New Prague Buildings to Face Scrutiny for World Heritage Impact

Prague’s unique skyline and historical center could be safeguarded by a new assessment process.

Three major construction projects, including the long-debated main railway station, will undergo Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) to ensure they don’t jeopardize the city’s UNESCO World Heritage status.

HIAs are a relatively new tool designed to evaluate the potential effects of development on World Heritage sites. Unlike Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), which are mandatory for most construction projects, HIAs are optional.

However, in Prague’s case, authorities are proactively utilizing them for significant buildings like the Vltava Philharmonic concert hall and the Výton Bridge replacement project.

According to Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development, Petr Hlaváček, each project will be assessed based on its specific characteristics.

The assessments are expected to take around a year for the Výton bridge and could influence future discussions about the project.

As the Vltava Philharmonic undergoes cost analysis and awaits zoning decisions, and the Vrchlický Gardens plan is refined, these assessments will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Prague’s architectural landscape.

Rail Bridge

Prague’s Vyšehrad Railway Bridge, built in 1901 and granted national monument status in 2004, has long been in need of repair.

The railway authority claims that keeping the bridge and just replacing parts of it would be too difficult and expensive, and that the bridge as it is can’t cope with the heavy traffic.

Prague’s Main Train Station

Prague’s Main Train Station is in for a quite stunning transformation. A Danish studio has just won the competition to overhaul it, with a design that includes a huge wooden, canopy-like structure at the front of the check-in building.

There has already been some discussion about the fact that this structure appears so open, in a city where temperatures can get extremely low in winter. The ambitious project is set to get underway in 2028 and will cost around CZK 2 billion.

Vltava Philharmonic

Danish design studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the bid for its vision of the modern music hall in May 2022. The space will naturally be home to the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic, but it will also serve as a public space.

Construction is expected to start in 2027, after completing the project documentation for the building permit and selecting a contractor. The Philharmonic Hall is expected to open in 2032.

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