In the spa in Jablonec, there will be no events due to poor structural stability

Jablonec nad Nisou - It is no longer possible to hold even occasional events in the historic building of the spa in Jablonec nad Nisou. At the recommendation of structural engineers, the city is forced to close the secessionist building to the public, said Jablonec city hall spokesperson Jana Fričová today to ČTK. The spa was supposed to be one of the stops in the accompanying program of the Jizerská padesátka on February 8. However, the current condition of the building does not allow it, according to the city council.

"The program and the involvement of Jablonec companies in showcasing the city to tourists is certainly a commendable initiative, which we can only agree with. Unfortunately, we could not give consent for the stop at the municipal spa due to safety concerns. All expert assessments on the structure agreed on one point - the facility must be closed to the public because using the pool area and other rooms in the current state is a health and life hazard," said Deputy Mayor Milan Kouřil (ANO) regarding the closure of the spa.

The spa in the center of Jablonec was built between 1908 and 1909 according to the design of architect Rudolf Hemmrich. He is also credited as the author of the spa building in Nové Město pod Smrkem, designed a church in the nearby Loučná, and lookout towers on Černá Studnice, Bramberk and Proseč. The spa was one of the first larger buildings financed by Jablonec at that time.

The current appearance of the secessionist building has been significantly marked by insensitive modifications in the 1960s, when the building lost its outdoor stucco decorations. Many original elements, like windows, doors, and flooring, have been preserved, but the building has been empty for years and is deteriorating. "We are not indifferent to the condition of the building, which is why we are looking for ways to utilize it and sources of funding for renovation," Kouřil said.

There is a lot of discussion in Jablonec about how to utilize the spa in the future. Members of the ArtproProstor association, who organized several events there, would like to transform it into a creative center that would include a space for cultural events in the main pool hall. Architects from the Mjölk studio would prefer to return the spa to its original purpose. "The building was constructed as a spa and fits into the city, so we believe this should be respected. Nowadays, we can imagine a demand for such services since we are in the Jizera Mountains and there are no spas here for miles," architect Pavlína Müllerová previously told ČTK.