The roofs of the Křižík pavilions will be a green oasis in the middle of the Exhibition Center
The roofs of the Křižík pavilions will be green.
| photo: MHMP
“Roofs have a huge potential, which has so far remained partially unused. It was such a heat island. The goal of this reconstruction is to transform the space on the green island in the middle of the Exhibition Center, where it will be a place for spending free time,” said Deputy Mayor of Prague Pavel Vyhnánek (Praha Sobě), who is to revitalize the Exhibition Center as mayor.
Workers on the roofs of the buildings will first remove the existing concrete tiles, which will then be replaced with wooden elements and plants. After that, the roof is warmed and insulated.
Rooftop cafeterias and towers with a metal structure will also undergo revitalization. According to the chairman of the company, a contractor is now being sought. According to Vyhnánek, who is in charge of the finances of the metropolis, the budget for these works is about 100 million crowns in total. Cultural and social events will be held in the pavilions even during the revitalization of the buildings’ roofs.
The replacement of glass at the Exhibition Center has begun, restorers are repairing five thousand stained glass windows |
Prague began repairing the pavilions themselves in 2020. The first was the reconstruction of pavilion D, which opened last year. During May 2021, the gradual reconstruction of the remaining three pavilions began, now only one is missing. The builders have newly laid the electricity distribution in the pavilions, and the heating and air conditioning are also new. The cost of the reconstruction of the pavilions was about 190 million crowns without VAT.
Křižík’s pavilions were built in the lower park part of the area according to the project of architect Michal Brix in 1991 on the occasion of the General Czechoslovak Exhibition. The pavilions have a simple white-painted steel structure and are glazed around the perimeter.
Currently, the workers are also rebuilding the Bohemia restaurant building into a representative hall for about 110.8 million crowns. The Spirála theater, which has not functioned since the flood in 2002, is also being repaired. In February, the reconstruction of the Industrial Palace and the completion of its burned-out wing also began. One of the current largest investments in Prague should cost 2.64 billion crowns and should be completed in 2025.