Rožnov p. R. (Vsetín region) - The burned-down Libušín cottage at Pustevny will be rebuilt by the Brno company Archatt for 80 million crowns. Jindřich Ondruš, the director of the Wallachian Open-Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, which manages the landmark, said this to ČTK today. Preparations will begin this year, while the actual construction will start next year. Libušín, built in 1899 according to the design of architect Dušan Jurkovič, was destroyed by fire two years ago in March.
The museum selected the company through a competition; however, one of the five companies that applied for the contract appealed, and their objection needed to be reviewed. "It was confirmed that the original procedure was correct. We rejected the objection, and the company did not appeal to the Office for the Protection of Competition afterward," Ondruš stated. According to him, the museum will sign a contract with Archatt within two weeks.
According to Ondruš, Archatt offered the lowest price in the competition; the project price was 20 million higher. "Based on references, we selected a good company for a good price," he noted. All companies in the competition demonstrated that they could carry out the project, with price being the deciding factor.
The museum intended to start construction as early as this spring. However, the appeal from the company delayed the start, and later it was no longer possible because the restoration of Libušín will use wood from winter logging, which ends in March. There was also a possibility that the work would be postponed by an entire year. However, according to Ondruš, it is preliminarily agreed with the winning company that the remains of the structure will be removed this year, and the foundations will be laid. In November, the wood will be harvested, processed, and prepared over the winter. The construction should begin next spring. "The delay, therefore, will not be as significant after all," Ondruš stated.
According to information on their website, the Brno company focuses on the care of historical monuments, was established in 1992, and has 150 employees. They led, for example, the design and preparatory work during the restoration of the Tugendhat Villa, the National Theatre in Prague, or the Kroměříž Castle.
The museum wants to respect traditional methods during construction. Libušín was one of the symbols of Pustevny and served as a restaurant. People, companies, and various institutions are also contributing to its restoration. There are already over 10 million crowns in the fundraising account. The Ministry of Culture has previously promised assistance, and the museum is expected to receive funds from the insurance company as well.
The police have already charged a fifty-year-old man from the Karviná region due to the fire, claiming he neglected the repair of the chimney structures of this cultural monument in 2007. The man faces up to eight years in prison for general endangerment due to negligence.