Česká Lípa is considering the possibility of relocating the theater to KD Crystal

Česká Lípa - Česká Lípa is considering the possibility of moving the theater to the Crystal Cultural House. Whether this is possible and how much it would cost the city will be shown by a study, the preparation of which has been supported by city councilors. Jirásek Theater is in an unsatisfactory condition, and moving to Crystal would likely be the best solution in both financial and technical terms, said Mayor Hana Moudrá (ODS) today.
    Jirásek Theater is an old Sokol building. The building has poor air conditioning and statics and does not meet the requirements of a modern theater. The town hall has been preparing the reconstruction of the building for over 20 years. Originally, it wanted to build a new theater; however, the city was unable to secure grants for the project, which was estimated to cost 300 to 400 million crowns. Another option was the reconstruction of the original building for about 100 million. However, the plan fell through due to disputes over the land.
    Therefore, the decision was made to utilize the cultural house. The study of its use for the theater will be prepared by architect Jiří Suchomel. Architect Jiří Janďourek will collaborate with him. The city will pay 370,000 crowns for the study. "The task will be to propose how Crystal should be reconstructed if it is to include a multifunctional hall with a mobile auditorium, meaning a hall that could host balls, concerts, and full theater performances," said city hall spokesperson Kristýna Brožová.
    The modern multifunctional building of Crystal complements and closes the garden of the original Augustinian monastery, which today houses the Regional Museum and Gallery. The building is embedded into the terrain between the garden and the valley floor of Ploučnice. Although it was designed in 1975, it is energy-efficient. The slanted southern facade serves as an air collector for solar energy. The partial embedding into the ground, thermal insulation design, and the possibility of heat accumulation in the ground under the building form the concept of energy efficiency.
    The cultural house has two halls and a foyer, a cinema, a restaurant, a ballet hall, and a gallery. In addition to the new multifunctional hall, the cinema hall and facilities for performers should remain in Crystal. Office spaces and a café are planned, and the city library should be moved from its unsuitable building in the center to the first floor. "I would be very pleased if, after the study is completed, the city decides to implement this project. This would resolve three major problems that we have been dealing with for a long time," added Moudrá. The project would solve the modernization of the cultural house, the future of the theater, and the library.