About 40 people are protesting against the demolition of an ancient house in Brno.

Brno - Today in Brno, about 40 people protested against the demolition of the ancient house U sedmi švábů. They gathered in front of the house on Kopečná Street, where workers from the construction company were dismantling its rafters and balconies. The private owner of the object has a valid demolition order. Previously, preservationists allowed the demolition, but now they are fighting against it.
The protesters placed great hope in a meeting on Monday between city representatives, the owner, and a representative of the Ministry of Culture. They want the demolition to be temporarily suspended. Minister Vítězslav Jandák promised that the house would be declared a cultural monument. However, work has not been interrupted. "It seems that there will no longer be anything to discuss," said Radana Melková, the organizer of the protest, to ČTK.
The house U sedmi švábů is a large balcony complex in Old Brno under Petrov. Its past is unclear; since the mid-18th century, it served as a monastery hospital, and later as an apartment building where up to 500 people, mostly from weaker social strata, once lived. Later, it became home to artists and bohemians, and in recent years to students and young people who did not mind the spartan conditions in the dilapidated yet romantic house with a large yard. Years ago, for example, the editorial office of the literary magazine Host was located at U sedmi švábů.
Preservationists previously, even before the current head of the Brno office, Petr Kroupa, allowed the demolition three times. "In the valid regulatory plan of the City Heritage Reserve Brno, approved by the council in 1999, the house is marked as an object designated for demolition and new construction. The preparation of this Regulatory Plan also involved the then State Heritage Institute in Brno in 1996," said Pavel Žára, spokesman for the magistrate, to ČTK. The current owner, the company HTT Gerhard Hudeck, acquired the building essentially as a construction plot and wants to build new apartments in the lucrative location.
Today’s demonstration was also attended by Brno councilman Petr Paulczynski (ODS). He called the building a wreck. "The development of the city is what matters. There are many similar houses in Brno, for example in the Bratislavská street area," he told reporters. The demonstrators reacted to his presence with a banner saying "Councilman, flee." Later, he engaged in a discussion with the demonstrators, reiterating that the demolition is not the city's fault but is due to the negligence of the preservationists.
According to Pavel Wewiora from the Brno Heritage Institute, the value of the house is not so much architectural as developmental and social. "In the history of the city, it played its role. Enough people lived here to create a community, a social group," Wewiora recently told ČTK.