I'm not really sure how i have got caught up in this issue, yet somehow i am. At the start of the year i sent an email to the new Major of Prague 7, talking about the development of the quarter and looking at how in Sydney, Darling harbor they had fully redeveloped the area, yet somehow something remained of its history and character. Much of the area was owner by CSR, the sugar refinery company, other areas were wharfs for the huge wool export market.
Although Prague 7 has quite a strong council that would like to protect its buildings, as i understand. It looks like once a demolition order has been given the go-ahead its not easy to stop it. Most of Prague 7 was developed in the early 1900's. Its not possible to knock down any art nouveau/ art deco building, in a built up area in Prague, yet as far buildings used for and by the railways it's possible. Buildings built in the 1880's and earlier and used up till quite recently, are in line for demolition. Orco/CPI, owns the land and with it the right to demolish these buildings. The demolition has been put off, mostly due to financial trouble within Orco, as i understand.
From my point of view the situation does not look good. The state has little control over the land, and the company that owns the large track of land, has financial problems. Getting the most flats per square meter is going to most likely be the objective of the development company. My thoughts are that spaces that are this large and not developed, that are in a prime location, the more public space in this zone the better.
So anyway, over time i plan to find out more about what is happening with the buildings and document it here on this blog, then hopefully build a site, so that both foreigner and Czech can understand these buildings better.
