Stock Exchange in Holešovice Market Hall undergoing a major reconstruction

by   CIJ News iDesk III
2023-03-20   15:41
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The Burza - the historical gem of the Holešovice Market Hall is undergoing a major reconstruction. The once most important building of the Holešovice slaughterhouse will once again shine in its original form from 1895

The listed hall number 4, known as the Burza, built in 1895, has always been an integral and especially dominant part of the Central Slaughterhouse of the Royal City of Prague. However, the hall, which in its more glorious days served as an exchange for cattle slaughtered at the local abattoir and later as a pawnshop or restaurant, has also seen less successful periods. It was especially during the times of occupation by the Red Army and later by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, when it was nationalised and its fame gradually faded. Now, thanks to an investment from the capital city, it will be able to continue to enjoy its fame. Prague with an investment of CZK 200 million, the city will be restored to its splendour and its original appearance without any extensions from 1928.

Otto's Learned Dictionary. The bursa is usually both an inn and a hotel, and experience has proved the utility of such an arrangement. Until the end of the Second World War, Bursa was the centre of all the social and business activities of the area.

A return to the original elegance

Not every building in Prague evokes such emotions as the Bursa building in the Holešovice Market Hall. The building, which used to be the main cradle of all the events of the slaughterhouse complex, attracts the attention of Prague residents living in its vicinity, regardless of generations. The aim of the reconstruction, which has just begun, is to restore the Burga to its 1895 splendour and appearance without the later additions, with the utmost respect for history. The construction is being carried out by KONSIT, a.s. according to the architectural design by SGL Projekt s.r.o. and the technical design by Digitra s.r.o.

"At the beginning of this year, the reconstruction of the Bursa building began, with the first order of business being the demolition work and the removal of extensions that were not originally on the building. The Stock Exchange will be restored to its original form from 1895. In addition to the demolition work, the clearing and removal of windows is underway, with the roof being removed and repaired as soon as the weather permits. The originally hipped roof with a decorative lattice on top will be insulated and completely renovated. The floor unfortunately has to be completely replaced, the floods left a lot of damage, but the stucco was spared. The facade will be restored and of course the original statues will remain. The total investment is now estimated at CZK 200 million," comments Adam Zábranský, Prague City Councillor for Property, Legislation and Transparency.

"The entire reconstruction will take about two years, the floods have left a truly deplorable state here. Eventually, however, a magnificent multifunctional hall suitable for cultural and social events will be built here, actually in unique Neo-Renaissance premises, which are not to be found in Prague. The plan is to reopen the restaurant with popular seating in the front garden under the treetops and also on the newly built terrace," adds Tomáš Hübl, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Výstaviště Praha, a.s.

A touch of history

In 1885, the town engineer Josef Srdínko, the municipal senior architect Antonín Wiehl, the inspector of the cattle market František Xaver Červený and the chairman of the association of New Town butchers Josef Štípek were involved in the overall construction and design of the slaughterhouse buildings. The construction of the Bourse itself in the Neo-Renaissance style began on 6 March 1893 according to the plans of architect Josef Srdínek from 1890 and was completed in 1895, when it was officially opened to the public on 1 July. Hall 4 was built at a cost of CZK 5,200,000, which was a very generous sum for that time.

After the establishment of the Great Prague in 1928, the building was extended to the south and square extensions were added on four sides on the first floor. In the period before the Second World War, the Burza was a renowned slaughterhouse restaurant and the restaurateur Václav Švec made an annual turnover of up to three million crowns. Until the end of World War II, the Burza was the centre of all social and business activities in the area. After the war, the Drujat cooperative took control of the slaughterhouse and managed the building together with the rival Druvel, which was founded by a cooperative of members of the Society of Grand Carvers. The two cooperatives then acquired a monopoly on commercial activities at the Central Slaughterhouse. In the autumn of 1946, however, party cells of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia were set up there and disputes arose between the two cooperatives. After 1948, Drujat employed Mr Václav Šveec, the original tenant, in its restaurant.

From January 1951, Prague Meat Industry took over all the activities at the Central Slaughterhouse and operated there until the 1980s. The premises of the Holešovice slaughterhouse served its purpose until 1983, when it was converted into a market and the Burza building underwent a number of changes in terms of its use over the following decades. In 1985, a restaurant of the third price group was planned for the premises of the former Exchange, and the reconstruction for this purpose began in 1989. However, problems accompanied the construction from the beginning. In 1993 the site was declared a cultural monument. Two years later, in 1995, the Market Hall was leased to Delta Climatizer and partial renovation work began, with plans to build a banking area and an exhibition hall in Hall 4. The Exchange was in operation for various purposes until 2002, the 100th year of water, when it gradually decayed without any investment.

Source: CTK
Photo: Prague.eu