Invalidovna gets extensive renovations

The price tag for renovations to the Karlín landmark Invalidovna, or the House of Invalids, has topped 1 billion Kč ($54.6 million) after renovations to the building's facade were completed this month. Further renovations are planned this year for the surrounding grounds, as the building's current occupant, the Defense Ministry, considers selling the 18th-century structure, which was originally a temporary home for injured soldiers.

Laws regarding landmarks and cultural heritage preservation gave the Defense Ministry the responsibility for Invalidovna's reconstruction after the structure was severely damaged by the 2002 floods. In September 2009, plans to renovate the building's exterior were approved by Prague City Council, and, a month later, City Hall approved a budget worth an estimated 49 million Kč. The Prague 8 Municipality covered about 4 million Kč of this budget, with the rest of the funds coming from the European Union and the national government.

Last month, the Defense Ministry completed an overhaul of the building, correcting stucco ornaments, repairing the roof and replacing windows and grills at a cost of 20 million Kč. Total renovation costs since 2002 have surpassed 1 billion Kč.

"The goal is to increase attractiveness for citizens and visitors while improving the environment," said Radka Wallace, spokeswoman for Prague 8.

The fruits of this reconstruction, however, will soon fall into the lap of a new owner.  Invalidovna's susceptibility to floods is pushing the Defense Ministry to sell the building and relocate its Central Military Archives to a former military academy in Ruzyně by 2014. In preparation for the sale, further renovations are planned this year to revitalize Kaizlovy sady, the park in front of the building.

Central Military Archives Director Josef Žikeš says, despite continued renovation efforts, the Defense Ministry cannot afford to completely overhaul the building.

"The Defense Ministry does not have sufficient use for the building. Therefore, it will be sold to another state institution," he added.

Among Invalidovna's current suitors is Charles University, which is seen as the most likely contender to take over the facility. If this comes to pass, the university plans to use the structure to house its Faculty of Arts.

"We support the plan of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University ? and we are very pleased at the prospect of the building having a new purpose," Wallace said.

"It's ideal for us," said Václav Hájek, spokesman for Charles University. "Invalidovna upholds the historical tradition of Charles University's sites. It is very accessible to public transportation, and a connection from our existing buildings in the center of Prague is suitable for the cohesion of sites."

Discussions for the acquisition of Invalidovna are still preliminary, and there is still no official asking price for the building. In the event the Defense Ministry is unable to find another state institution as a buyer, the building will be sold through a public tender. There has been some speculation that private investors may be interested in developing the building into a hotel or resort, though none of the principals involved would confirm this.

The Baroque Invalidovna was built by the decision of Charles VI to shelter recovering soldiers, and was modeled on Paris' Hotel National des Invalides. Construction on Invalidovna began in 1731 and was completed in 1737. The structure housed injured soldiers until 1935, and was then used by the German Wehrmacht during World War II. The Czechoslovak Army took over the building once again in 1945, and, ever since, it has served to house military archives. Defense Ministry spokesman Jan Pejšek says among the most important documents stored there are plans for fortifications at the former military base Terezín, with some of the oldest files dating from the second half of the 18th century. There are also records on the anti-Nazi resistance and files seized from the SS troops, he said.

- Petr Cibulka Jr. contributed to this report.

Philip Heijmans can be reached at
pheijmans@praguepost.com