Bouchalka: GHMP Completes Modern Facilities for Its Collections
Prague City Gallery is opening a new chapter in its history: after many years of effort, a challenging project to build a new storage facility has been successfully completed; this facility will meet the demands of the 21st century for an institution that manages an ever-expanding collection comprising some 16,000 works of art.
Throughout Prague City Gallery’s existence to date – that is, since 1963 – it has lacked a storage facility that would meet all the professional requirements for the storage of works of art, of which there were already a considerable number even at the time of its foundation – for they represented the fruits of the city’s collection-building efforts dating back to the 1870s.
“Over the years, the works found themselves in various makeshift locations. Whether it was a deconsecrated church in Bohnice, cellars in Troja or a nuclear fallout shelter in Hostivař, these were never entirely suitable environments; they were merely temporary solutions that did not do justice to the significance of the collection or meet the necessary standards for its protection. It was not until 1993, following the takeover of the second floor of the Municipal Library’s main building, that we acquired a storage facility that, thanks to its capacity, served to house several dozen of the most prestigious paintings. This situation was completely untenable, and to this day it amazes me that none of my predecessors seemed sufficiently concerned to push for change,” says Magdalena Juříková, Director of Prague City Gallery.
The Bouchalka complex was built as a pharmaceutical warehouse and subsequently served as a civil defence depot. Today’s single-storey Hall SO 02 became a refuge for public sculptures when, in particular, Baroque originals – not only from Charles Bridge – had to be gradually replaced by copies. Other artefacts also found their way here, having been removed from buildings and sites subject to changes in ownership or demolition. Opposite this property stood an empty building which the city intended to use for storing slats for flood barriers.
“We tried to persuade the relevant representatives of the capital city to entrust it to us as additional space for building a new storage facility. Initially, there was a joint effort to find other suitable properties owned by the city, but it turned out that Bouchalka is actually ideal, both in terms of logistics and spatial potential. And so our dream of a building that will truly propel us, as a museum, into the 21st century began to take shape. Thanks to the understanding shown by the current management of the City of Prague’s Department of Culture and Tourism, led by Jiří Sulženko, and the support of several councillors for culture – Hana Třeštíková, Jiří Pospíšil and Tomáš Slabihoudek – the storage facility has now become a reality. It is a building with many eco-friendly features, thanks to which we will be eligible for a grant from the Ministry of the Environment under the National Recovery Plan,” continues Juříková.
© Jan Kolský
© Jan Kolský
© Jan Kolský
© Jan Kolský
photo before reconstruction
© Jan Kolský
photo before reconstruction
Photos in print quality are available here.
When designing a modern storage facility, it is essential to prioritise energy efficiency, as its operation requires stable cooling, humidity and temperature conditions, which must not be compromised even given today’s extreme climate fluctuations. Meeting these conditions is one of the most costly items in the budget for this construction project, which ultimately totalled CZK 249 million.
“We have succeeded in converting the original reinforced concrete structure into a state-of-the-art storage facility with the highest level of protection – both in terms of the security of the entire site and the creation of an environment with ideal conditions for the care and preservation of the works of art. The site features 18 geothermal boreholes, a 100 kW photovoltaic power station and a rainwater retention tank, the water from which we reuse. The rooms housing our most valuable works are fitted with a self-extinguishing system that will put out any fire within a few seconds,” explains Miroslav Koláček, Deputy Director of Operations at GHMP.
In addition to the storage facilities, the site includes spaces for restoration studios for sculptures and works in plastic arts, a laboratory for paper restoration, offices for storage facility managers, storage areas for the exhibition equipment, a publications store and a newly refurbished hall for public sculptures. The storage facilities in the multi-storey hall SO 02 are designed for paintings, sculptures and other three-dimensional works, as well as works on paper and photographs. Each of these artistic techniques requires specific climatic conditions, which can be regulated and maintained effectively thanks to advanced technologies.
“The new Bouchalka storage facility is an investment in the protection of the cultural heritage that Prague manages for future generations. After decades of makeshift solutions, Prague City Gallery is finally gaining modern facilities commensurate with the significance of its collection. I am delighted that we have managed to complete a project worth a quarter of a billion Czech crowns whilst also utilising modern technologies that significantly reduce its energy consumption,” says Tomáš Slabihoudek, Prague City Councillor for Culture.
A new era is beginning in the practical yet immensely important work of Prague City Gallery, namely in the professional conservation of its collections, which the gallery will preserve for future generations to enjoy, to draw on for an understanding of historical contexts and to savour as aesthetic experiences.
About GHMP
Prague City Gallery (GHMP) is one of the most important Czech institutions dedicated to modern and contemporary art. In its venues – which include not only historic buildings such as the Stone Bell House, the Municipal Library, Troja Château and the House of Photography – it has long showcased key figures from the Czech and international art scenes and explored themes that resonate with contemporary society. In addition to its exhibition activities, it manages an extensive collection comprising approximately 16,000 works of art from the 19th century to the present and, through a rich programme of accompanying events and educational initiatives, it connects the world of art with the general public. GHMP is also systematically dedicated to supporting the next generation of artists and preserving the capital city’s significant cultural heritage, which consists of monuments, statues and sculptural groups in public spaces.
Contact for Journalists
GHMP
Petra Čížková
Deputy Head of the Department of Communication, Events and Publishing
+420 725 818 721
petra.cizkova@ghmp.cz
www.ghmp.cz
Revitalisation of GHMP’s Bouchalka Storage Facility
This project is funded by the European Union under the National Recovery Plan.
Main Objective: The aim of the project is to renovate Prague City Gallery’s
Bouchalka storage facility to ensure sufficient space, the highest level of protection and suitable climatic conditions for the storage of works of art. The modernisation of the complex will lead to an improvement in current energy efficiency standards, thereby resulting in significant energy savings and a reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Project implementation: September 2023 – May 2026
