In Jablonec, they want to revive the dilapidated spa, which should serve culture

Jablonec nad Nisou - In Jablonec nad Nisou, there are plans to revive the former spa. The Art Nouveau monument from the early 20th century has been empty and deteriorating for over 20 years. It urgently needs reconstruction. In the future, it could serve as a space for contemporary culture and art, which is currently lacking in the second largest city in the Liberec region. The technical condition is not good, and the investments required for the building will be enormous, so the aim is to gradually revive the facility through small steps, said Jakub Chuchlík (Pirates), Deputy Mayor for Development, during today's tour of the spa for ČTK.

The spa in the city center was built between 1908 and 1909 according to the design of architect Rudolf Hemmrich, who is also credited as the author of the spa building in Nové Město pod Smrkem, designed the church in nearby Loučná, and created lookouts on Černá Sudnice, Bramberk, and in Proseč. The spa was one of the first larger buildings that the city financed. However, its appearance was significantly affected by insensitive modifications in the 1960s when the building lost its exterior stucco decorations. Many original elements such as windows, doors, and pavements have been preserved.

"There were several attempts to revive the spa. From the city's position, the most notable was the plan to create a library, which was ten years ago," said Chuchlík. However, the plan was abandoned, and since then the building remained unused until 2015, when the city agreed on a lease with the ArtproProstor association. They organized concerts and other events there for about two years. Everything ended when water started leaking into the building. "During the repairs, it became clear that the vaulted ceiling's suspension was not in order, and the structural engineer forbade entry to the building," added Anna Strnadová from the ArtproProstor association.

According to Chuchlík, the city had a new assessment prepared, which suggests that the condition is not as bad as originally thought. The larger problem is wood-destroying fungi and cracks. This year, the city hall has nearly one million crowns allocated for the spa in its budget. "Originally, that money was intended for the preparation of conceptual documents, but if we find the urgency of those structural defects, we will have to invest it in the remediation," he said. There will still be discussions about the use of the building, according to him. "The spa will never be there again, especially considering the operational costs," added the mayor's deputy.