The reconstruction of the Imperial Baths and the addition of the hall is nearing completion

Karlovy Vary - The reconstruction of the Imperial Baths in Karlovy Vary is nearing completion. They are expected to open to the public in mid-June. On two concurrent constructions in the facility, which will cost more than 1.1 billion crowns, builders are working on the final touches or rectifying deficiencies. In addition to the building itself, which is a national cultural monument, a built-in multipurpose hall, located in the atrium of the Imperial Baths, is also being finished. Restoration work is also being completed, Květa Hryszová, head of the project management department of the Karlovy Vary Regional Office, told reporters during a site tour today.

"The contract stipulated the completion of the Imperial Baths by March 31, and from April 1, the acceptance of work has been taking place, along with the removal of defects and unfinished work. Other contracts are also ongoing, such as the construction of the concert hall, which is planned to be completed next week. The restoration of paintings is also nearing completion, with contractual deadlines set for June," Hryszová stated.

The building of the Imperial Baths has been restored to nearly its original form. It will no longer be a luxury spa, but a cultural center with many activities. There will be an exhibition on spa culture, including displays of original equipment, such as the imperial bath, a regional and city information center, a specialized library, and space within the Imperial Baths will be used for the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra's operations, while the halls and lounges can serve for exhibitions and other types of events.

The built-in concert hall is exceptional in many ways. Because heritage protectors did not want it to interfere with the historical building in any way, the construction, weighing several hundred tons, was lowered into the atrium piece by piece using a crane through the ceiling and was then assembled in the atrium. The hall for 300 spectators stands on six legs, and the entire structure, controlled hydraulically, appears to be above the floor of the atrium. The system of rotating sound walls above the stage allows the hall to create acoustics for various types of concerts and performances, including the most demanding ones.

The ceremonial opening is scheduled for three evenings, on June 15, 16, and 17, said Governor Petr Kulhánek (for STAN) today. The first evening will be designated for people who participated in the years-long reconstruction, the second evening will be a ceremonial opening for invited guests, and the third evening will be open to the public. However, the program will be the same, featuring video mapping on the atrium walls, performances choreographed by the Caban brothers, and a concert by the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra. The evening will be hosted by Marek Eben.

The total costs for the reconstruction of the Imperial Baths were originally 820 million crowns, including VAT; costs increased by another 100 million due to work that emerged from the construction itself and the discovery of historical details. Approximately 90 million crowns were spent on project modifications and subsequently changing the roof to enable the placement of the multipurpose hall in the atrium. This, according to the contract, will cost around 140 million crowns.