The Machonin grandchildren are concerned about the reconstruction of Thermal

Prague – The grandchildren of architects Věra and Vladimír Machonin, according to whose design the brutalist building was constructed in the 1970s, have significant concerns about the upcoming reconstruction of the Karlovy Vary hotel Thermal. In an open letter addressed to the hotel’s management and the Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová (ANO), they request that the public have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the project of the planned repairs. They also want to know who the architect of the reconstruction is, who will operate the swimming center, or what fate awaits the period artistic works located in the hotel. The text of the letter was provided to ČTK by Marie and Jan Kordovští, who have been trying for several years to draw attention to the quality of their grandparents' work. ČTK is finding out the response from the Ministry of Finance, which manages the state-owned hotel.

The Kordovští stated that they are not trying to prevent the reconstruction of Thermal, which is annually the center of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, nor do they want to turn it into a museum of outdated technologies. However, they believe this significant building deserves a thoughtful concept on how to modernize it as best as possible. They fear that the opportunity to create an exceptional space for tourists, film festival celebrities, and locals during the upcoming reconstruction will be wasted. They labeled the current state of the hotel as systematic destruction.

"The little we know about the upcoming reconstruction discourages us. The projects remain shrouded in secrecy. To the best of our efforts, neither our grandmother, Věra Machoninová, nor the city council of Karlovy Vary, let alone the public, which ultimately owns this state building, has seen them. The sample rooms you boast about in the media absolutely do not reach the quality that Thermal could have," the grandchildren of the Machonins wrote to the management of Thermal-F, the company that owns the hotel. The sole shareholder is the state through the Ministry of Finance.

The Kordovští called on responsible parties to publish the planned reconstruction projects for the hotel and to cooperate more with the city of Karlovy Vary, experts, and the public. "At the same time, we believe that with investments in the amount of three-quarters of a billion crowns, which the Ministry of Finance speaks of, there should be at least basic control mechanisms," they added.

The long-awaited reconstruction of the hotel is set to start this year. Several sample rooms have already been created on the upper floors, according to which the repairs of the building will be carried out. Thermal's director Michal Kočarko told ČTK in June that during the modernization, the hotel aims to maintain as much as possible of the exceptional architectural style while also ensuring that the reconstruction creates conditions for the 21st century. According to him, a contract for the reconstruction of health and technical installations, network distribution, and air conditioning, including partial modifications of the rooms, is awaiting signature. The selection of one of two candidates for leasing the outdoor pool and an adjacent building that used to be a restaurant is also being prepared.

The iconic outdoor pool with a view of the city’s spa center has been out of operation for several years. It, like the hotel, belongs to the state, and according to surveys of the residents of Karlovy Vary, its closure is one of the biggest problems facing the city.