Plzeňský region has started to clear out the former spa in the center of Plzeň, which has deteriorated for 30 years

Plzeň - The former municipal baths in Plzeň, which had been neglected for 30 years, are being cleared and cleaned by the region, and a conservation survey is continuing there. The region, which purchased the protected building from 1931 for 120 million CZK last October, is also preparing the tender documentation for the demolition of the rear extension of the former boiler room and steam area. The introductory architectural study, being developed by Eva Heyworth's team, will be completed within 1.5 to two months, said Deputy Governor Josef Bernard to ČTK.

"And then we would move towards the tender documentation for selecting a contractor for the reconstruction using the Design & Build method (where the client specifies only the purpose and scope while the contractor is responsible for both the design and execution), which should be completed by the end of the year," he stated.

The final version of the architectural study with visualizations will be ready, according to Bernard, by the end of August, and the conservation survey will follow a month later. Demolition of the rear wing will then begin. "It should take three to four months," the deputy said. The region aims to repair the dilapidated baths by 2026 and has already allocated 100 million CZK this year for the study of modifications, demolition, and preparation for the tender for the renewal contract, which is expected to cost 1.5 to two billion CZK. A multicultural center is to be established in the baths. It will primarily include the regional West Bohemian Gallery (ZČG), as well as a hall, clubrooms, and offices for regional and nonprofit organizations.

The deadlines were outlined in an informative report for the regional representatives. It was pushed by the opposition, which wants to be informed about the project at every meeting. However, they deemed the first report insufficient. "We demand it to be redone and in more detail," said councilor Marcela Hollerová (ODS). ODS and TOP 09 have long advocated for the construction of a new regional gallery on the city land U Zvonu, which had already had a project and building permit; the region had been preparing it since 2005. The representatives of the city of Plzeň rejected the gallery construction in March and withdrew from agreements with the region and ZČG regarding the rental of the land.

In preparing the new gallery construction, especially for the architectural competition in 2009, studies, and projects, the region invested about 33 million CZK. The representatives approved on Monday the reallocation of the incurred expenses as a wasted investment. Hollerová described the stance of the current coalition, which is not in favor of the gallery construction plan, as arrogance. According to her, the councils dedicated enormous effort and time to the project, especially in 2009 and 2010.

Recently, a group of 40 architects from the Plzeň region called on the region in an open letter to organize an architectural competition for the adaptation and reconstruction of the baths. They are dissatisfied with the fact that the reconstruction study and one of the largest regional building projects has been directly entrusted to Heyworth. The region considers her a highly esteemed architect who will prepare quality groundwork for the public contract. The region is proceeding according to the law and the rules in place, said Governor Rudolf Špoták (Pirates). According to him, it has proven to be most effective to use the Design & Build method. "This is applied more to transportation and linear constructions, where user and technical parameters are clearly definable," said Robert Špalek, head of the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction from Plzeň, supporting the architects' letter.