Architects and heritage specialists have agreed on how to restore the Ještěd transmitter

Jablonec nad Nisou - Architects and preservationists have agreed on what the revitalization of the Jested Mountain Hotel and Transmitter should look like, although it is still unclear who will pay for it. The unique building, however, urgently needs renovation, as it has served the public for 38 years. The engineering networks are from the time of its creation, and the laminate façade of the building also needs renewal. The material's lifespan was originally calculated to be 20 years, but it has already lasted nearly twice that long, said Lidie Vajnerová, the Deputy Governor of the Liberec Region for Culture, to reporters on the occasion of the opening of the Euroregion Tour travel trade fair in Jablonec nad Nisou.
    Although the Liberec Region does not own the unique building, it has assembled a commission composed of experts, architects, and preservationists who have created a set of recommendations for the restoration and management of the object, which has been a national cultural monument since 2006. "No one dared to estimate the reconstruction costs, a lot will depend on the materials to be used for the new façade," explained Vajnerová. The report of the expert commission will serve as preparation for an application for a grant for the restoration of Ještěd from the Integrated Operational Program of the Ministry of Culture. The study will also serve the heritage conservation department, according to Vajnerová.
    Experts recommended that the region, due to the exceptional significance of Ještěd for the entire region, do everything possible to acquire the mountain hotel and transmitter. The expert commission recommended respecting the heritage values during the revitalization of this exceptional building. A technical survey should be conducted, and both construction and historical surveys should be completed. According to experts, the living authors should be involved in the preparation of the project, including architect Karel Hubáček, Otakar Binar, staticians Zdeněk Patrman and Zdeněk Zachař, or construction designer Václav Bůžek. For example, the later addition of the so-called winter entrance and the temporary glazing of the gallery should disappear. The interiors should be brought as close as possible to their original form.
    The Ještěd Mountain Hotel is a Czech building of the century. The 94-meter high hyperboloid uniquely combines the functions of a transmitter, hotel, and restaurant. The cornerstone of the building was ceremoniously laid 45 years ago - in July 1966. Its author, Karel Hubáček, won the Perret Prize awarded by the International Union of Architects for the project in 1969. The way the building enhances the silhouette of the 1012-meter-high mountain still captivates both experts and laypeople. The region is striving for the building to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, since 2000, the owner of the object has been České Radiokomunikace, which purchased it for 85 million CZK and invested over 20 million more into it.
    "It cannot be said that the condition of the building is emergency; the biggest problems are with outdated networks and technical equipment," said Jablonec Mayor Petr Beitl regarding the condition of the hotel and transmitter, who was previously the managing director of the company Ještěd, which has operated the local restaurant and hotel since 1996. The company Ještěd is also one of three interested parties that have applied for the long-term lease of the building, recently announced by České Radiokomunikace. The winner is expected to be decided by the end of March, and it is likely that they will also participate in the restoration of this unique structure.