Praha has handed over the documentation on the impacts of the Vltava Philharmonic on the environment

Prague - Prague has submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection of the City Hall documentation for the assessment of the impact of the planned Philharmonic Hall on Vltavská on the environment. This follows from a press release from the city hall and the EIA database. The department will now evaluate the documentation prepared by a specialized company and issue a positive or negative opinion, which is a condition for the commencement of construction. The city plans to start it in 2027 and complete it five years later. According to the current estimate, it is expected to cost 11.65 billion crowns.

The submitted documentation analyzes the possible impacts of the project on air quality and climate, noise, water regime, as well as landscape and biodiversity. The document was prepared for the city by EKOLA group, which has the relevant authorization. According to the city hall, the intention was recommended. Before the opinion is issued, the public will have the opportunity to express their views on the project.

According to Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček (STAN), the plan includes several constructions related to the modification of the Vltava waterfront and transport connections. "It is therefore not just about the building of the future national music center and its accompanying infrastructure, but also about adjustments to public spaces, including the waterfront, tunnel, metro, viaduct, and landscaping that will enhance the aesthetic value of the place. A significant element will also be a green roof, whose planting symbolically reflects the course of the Vltava," he stated.

According to the EIA announcement, the Philharmonic will have three underground and six above-ground floors and will contain three halls - one large concert hall for about 1,800 seated people, a second chamber hall with 500 seats for sitting and standing, and a third multifunctional hall that can accommodate 620 seated or 1,200 standing people. The project will also include several other buildings, such as tunnels providing traffic connections to the complex, waterfront modifications, changes in traffic infrastructure such as tram line relocations, or the construction of new intersections and a new metro vestibule.

The city hall is seeking co-financing for the construction from the state and involvement from private investors. Recently, the council approved the establishment of a fundraising campaign. According to the plan by the city hall leadership, the construction of the new cultural center is expected to initiate the transformation of the surrounding area of Bubny-Zátory, where a neighborhood for up to 25,000 people is to be developed.