Brandýs n. L. is preparing the demolition of the Sun Baths

Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav - Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav is preparing to demolish the building of the former Sun Baths in the Houštka forest park. The town hall will commission a static assessment for the building of the former dormitory known as Kim Il Sung. The city has owned both dilapidated buildings since 2015, and due to a lack of funding, they have not yet been renovated. They are currently in a state of disrepair, said Kateřina Stránská from the city to ČTK.

"For any binding considerations about the future of the Kim Il Sung building, it is necessary to know its actual condition," said Deputy Mayor Patrick Zandl (Pirates). According to him, one possibility is starter housing or facilities that would provide care for seniors. "All in connection with the available grant titles and the current needs of the city," he added.

According to the city management, the Sun Baths building cannot be saved; it is slated for demolition. "According to experts, the structure can no longer be repaired. The area will be cleared after demolition and prepared for future projects," said Mayor Robert Pecha (You Are the City). The specific use is currently not known, according to him.

The city purchased the buildings along with other properties in the city from Charles University in 2015 and sought a use for them. Renovation was costly due to the poor condition, and the city lacked suitable grants. "The city was primarily interested in the building of the former dormitory in the center of the Brandýs part, where one of the city office buildings is now located. However, the university was only selling the Brandýs dormitory bundled with the spa buildings in the Stará Boleslav Houštka," said Stránská.

The spa with a healing spring was established in Houštka in the mid-19th century and operated until the start of World War II. The site then served as a sports and recreational area and a student dormitory of Charles University. Part of the spa was an older building later converted into a hotel with a restaurant; after nationalization, it housed workers and foreign students. "The building is still referred to as the Kim Il Sung dormitory, as he (the former North Korean leader) visited it himself in the 1950s," Stránská added. Charles University used the building for student accommodation until the early 1990s.

The Sun Baths building, with two glass domes, completed in 1919, is attributed to architect Jan Kotěra. "He was reportedly the construction council at the time of the building's construction project; he simply confirmed with his stamp that the building could be constructed," Stránská stated. The building served as a spa facility with a social hall and later as a canteen for accommodated students.