The extension of the museum in Jablonec will start to resemble a crystal in the autumn

The construction of the extension is expected to cost about 53 million crowns including VAT. Currently, the third floor of the concrete structure is being built, from which it will be possible to enter the vestibule of the main building upon completion. According to Nový, the connection work should begin in the fall, as well as the metal skeleton. "It will be very dominant," Nový said. The glass parts will then be placed on the metal skeleton, which will gradually cover almost all concrete parts from the outside. This should result in the building resembling a crystal. "We wanted a building that would be ideologically connected to our original one," said the curator, referring to the fact that the museum primarily has collections of glass and jewelry.

The work is currently proceeding according to schedule. If there is no delay, the construction should be completed by May next year. After that, work will continue for about half a year on the interior and the creation of the Christmas ornament exhibition. The museum owns what is probably the largest public collection of Christmas ornaments in the world, counting over 15,000 items. This exhibition is also expected to have an unconventional form. "It will be like walking into a cave where various specific objects are growing," the curator said.

According to Nový, they would like to open the extension in December 2019 on the occasion of the 115th anniversary of the museum's founding. In addition to a permanent exhibition, the three-story glass extension will also house the museum's technical facilities, including storage, garages, and air conditioning. The upper floor, which is designed to connect freely to the current vestibule of the Art Nouveau building of the museum, is conceived as a multipurpose space for temporary exhibitions, lectures, or concerts. In the summer season, it could also serve as a café. "We plan that from the triennale in 2020, there will also be a permanent exhibition of ceiling lights," the curator added.