Pardubice councilor Kvaš wants to abolish the heritage status of the Gate of Warriors

Pardubice - Pardubice opposition councilor Petr Kvaš (ODS) will strive for the Archway of Fighters to lose its status as a cultural monument. It is part of the summer stadium built in 1931, designed by architect Karel Řepa. The city council did not support this, and councilors will also express their opinions on the matter. If they reject it as well, he will turn to the Ministry of Culture himself, Kvaš told ČTK.

The city wanted to demolish the Archway of Fighters, but based on the initiative of some residents, it became a monument in 2016. Later, the town hall modernized the summer stadium, but the archway, or rather its larger part, was not included in the renovation. The stadium has been modernized since last year.

During the repair of the stadium, the city restored the western part of the stands, which adjoins the Archway of Fighters and is also a monument. The Archway of Fighters and the eastern stand have not been repaired and continue to deteriorate. "New stands were built in front of the eastern stand. If it weren't a monument, the ugly concrete steps, which are of no use, could have been demolished, and architects could have come up with something more meaningful in that space and connected it with the new stadium. Now it will remain an unusable museum piece," Kvaš said.

Building historian Bohdan Šeda, who successfully submitted the proposal for monument protection in the past, sees no reason for the withdrawal of monument status. "The reasons why the Archway of Fighters was declared a monument still apply. Together with the western stand, it is the most significant material remnant from the construction in 1931. From a civic perspective, it is proof of the city's lack of culture and its representation," Šeda told ČTK.

Kvaš talks about the so-called "de-culturalization" of the monument; the councilors did not support him at their meeting today. Deputy Mayor Jakub Rychtecký (We Live Pardubice/SOCDEM) told ČTK that he cannot obstruct the civic initiative. According to him, Kvaš will not succeed at the Ministry of Culture. "Heritage conservationists primarily assess architectural and historical value, not the function of the object, and that does not change," the deputy mayor said.

According to Rychtecký, Kvaš is "coming with a cross after the funeral." The city has plans for the repair of the archway. The investment plan and the form of the renovation were approved by the council in January 2023. By the end of September, the execution documentation and budget will be completed. "Councilors will be able to decide on the commencement of the revitalization of the Archway of Fighters in October. There would be the risk of further delays and the postponement of the problem, where the remains of this monument disfigure the city center," the deputy mayor said.

After the reconstruction, the archway is to serve as a space for cultural, social, and leisure activities. According to the deputy mayor, one option for the renovation is to construct a replica of part of the archway. The city wants to discuss this with heritage conservationists. "The original wall forming the visual part of the object facing U Stadionu street would be preserved with all historically valuable attributes; however, the inner structure, including the load-bearing parts and the original small stand, will be replaced with replicas that will allow for broader and more efficient use of the object," the deputy mayor said.