From St. Michael's Church, a luxury shopping gallery will be created

Prague - The Church of St. Michael, a Prague structure that has been the subject of numerous disputes for many years, will receive a new purpose. Its owner, who purchased the building from the state two years ago, plans to establish a luxury shopping gallery in the building. The city hall already has a study of the church's renovations, but it will take a long time before the abandoned building is possibly reconstructed. Heritage conservationists currently like the new project.
    The owner publicly presented last year that a museum of Czech glass should be created in the church in collaboration with Czech collection institutions. The interior renovation into a shopping gallery is being prepared by the Vienna-based studio Wehdorn Architekten. The heritage council of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) evaluated its initial study on Tuesday. This council comments on projects that significantly affect heritage sites or new constructions in the historical context of the city.
    "We saw the first drafts of how the reconstruction could be realized. We are in the phase of gathering exact evidence," said Michael Zachař, director of the Prague branch of NPÚ and member of the council, to ČTK. "We will require a historical building survey, the current state of the building's statics, clarity on the issue of skeletal remains, and it is necessary to specify the scope of the archaeological area and its presentation," he listed the demands of heritage conservationists for the project.
    He mentioned that the study also aims to remove the reinforced concrete structure that was introduced into the building during the first reconstruction in the 1990s, which was criticized by experts. However, according to Zachař, the study shows an effort to remedy the damage. Art historian Mojmír Horyna, another council member, also stated this to ČTK. "It is an attempt at rehabilitation. The studio that proposed the project specializes in the reconstruction of heritage sites," he noted. Original jewelry, clothing, or art objects should be sold in the former church.
    The criticized reconstruction of the church in the 1990s was carried out by the same owner who rented the building at that time; it now belongs to him.
    After gathering the necessary documents, NPÚ will prepare a professional statement. This will serve as a basis for the issuance of a binding opinion by the city hall.
    The church has been a subject of disputes since the early 1990s. The building was in poor condition when it was transferred in the 1980s to what is now the National Library, which reportedly found it unsuitable. After attempts to offer the object to another state institution or to sell it at an auction, the state ultimately signed a lease agreement valid until 2029 in the 1990s. The tenant carried out a controversial reconstruction, and the Ministry of Culture confirmed that he had invested nearly half a billion crowns. Therefore, the ministry could not terminate the contract; eventually, the state sold the property to the long-term tenant.
    Jerry Nowikovsky, who acquired the church in 2005, had sought it since the early 1990s. He offered 40 million crowns. His company then obtained it at an auction, which the court deemed invalid. Soon, Nowikovsky secured the church for a 30-year lease - for a very criticized, according to experts, low price. He paid 46 million crowns for the church; according to critics, its estimated value is four times higher.
    Against the sale of the church, students of art studies organized 12 public protests in recent months. Numerous experts criticized the church's reconstruction from the 1990s, with St. Michael mentioned as a poor example of heritage reconstruction on international platforms. Disputes also arose over the disrespectful handling of skeletal remains found in the church.
    Non-governmental anti-corruption organizations and other entities pointed out the interconnections of companies in which Nowikovsky was involved with former high-ranking officials at the Ministry of Culture, while also highlighting companies being investigated for suspected money laundering.