From Stalin to sharks in Letna Park
It's an idea that the city hall considered for a number of years before deciding on a final proposal in a public tender: the dream of building a world-class aquarium right in the centre of Prague. The city couldn't have chosen a more prominent site: the capital's beautiful Letna Park whose dominant promontory - the so-called "Stalinak" - once served as a pedestal for an enormous statue of Stalin that was blown-up in the 60s. Will sharks prove a worthier successor? We went out onto the streets of the Czech capital to find out.
"Sharks! Definitely the sharks - beautiful animals. Nature, nature in itself. It's better than looking at a statue of Stalin."
"It doesn't matter where you go - Spain or anywhere - they've all got these aquariums going on. They're very popular"
"They're beautiful, yeah."
"I think so, it's a good idea too, but perhaps the place should be different..."
"Sharks and dangerous animals!"
And yourself?
"Dolphins!"
As you heard there the idea seems quite popular among both Prague residents as well as tourists. Jan, why do you think that for some the idea is less than hunky-dory?
"Well, of course projects of such size do tend to evoke both fascination but also a little fear and even downright opposition. In this case we're talking about an aquarium which would house more than 250 species of sea-life including sharks, more than 2 million litres of salt-water, catering for almost one million visitors a year. As a result, there are definite worries by some historic preservationists that such an aquarium will radically change the nature of Letna Park - specifically the promontory known as Stalinak where the statue of Stalin used to stand.
Do you think that the character of the area will be lost?
"Well, I spoke with Pavel Klega, the city councillor pushing for the project, who said it won't be. He stressed the complex will be underground - in what are now disused and dilapidated tunnels under the plateau that need to be renovated anyway. And, according to Mr Klega, the company behind the aquarium - Underwater World Oceanarium - will have to meet strict conditions put forward by the city."
"We are aware it is a very delicate area, one reason, for example, an idea for above-ground escalators was dropped. The investor now has to come up with acceptable plans for access routes and so on, to meet conditions set. Conditions include the plateau retaining its horizontal character, respecting natural elements of the promontory, and of course meeting historic interests which are very important."
Pavel Klega, city councillor. Even so, Jan, I'm sure that even such assurances have not convinced everyone - not least some in the preservation camp.
"Very true, some just think quite simply it's a bad idea. Period. Martin Krise is from the Association for Historic Prague."
"Letna ridge is a very important natural feature of Prague and I don't think it's possible to build something there which is going to be glittering an even more voluminous there than the original Stalin monument. The inhabitants of the aquarium are very foreign here because we don't have any sea! So it's very 'funny' to move sea animals to Prague. The idea should be to bring back nature there, and to avoid new structures at Letna ridge."
Basically some lines drawn in the sand - conflicting visions of what the final project will be like. Jan, when will we know more?
"Apparently, the Underwater World Oceanarium company will put forward its proposal to the city by the end of this year - so by then we should have a better idea how well it upholds conditions that have been set, and whether the conditions themselves will be far-reaching enough to satisfy all parties. If the project gets a green-light, then it is estimated the aquarium could be finished within three year's time."
