The Vltava Philharmonic in Prague will be more expensive. Its construction will cost almost ten billion
The construction costs of the philharmonic near the Vltava capital are currently estimated at 9.4 billion crowns without VAT, compared to the original initial estimate of 4.9 billion. This follows from a document approved by city councilors on Monday and confirmed the results of an architectural competition for the appearance of the building. The Danish architectural studio Bjarke Ingels Group succeeded in this. The construction is to be completed in 2032.
According to the document, the increased price compared to the estimate from last January is due to the increase in the price of construction work and materials, the originality of the selected design or the increase in the floor area by 15 percent. In addition to construction costs, the capital also estimates that another 2.9 billion excluding VAT will have to be invested in other interventions around Vltavská, such as waterfront modifications, the metro vestibule or transport solutions. According to the document, the estimate will be further refined as project preparation continues.
Now the winning studio in collaboration with the completion of the architectural study. “After this phase, the construction costs required for the implementation of the Vltava Philharmonic and projects within the area will also be finally verified. Subsequently, an instruction will be issued to prepare the next phase of the project documentation,” the document states. Today, the councilor also approved a memorandum that Czech Radio will also participate in the preparation of the construction.
“The house will be a new cultural center of Prague and the whole country. And just like the National Theater created the image of the 19th century, this building will become a symbol and image of 21st century Prague,” says Prague Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development, architect Petr Hlaváček (TOP 09) .
According to experts, Prague needs a new concert hall, the home stage of the Czech Philharmonic Rudolfinum (built in 1881) or the Municipal House (1912), where classical music concerts are also held, do not correspond to the current large number of seats in the auditorium or stage. Both halls are designed for about 1,200 spectators, but the European trend is to build larger halls.
In the new concert network, the stage should be larger and at the same time moved more to the center. The audience will sit around the orchestra from all sides. Some will see the musicians from behind and the conductor in front. “Part of the experience will be not only listening to music, but also the visual side,” confirms the architect Michal Sedláček, who holds the position of chief architect of Brno.
In addition, the new Philharmonic building should start the development of the unhappy surroundings of the Vltavská station. The building will be built in the neglected locality of Bubny-Zátory and, in addition to the concert hall, a modern district with flats and offices will be built here. “The hall will be an injection for another pledge. Examples from abroad show that it works in such a way that such a construction will develop the whole territory,” Sedláček confirmed.
VIDEO: Pleskot: We need the Philharmonic to take a break from the 30-year trauma
“We managed to create a unique building, which is not a barracks, but a space,” says architect Josef Pleskot about the project of the Vltava Philharmonic building. | Video: Michael Rozsypal