Karlovy Vary will decide on the increase of funds for the Imperial Spa

Karlovy Vary - Karlovy Vary's representatives will decide at the end of March on increasing the amount the city should contribute to the reconstruction of the Imperial Spa. In addition to the previously promised 100 million crowns, the city could contribute about 22 million crowns, which it has already provided for project preparation. An additional 100 to 150 million crowns would be needed if the city wanted to include a concert hall for the symphony orchestra in the national cultural monument, said the city's mayor, Petr Kulhánek (KOA), to reporters today.

"Based on the request from the Karlovy Vary Region, we will be approving an increase in our co-financing, which is currently tied to 100 million crowns, to about 122 million crowns, because the region asked us not to count the project preparation costs any longer," Kulhánek stated.

The region has been promised 250 million crowns from the state for the reconstruction of the national cultural monument, which is owned by the region, and it wants to provide 200 million crowns itself, while the city has promised 100 million crowns.

The current project, however, only includes a small multifunctional hall. This would not meet the requirements for a concert hall for the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra. Therefore, representatives are also expected to decide whether the city should promise funds for additional costs associated with adapting the project and constructing a hall that meets capacity and acoustic requirements for the symphony orchestra. The estimate is about 100 to 150 million crowns above the costs for the reconstruction of the building itself.

The region, however, is pressing for deadlines; by the end of March, it should inform the Ministry of Culture how the repaired building will be utilized. Efforts to adapt the hall for the needs of the symphony orchestra, however, according to the governor of the Karlovy Vary Region, Jana Vildumetzová (ANO), are currently facing negative opinions from heritage protectors. "At that moment, even if I wanted to, I could never achieve that. That is delegated authority, and the department of heritage care decides on that in accordance with the heritage protection law," Vildumetzová stated.

The Association of Architects ArchaVaryk proposed that the region postpone the reconstruction instead of making a quick decision and instead carefully select the most suitable use.