Chomutov is looking for a designer for the competition to transform the spa into a library.

Chomutov – Chomutov is searching for designers in an architectural competition for the proposal to transform the former municipal baths into a modern library. Participants should respect the surroundings of the historic building as well as its construction in their designs. The city anticipates that the reconstruction will cost approximately 600 million crowns excluding tax. This is evident from information on the website where the municipal office publishes public tenders.

In the center of the fifty-thousand-strong city, the baths have stood since the 1980s. They ceased to serve the public ten years ago. The management previously did not rule out the demolition of the structure. Numerous ideas have emerged on how to utilize the former baths, including an education center, facilities for surfers with artificial waves, a botanical garden, and more.

The building should also serve for cultural, social, or creative activities. The proposal should respect the surroundings of the building, specifically the central park. The selected design, which will serve as the basis for the subsequent project documentation, must also include the use of renewable resources. The municipal office expects that after the transformation, residents of all age groups and visitors to the city will find use in the new library. The spaces of the former Jesuit gymnasium, where the library currently resides, do not allow for the development of additional services. Therefore, participants in the competition should work with the understanding that the individual functions of the library will change in the future in their designs.

The competition brief also indicates that, given the nature of the building, interventions in the load-bearing structures should be minimized. One of the main challenges will also be the proposed solution for the building envelope. The original facade is a significant element; thus, the participants' task will be to choose a solution that not only meets the thermal technical parameters but also represents the building.