Kladno will open a museum of tower blocks and a展示 apartment in March

Kladno – Kladno will open a museum of protected tower houses on March 14, including a model apartment. A number of volunteers and the Halda association were involved in its establishment directly in one of the tower blocks. It is the first museum of a housing complex in the Czech Republic; it is unique in that people still live in it, said Kladno Mayor Dan Jiránek (ODS) to reporters today.

The museum presents the story of the housing estate and its main architect, Josef Havlíček. The city had the entrance hall repaired in one of the tower houses, including replicas of the original lamps; the exhibition about the construction is in the basement, where a film with memories of witnesses is screened. Visitors also have access to a civil defense shelter with period equipment and a roof terrace.

The apartment, featuring refurbished original built-in wardrobes and a kitchen unit, draws visitors into the atmosphere of the 1950s. The period furniture comes from various donors. The interior precisely replicates the original appearance of the apartment, including windows, wall colors, doors, and other furnishings.

According to the chairman of the Halda association, Roman Hájek, the appearance of the museum is determined by the fact that the entire team engaged in its preparation with great commitment, from research to the detailed design of the exhibition. "We truly took it on with great enthusiasm," Hájek stated. The costs were around 20 million crowns.

The Kladno tower houses, which belong to the city, were built in the 1950s. They are a cultural monument. The city collaborated with the Halda association on the establishment of the museum, which will take care of the exhibition together with the city. Interested parties can book tours on the website www.muzeumvezaku.cz.