Historical chandeliers in the House of Culture in Ostrov are set to undergo reconstruction

Ostrov - About two hundred 70-year-old chandeliers and lighting fixtures are set for restoration during the renovation of the cultural house in Ostrov in the Karlovy Vary region. The spokesperson for the Ostrov town hall, Lucie Kubešová, informed ČTK about this. Since last autumn, the cultural house has been transforming into a cultural and creative center, with interiors and technologies being modernized, costing over 80 million crowns.

"Today, the second-largest chandelier, which has hung in the dance hall since spring 1955, was complicatedly dismantled. It was brought from Kamenický Šenov and, like other chandeliers of a similar type, has a diameter of several meters and weighs up to three tons," the spokesperson described. The largest chandelier in the Ostrov cultural house hangs above the auditorium of the large theater hall on the ground floor. Experts will also restore this one.

According to Kubešová, replacement parts for chandeliers and other lighting fixtures, including historical delivery notes, have been stored in the cultural house's background for the entire 70 years. "All the boxes were unpacked and checked before the renovation. Craftsmen are now working with them during the replacement of damaged parts of the restored lighting fixtures. If original pieces are no longer available, faithful replicas must be made in the glassworks," the spokesperson said.

Restoration work on approximately 200 lighting fixtures is ensured by the Prague metalworking company of Martina Jirásek, which is engaged in custom lighting production and restoration of historical pieces. "We started with the smallest types of wall lights and left the dismantling of the largest chandeliers for the end," Jirásek said. His metalworking shop has previously produced copies of historical collection boxes for the National Theater and restored lighting fixtures in the Valdštejn Palace.

The renovation of the cultural house began after several months of delays at the end of October last year. With over 80 million crowns, the interiors are being restored, and modern technologies are being installed in the building. The city, as one of 13 in the Czech Republic, received a grant of approximately 42 million from the Ministry of Culture’s national renewal fund from the European Integrated Regional Operational Program for the reconstruction. The grant must be settled by the end of September to avoid losing it. According to Mayor Pavel Čekan (independent, elected by Local), the work is currently on schedule.

The monumentally protected cultural house was built in the spirit of traditionalism in the 1950s. It was opened on May 1, 1955. Some time ago, the town hall had the outer shell of the building repaired and the windows replaced for almost 30 million crowns.