At its meeting on April 7, 2025, the City Council took a significant step to expand mental health services in the metropolis. By Resolution No. 638, it approved the intention to implement the public contract entitled “Říčanská Mental Health Centre - project documentation” and related budget adjustments.
The subject of the tender is the preparation of project documentation for the reconstruction of an existing First Republic villa at 1752/1 Říčanská Street in the Vinohrady Historical Zone. After the reconstruction, the building will serve as a specialised health centre focusing on mental health.
Comprehensive care for families, children and adolescents
According to the approved documents, a Mental Health Centre will be established in the building, which will include two specialised workplaces: Pregnancy and Early Parenthood Mental Health Centre and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre. These facilities will provide comprehensive care for pregnant women, parents, children and adolescents with mental health problems.
"The implementation of this public procurement is justified by the need to expand the available mental health services in the capital city of Prague," the procurement plan states.
Zahrada pro duši as the operator
The future user of the premises will be the contributory organisation Zahrada pro duši, which has already agreed to the proposed solution and confirmed that it is able to provide qualified medical staff to run the facility.
Zahrada pro duši is a contributory organisation of the City of Prague, which is dedicated to the mental health care of the citizens of Prague. It was established in January 2025 by transforming the Metropolitan Health Service and the non-profit organization House of Three Wishes. The organization offers comprehensive and effective mental health assistance for all age groups, from children to the elderly.
The new center on Říčanská Street will thus complement the existing network of facilities operated by Zahrada pro duši. These include five specialised centres within the House of Three Wishes project - Crisis Help for Children, Delta Family Centre, Horizont Family Therapy Centre, Mezipatro Children's Centre and Přemysl Pitter House (which is due to open after renovation).
The organisation is also dedicated to educating the professional and general public and destigmatising mental illness through its institute. In collaboration with the Záchranka app, it plans to launch a psychosocial assistance module that will quickly connect Prague residents with acute mental health problems to appropriate help.
Sensitive reconstruction of a historic building
The architectural study prepared by LILA - architektonický ateliér, s.r.o. in November 2024 confirmed that the building is suitable for this purpose. The proposed solution includes a sensitive adaptation of the building with respect for historical values and adaptation to modern healthcare needs. The planned alterations include the creation of a central lobby with a new lift, the retention and functional use of valuable representative spaces on the ground floor, alterations to the roof cladding and barrier-free access to selected parts of the building.
Timetable and financing
The estimated value of the public contract has been set at CZK 24 311 650 excluding VAT (CZK 29 417 096.50 including VAT). The contract will be awarded in an open procedure. The tender is scheduled to start in April 2025, with a proposal for a decision on the selection of the contractor to be submitted to the Council by 19 May 2025.
The total cost of the renovation is estimated at CZK 315 million including VAT, to be implemented between 2025 and 2027. Full design documentation is to be prepared in the first two years, a contractor will be selected in 2026 and construction work will begin, to be completed in 2027.
Once completed, the new centre will make a significant contribution to the mental health care system in the capital, complementing the activities of Zahrada pro duši.