Will Prague see new ’Marshmallow building’?
A controversial new building set to be erected next to the 13th century convent of Saint Agnes in the historical centre of Prague has sparked heated controversy. The co-called “Marshmallow House” has become a thorn in the flesh of local inhabitants as well as a number of architects and preservationists.
The flat roofed building, designed by renowned Czech architect Zdeněk Fránek, is made of large coloured blocks that appear to be smiling because of the way the windows are arranged. Despite the fact that it will be located right behind the walls of the Saint Agnes Convent, which was declared a national cultural monument, the Prague Heritage Association has given the project the green light.
But the controversial project has a number of vocal opponents, such as the non-profit organisation Civic Monitoring and the Association for the Conservation and Development of the Czech Cultural Heritage, which have been organising protests and petitions against it. Vítězslav Praks of the Civic Monitoring organisation summarizes their main objections:
“We believe architecture is not design. Architecture should respect its context, and this building ironizes the context. There are certain principles according to which you can build new buildings in historical city districts and this building violates all these principles.
“For instance, you have to respects the parcellation: if you have three plots, you have to build three houses, not just one single block. You also have to use traditional materials and you cannot have a flat roof. The windows have to respect floor division and the building itself has to respect the surrounding buildings and so on.”
“The strangeness of the building may take us aback at the first sight, because we tend to be afraid of anything that is unusual. But we should really try something new, less plain. I think Prague needs some architectural enrichment and this project, according to my opinion, can bring this enrichment.”
The Marshmallow project dates back to 1997, when Italian investor Augusto Razzetto bought a building plot next to the convent. The remaining plots of land, on which the house should be built, are owned by the City of Prague, which has allegedly offered to sell them to the investor for a suspiciously low price.
Despite the controversy surrounding the project, nothing seems to stand in its way. Local city councillors said they were ready to allow its construction as soon as it receives a building permit.
Meanwhile, the only concession the investor is willing to make is to change the colour of the façade, which would turn the bright pink marshmallow into a rather dull grey.
