The company has started to demolish the house on Soukenická, the demolition will be completed by Sunday

Prague - The company Bau-Invest has started demolishing the historic two-story house at Soukenická Street 12 in the center of the capital. The demolition was authorized by the construction office of Prague 1. The above-ground part of the building is reportedly contaminated with toxic substances, especially phenols. The main part of the demolition is expected to be completed by Sunday. Viktor Vlček, the deputy chairman of the company, informed ČTK about this today. The heritage office of the Prague magistrate opposed the demolition of the house.
    The company stated that during the preparation for the renovation of the building in the spring, a pungent and unpleasant odor began to spread around after some structural elements were exposed. Its origin may be from the 1930s to the 1960s when the building served as a pharmaceutical factory and chemical laboratory. Expert assessments commissioned by Prague 1, according to Vlček, confirmed that the hygiene values of volatile substances are exceeded many times, and the only solution is to completely remove the structures.
    “Representatives of the heritage conservationists were personally present at the inspection on September 25, 2015, and expressly agreed with the removal procedure, which they confirmed in writing in the protocol,” said Vlček. According to him, the dissenting opinion of the heritage conservationists relates to the technical condition of the building, but it is being demolished due to contamination. “They do not have our binding statement allowing the house to be demolished,” said Jiří Skalický, the director of the heritage office of the magistrate, to ČTK today. The binding statement from Prague's heritage officials is a necessary basis for the construction office, which decides on the potential removal of the building.
    The company received the decision from the city district on Friday and immediately began demolition works, reportedly also considering the neighboring primary school. “The main, critical part of the mandated necessary modifications to the building will be completed by Sunday, October 11, 2015, so that during the weekdays when the school is attended by children, the work on removing contaminated structures and materials is maximally completed,” added Vlček.
    The company will only remove the above-ground structure. “The historically valuable Gothic cellars will be preserved, as well as the sandstone portal and gates,” the company representative added.
    The heritage officials previously allowed the construction of an administrative-residential building on the site. However, the condition was the preservation and reconstruction of the original building. “We do not agree with the current procedure; we believe that the house is not in a state of emergency and that there are other procedures to ensure that the building remains preserved in the heritage reserve,” Skalický stated earlier.