The Czech pavilion could be placed in Hradec Králové after the Expo exhibition ends

Hradec Králové – Czech Pavilion from this year's World Expo 2025 could be located in Hradec Králové after its conclusion. The city’s mayor, Pavlína Springerová (Hradec Democratic Club), expressed interest in the pavilion, stated the commissioner of the Czech participation at Expo, Ondřej Soška, during the start of the program at the pavilion on the occasion of the Czech National Day. The event was attended by President Petr Pavel and Japanese Princess Takamado. Springerová informed ČTK that the city could purchase the building. It is currently analyzing costs and identifying locations.

"The World Expo ends in 81 days, and according to the rules, we must subsequently dismantle the pavilion and return the land to its original state," noted Soška. "Last night, I received information from the mayor of Hradec Králové, who informed me of her interest in placing the pavilion in their beautiful city and thereby giving it a new life," he added.

The opportunity to acquire the Czech pavilion from this year's Expo for the hundred-thousand-strong Hradec Králové was described by Springerová as an exceptional opportunity to strengthen the cultural identity of the city and develop tourism. "I confirm that we have expressed preliminary interest on behalf of the city to purchase and transfer the national pavilion of Expo 2025, which is currently in Osaka, Japan. On Wednesday, I contacted Mr. Minister (of Foreign Affairs) Jan Lipavský, to whom I declared our interest in the possible purchase of the building. The Expo pavilion is a unique timeless structure," said the mayor of Hradec to ČTK.

According to her, locations are currently being identified in Hradec that would be suitable for the placement of the structure, while also analyzing costs associated with the purchase, transportation, establishment, and adaptation of the building for year-round operation. "If a suitable financing model can be found, the pavilion could serve the general public as an inspiring space for culture, education, and community life. Hradec Králové would thus gain another architecturally attractive element as the Salon of the Republic to support its modern and progressive character," added Springerová. Hradec was referred to as the Salon of the Republic during the First Republic. Significant architects, including Jan Kotěra and Josef Gočár, worked there. Between the world wars, ensembles of buildings by these and other architects were created in Hradec Králové.

On Wednesday, the government approved the allocation of an additional 120 million crowns from the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Czech participation at Expo. The reason for the increase in spending is mainly due to changes that occurred during the preparation and construction of the national pavilion. The original budget for the entire project approved by the government in June 2022 amounted to 290 million crowns, of which the construction of the pavilion was to cost 193 million. Now, the construction alone will cost more than 300 million crowns.