Prague Philharmonic on the Vltava: Budget Balloons from 6 to 17 Billion Crowns

The cost of building the new Vltava Philharmonic concert hall in Prague has soared from an initial six billion crowns to 17 billion crowns over the past five years. The figure was shared on Facebook by independent Prague City Assembly member and Spolu coalition senator Hana Kordová Marvanová.

According to her, there is currently no way to speak of transparency in the philharmonic's construction. Among the expenses she highlighted were a PR campaign worth roughly one hundred million crowns and external project management services costing nearly a billion crowns. Kordová Marvanová recalled that back in June, the City Assembly instructed City Hall's leadership to provide a detailed explanation for the rising costs — but no explanation was ever given. The deputies' request wasn't even put on the agenda, and Prague's leadership never responded.

She also pointed to the example of the Vltavská Bridge, which was originally supposed to cost one billion crowns but, once landscaping of the surrounding area was factored in, ballooned to nearly two billion.

The Project's Architect Cites a Different Figure

Martin Krupauer, the architect heading the Vltava Philharmonic's project team, disputed the 17-billion figure in comments to journalists. According to him, the current estimate for the building itself stands at 12.3 billion crowns, not 17.

Krupauer stressed the importance of distinguishing between the costs of the building itself and the broader investments in the surrounding area, which Prague would have carried out regardless of whether the philharmonic hall was built. The overall figure of 17.4 billion, he explained, includes items such as the reconstruction of the Antonínská–Bubenská grade-separated intersection, which is currently in a state of disrepair and has already been reinforced with a temporary support structure for safety reasons. Another example of related expenses is the relocation of tram tracks and the upper vestibule of the metro station.

How the Project Budget Has Evolved

According to the architect, the original estimate of six billion crowns was only a preliminary benchmark based on a feasibility study — meaning it predates the architectural competition and the development of the specific design for the building, which is set to rise on the embankment between Hlávkův Bridge and the Negrelli Viaduct.

After the architectural competition concluded in 2022, identifying the winning design, expert estimates put the cost at 9.4 billion crowns. Krupauer attributes the rise to the current 12.3 billion to two factors: detailed refinement of the project to the level of a comprehensive architectural study, and, most significantly, inflation.

This is precisely why the final figure could still change. Even if the city, as the client, does not demand substantial changes to the project, the ultimate price will primarily depend on inflation trends for construction materials and labor.

Read also: Prague Metro: map and tickets

Source: novinky.cz