Vratislavice has a modern cultural center

Visualization: Petr Stolín Architect

Liberec - The residents of the Liberec district of Vratislavice nad Nisou have welcomed a dignified cultural venue that has been missing from the municipality with nearly 10,000 inhabitants for years. The construction was completed in a record time of nine months and cost more than 90 million crowns. Vratislavice has thus gained a facility for cultural and social events as well as for community activities. There is also a space for a memorial dedicated to the local-born constructor Ferdinand Porsche.
    "I am proud of what we managed to build in such a short time, and I believe that people will find their way to the new cultural center," said the mayor of Vratislavice, Lukáš Pohanka, to ČTK. He plans for exhibitions, concerts, balls, and other social and cultural events to be held there. However, the mayor admitted that the unique building evokes mixed emotions among the people. "Some are excited about the building, while others damn it," he noted.
    The new cultural center is a showcase of modern architecture and contemporary design. The austere, almost industrial building features exposed piping and other technical details, with exposed concrete combined with luxurious lighting, gilded mirrors, and expensive mosaics. "The multifunctional hall is equipped with retractable seating, allowing the dance hall to be transformed at the push of a single button into an auditorium for 160 spectators," the mayor remarked.
    Originally, the town hall considered renovating the old cinema, where screenings ceased at the end of the 90s, and the building had been abandoned and deteriorating for years. Ultimately, however, completely new construction on a greenfield site was prioritized. The old cinema was demolished, and a children's playground now occupies its place.
    Vratislavice nad Nisou is the only district of the hundred-thousand-strong city of Liberec. This year, it operates with a budget of around 170 million crowns. Although the district is comparable in size to towns like Semily or Frýdlant, it has long lacked not only a cultural venue but also, for example, a shopping center.