Česká Lípa is preparing to renovate the theater, but first it will modify KD Crystal

Česká Lípa – Česká Lípa is preparing an expensive reconstruction of the Jirásek Theatre. The city hall wants to start it as early as next year. The building will likely be out of operation for two seasons, and all cultural events will be moved to the Crystal Cultural House during that time. Therefore, the cultural house will be the first to undergo renovations, which are expected to be completed by the autumn of next year. This was stated today by the city's spokesperson Kristýna Kňákal Brožová.

"In order to make people feel as comfortable as possible in the Crystal, we plan to renovate the entrance areas. Under no circumstances do we want both cultural facilities to be out of operation," said the mayor of Česká Lípa, Jitka Volfová. According to her, the entire entrance to the Crystal Cultural House should be renewed – both entrance doors, the box office, and the ladies' and gentlemen's restrooms on the ground floor. "We are also discussing the need to modernize the air conditioning in the main hall of the Crystal. However, we must come up with a solution that does not jeopardize the operation of the facility," the mayor added.

The multifunctional Crystal building was designed by architect Jiří Suchomel and his team. The modern construction complements and closes the garden of the Česká Lípa museum. It is embedded in the terrain, and the sloping southern facade functions as a solar energy air collector. The partial embedding into the ground, good thermal insulation, and the possibility of heat accumulation in the ground beneath the building form the overall concept of energy efficiency. The project started in 1975, and the cultural house was opened only in December 1990. In addition to two main halls and a foyer, the building houses a cinema, a restaurant, a ballet hall, and a gallery.

For years, there has been a discussion in the city about the reconstruction of the Crystal as well as the restoration of the Jirásek Theatre. The theatre, built in 1907 originally as a municipal gymnasium, has been given priority. The cost of its reconstruction is estimated at 180 million crowns. The city is now looking for a contractor who will prepare a detailed project necessary for selecting the builder and will also design the interiors of the new theatre. Then, according to Volfová, the city plans to launch a public competition for the construction contractor as early as next fall.