The Liberec Region is searching for the monument of the year for the sixth time, last year it honored Lasvit

ov architects: Headquarters of Lasvit, 2019 (photo: Tomáš Souček)

Liberec - The Liberec region is looking for the monument of the year for the sixth time. It aims to present interesting restoration projects and support those who embark on demanding projects. Last year, the region awarded the glass company Lasvit for the exemplary restoration of two city timber houses in Nový Bor in the Česká Lípa region. However, significantly smaller projects also have a chance, said the regional deputy for culture and heritage care, Květa Vinklátová (Mayors for the Liberec Region), to ČTK today.

The competition has a single category, and the award can be won for a building restoration as well as for the restoration of a cultural heritage monument. "The condition for participation in the competition is the completion of the overall restoration or a cohesive phase of the monument's reconstruction in the calendar year for which the award is given, i.e., in the year 2020. Another condition is that the owner must participate in the restoration with at least 50,000 crowns," added Vinklátová.

The acceptance of electronic applications will begin on February 1 and will last until April 30. The winner of the competition will be selected by an expert committee composed of representatives of the Liberec region and the National Heritage Institute. "We plan to hold a ceremonial award presentation and hand over the prize in the summer," said Vinklátová. The winner will be able to mark their monument with a commemorative plaque inscribed with Monument of the Year 2020 for the Liberec Region, along with receiving 50,000 crowns for continuing the work.

There are 2,248 immovable cultural monuments in the Liberec region, of which 39 are on the critically endangered list. "When people become acquainted with positive examples of restoration, it may happen that they purchase some property in the Liberec region and subsequently essentially save the cultural monument. This was the case, for example, with the Kittl House, the Návarov Castle, and several folk buildings in Žďár near Česká Lípa," added Vinklátová.

Traditionally, historic cities will also compete for the Award for the Preparation and Implementation of the Program for the Regeneration of Urban Heritage Reserves and Urban Heritage Zones for the year 2020. The aim is to award such cities that achieve the best results in this area. In the Liberec region, Nový Bor, Dubá, and Jilemnice, which already holds the title of Historic City of the Year 2012, have applied for the program. The best from the region will advance to the nationwide round, with victory linked to a million crown grant.