Kasárna Karlín reopens — outside for the time being: After a year’s break, the cultural centre will resume operations on 27 May. Initially with a temporary setup in the courtyard, but a full reopening is planned for the long term.
The Kasárna Karlín cultural and social centre is reopening after a year. The centre will resume operations on Tuesday, 27 May. At first, it will operate temporarily with refreshment stands and toilets in the courtyard, but it is planned that it will soon be fully operational again. The centre was closed in June last year because it was in breach of the law. It did not comply with the zoning plan, which the city amended in December. The centre promises to be more considerate of its neighbours regarding noise in future.
For several years, it was a popular meeting place for people from all over Prague, where parents with children, sports enthusiasts and culture lovers could spend their time. Some came to watch a film in the summer cinema, attend a concert, play beach volleyball or have a drink with friends. But last year, shortly before the start of the main season, many visitors were in for a shock: the Prague 8 building authority banned the centre from operating.
Although the authority found no serious defects on the premises, the problem was that the centre’s interior was not approved for this type of use. In other words, according to the zoning plan, the site was not intended for bars, concerts and cafés, but for military and security-related purposes. Last December, the city of Prague changed this zoning plan.
Outdoor use possible for the time being
“We are awaiting a further decision from the building authorities regarding the indoor spaces, but outdoor use is already possible,” representatives of Kasárna Karlín told ČT24. On Tuesday, 27 May, the inner courtyard is to be temporarily reopened — daily from 10 am to midnight.
Once all administrative processes have been finalised, the operators hope to be able to return to the interior of the buildings and gradually resume operations.
Cinema with headphones only
The operators of the centre plan to send a letter to neighbours before the reopening, informing them about measures to be taken against possible noise. A fire ban is already in place on the site for the summer months of June to August. In addition, staff are to be strictly instructed to dispose of glass and metal waste only during the day so as not to disturb the neighbours.
“As far as outdoor concerts are concerned, we are limiting ourselves to a maximum of three throughout the year. No concert will last beyond 10 pm. If we get the opportunity to show the summer cinema again, we plan to run it with headphones only,” they told the news channel. The operators of Kasárna Karlín also emphasised that staff would regularly patrol the site after 10 pm and warn visitors to be considerate.
The barracks building in Prague’s Karlín district has been owned by the City of Prague since January last year, having been acquired as part of a land swap with the state. The historic Karlín barracks building dates back to the 19th century and was used for military purposes during the Czechoslovakian era and later in the Czech Republic.
Kasárna Karlín
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