"President-Hotel” to be built before Kupala Theatre is reconstructed

120514 Martin Restavrac.mp3

May 2011. The future “President-Hotel” had only 5 floors. It has 10 floors now. A few metal constructions can be seen near the entrance to Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre. Part of the wall is destroyed. There have been no other changes for a year.

Yanka Kupala Theatre no, in May

The way it looked like in October 2011

“It had been planned to finish it in September and the date has been postponed until January. But we think it will happen later. The designers have changed and the term has been increased. We think that they will build the frame by January”, - said the administration of Kupala Theatre to Euroradio.

Officials promised in March that the theatre would be finished by autumn. The construction is in process but the 19th-century wall destroyed during the repairs has not been restored yet.

The former hotel “October” situated opposite Kupala Theatre is being repaired faster. It will be turned into the 5-star “President-Hotel”. They are going to finish it in July!

The future “President-Hotel”

The way it looked like in spring 2011

“The planned term is July 2012, we are trying to stick to it. It will be opened this year”, - said advertisement specialist of “Minsk-Hotel” Inesa Nemtsava (“October” is subjected to “Minsk-Hotel”).

The reconstruction of Kupala Theatre and the hotel “October” started almost simultaneously in 2010. The builders of the hotel have managed to build the last floor in 1.5 months.

"President -Hotel” 1.5 months ago

Belarus’ honoured architect Leanid Levin compares the restoration of Kupala Theatre to an elderly woman’s desire to look young.

“It is like a woman who wants a facelift. You should not be afraid of getting old. It’s like Pugachyova who tried everything but aged anyway. You cannot save the building anyway”, - says Leanid Levin.

According to deputy Minister of Culture Victar Kurash, the reconstruction of Yanka Kupala Theatre will cost 200 billion roubles. The same sum was needed for the reconstruction of Nyasvizh Castle.

The way Kupala Theatre will look like after the reconstruction/ restoration.

The future “President-Hotel”.