Prague approves Holešovice hall renovation and university shooting memorial

Prague officials have approved two distinct urban and commemorative projects for the city.

First, the city is planning a 260 million CZK reconstruction of Hall 18 at the Holešovice Exhibition Grounds (Holešovická tržnice). The facility, which previously housed the Showpark adult entertainment venue, is currently in poor technical condition. The project, requested by the operator Výstaviště Praha, aims to transform the space into offices and a municipal police station. The reconstruction is expected to continue through 2032, with the goal of increasing annual rental yields from approximately 2.5 million CZK to 12 million CZK.

Second, the Prague City Hall is establishing a working group to design a permanent memorial at Jan Palach Square. The site will honor the victims of the December 2023 shooting at the Charles University Faculty of Arts, which resulted in 14 deaths. The group, including representatives from the faculty and the Gallery of the City of Prague, will prepare an architectural competition by June 2027. The memorial is intended to integrate naturally into the broader planned renovation of Jan Palach Square.