Representatives of Prague signed a contract with the designers of the Philharmonic at Vltavská

Prague - Representatives of Prague and the Danish architectural studio Bjarke Ingels Group today signed a contract for the development of project documentation for the planned concert hall at the Vltavská metro station. It will cost 1.02 billion crowns excluding VAT, and the architects will have nine months for the final completion of the study, into which the public will also be able to participate. According to the June estimate, the construction will cost 9.4 billion crowns. According to the city's plan, construction is to start in 2027, with completion expected five years later.

The new building at the Vltavská metro station is expected to house the Czech Philharmonic, the Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague FOK, and the music department of the City Library in Prague. According to the city's representatives, the concert hall is to become a cultural center that will offer not only classical music but also cafés, restaurants, an urban park, and access to the river.

The Danish studio succeeded in the international architectural competition organized by Prague. After finalizing the architectural study, the architects will prepare the project documentation for obtaining the zoning and building permits. Initially, the city estimated the cost of preparing the project at about three-quarters of a billion crowns; the increase is due to the expansion of the proposal to include the surroundings of the building, according to Martin Krupauer, head of the concert hall project team.

From next Monday until October 26, Prague residents will be able to express their views on the design of the planned building in a container that will be placed at Strossmayer Square. A public meeting and discussion with the designers will take place on Wednesday, November 2, at the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning.

According to previous information, the city is seeking co-financing of the construction from the state and involvement of private investors. Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček stated today that at the turn of this year and next, the city could present a mechanism for obtaining private funding. He noted that two funds could be created, one for smaller investors and another for large investors. "We are registering quite significant interest," added the deputy. He added that the city intends to split the financing into thirds between the city, the state, and the private sector.

The Vltavská concert hall is to have three halls - a concert hall for 1,800 spectators, a smaller one for chamber music with a capacity of 500 seats, and a multifunctional hall for other genres and types of events with a capacity of up to 700 people. The construction of the new cultural center is part of the transformation of the Bubny-Zátory area, where the development of a district for up to 25,000 people is planned.