PM Babiš on Invalidovna overhaul: “It’s a great project”
A major overhaul of Prague’s Baroque Invalidovna complex has just been launched. The project is set for completion in three years, with the prime minister telling Radio Prague International it should become a new cultural hub in the capital.
Members of the Prague Philharmonic Choir opened the launch on Wednesday of a major project to overhaul Prague’s Invalidovna complex.
When the project is completed in three years’ time, the choir will get a permanent home there, alongside a number of other facilities.
Over the years, the structure, designed by the famous architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, has served as a location in several movies and series, including Miloš Forman’s Amadeus and Nosferatu from 2024.
But it dates back to the 18th century, when it was set up as a home for disabled war veterans by Count Petr Strozzi.
Naďa Goryczková is the head of the National Heritage Institute, which today administers Invalidovna.
“He was an important diplomat and soldier in the service of the emperor. And he decided to use his considerable fortune to help his fellow war invalids. He was severely injured and spent a year in hospital, so he decided to help in that way.”
Among the speakers at Wednesday’s presentation was Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
“It’s a great project. And the history is also very interesting, because when I became minister of finance in 2014, the state wanted to sell this historical, monumental, fantastic and precious piece of Prague history. And then the head of the National Heritage Institute convinced me not to sell it but to approve a renovation. I visited the site here in 2018 and now, after eight years, I am happy we are here. And it will surely become a new cultural centre of Prague.”
Also taking part in the launch was the Czech Minister of Culture, Oto Klempíř.
“Our first priority is to preserve the spirit of this big Baroque building. And to put into it some modern elements: There will be two big modern cubes outside of it, with some spaces, with modern equipment. That’s very important – otherwise we’d have to put it under a roof.”
The project is set to cost the state some CZK 2.15 billion. But despite the many demands on the state coffers, Prime Minister Babiš says this is money worth spending.
“Such an investment will not only generate VAT, because of the reconstruction. It will also attract a lot of tourists, who will spend money. We have a similar monument in Paris, the Hotel des Invalides, and I think there will be a lot of synergy… Originally it was supposed to be much bigger [in Prague], and they built only a part. But still, it’s huge, and the plans are great. So I’m very happy that the politicians can also contribute to concrete projects, and not only make speeches.”
If everything goes according to plan, the major overhaul of Prague’s Invalidovna should be completed in September 2029.
