until February next year to describe how it is proceeding regarding the planned high-rise buildings. Critics of the constructions state that UNESCO has expressed "serious concern" about the appearance of the buildings.
    A representative of the developer stated today that the UNESCO committee's statement can be read differently; it is necessary to understand its diplomatic language and that UNESCO is not only addressing the Pankrác Plain in its statement but the entire historical center of the city, which is listed on its World Heritage list.
    The investor stated that civic associations and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), which criticizes the planned buildings, have never provided convincing arguments over many years as to why the constructions would harm Prague. "It has never been our intention to be in conflict with UNESCO," said investor representative Tomáš Vlček.
    According to heritage conservationists, the planned constructions could set a precedent—whether they are approved or not, the relevant authorities will follow this approval in the future.
    Participants in the administrative proceedings are considering filing a lawsuit against the ministerial decision. Vlček does not want to speculate whether any potential court dispute could delay the construction. Currently, the investor is facing hearings on zoning decisions and building permits; however, he expects that participants in these proceedings will appeal as well. He would like to meet the deadline for completing the constructions between 2010 and 2011.