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Visitors to the National Museum have one more year. The main building will then close from June 2011 to 2015.

The building that has been damaged twice (in 1945 during a bombing and in 1668 by gunfire of the Soviet Occupation Army) will finally see its reconstruction.

Respect for history

Although it does not look like it, the reconstruction of the National Museum is already under way. It will cost CZK 4.5 billion. It will be carried out by the consortium of the companies VPÚ DECO and SUDOP, headed by the architect Zdeňek Žilka.

“The main criterion in the public tender was the respect to the work of the architect Josef Schulz,” stated the Director of the National Museum, Michael Lukeš.  At present, the project documentation is being finished. The study of recent interventions in the building has already been done. These interventions were linked to e.g. the tunnel passage from the museum to the adjacent ex-Federal Assembly building. The building will first have to be cleared out before the work can start in December 2011.

Whale skeleton restoration

The whale skeleton is without question the Mona Lisa of the National Museum. It is a skeleton of a fin whale, which will also be renovated as it was obvious that the skeleton had been damaged as early as the 1960’s. When the reconstruction has finished, the fin whale will be much longer, as it will re-obtain approximately 7 vertebrae. These had been removed so that the skeleton would not be too long.

Enduring state of emergency

Preservationists agree that in many respects, it is easier to renovate a Gothic castle than the National Museum. A number of modern technologies that were used when the building was being constructed, will be a hard nut to crack now.

This does not only include the original construction of the cupola but also e.g. the incorporation of steel constructions into cornices etc. In 2006, a part of the Genius sculpture fell down from the cornice. This is, however, not the only defect. In 1968, the frontage damaged by gunfire started falling off, the attic is falling apart, the building leaks…

“Even worse, the fire measures do not work and the building poses risks to both the exhibits and the visitors,” said Michael Lukeš.

Leap towards modern museum

The building will undergo a number of changes, the most important one being the construction of an underground exhibition space for the most valuable exhibits from European and World museums. Both yards will be roofed; there will be more room for meeting, cafés, shops and other services. The museum already offers its Virtual tour.

An interesting fact is that the architect Schulz had already designed the building so that it is wheelchair accessible. The new project is going to extend this by building another two lifts. People in wheelchairs will also be able to go right into the museum yard.

What is the museum going to be about?

As for the conception and creation of new space, it has been inspired by the Louvre, British Museum and Modern Art Museum, New York, which also dealt with lack of space and possibilities of original presentation of the museum’s collections.

The conception of the whole exposition is extraordinary with it multi-layer character. It is possible to choose certain phases and a see the exposition according to one’s interests. Thus it can be adjusted to children, adults or tourists, who want to get at least a basic picture of the Czech Republic. It goes without saying that the exhibition will be interactive.

“We will make use of our rich experience from exhibitions that we have been organizing and that appeal to the visitors,” said Mr. Lukeš. The exposition is an interconnection with history, social development and the development of nature.

Motorway under ground

So far, the question of the motorway which leads in front of the building has not been completely sorted out. Not long ago, the City of Prague, Ministry of Culture and Road Administration signed a memorandum in which the National Museum’s building is incorporated to Wenceslas Square. This should be achieved by bringing the motorway under ground.

“It is my wish to see this step towards the museum’s reintegration in Wenceslas Square during the reconstruction period but I have no idea whether this will happen,” said the departing Minister of Culture, Václav Riedlbauch. He pointed out that due to recession such a thing will be difficult but he believes that the City’s administration that will be formed after the autumn election will be favourable to this solution. However, the 800-metre long tunnel is estimated to cost CZK 12.7 billion, out of which the state should contribute eight billion.

The leaving government suspended the provision of the State contribution, so it is going to be the decision of the new government. We will see if the new government will be as reluctant to invest into traffic constructions in Prague as the previous governments.