Liberec wants to complete the preparation for the modernization of the crematorium this year

Liberec – Liberec wants to complete the preparation for the modernization of the city crematorium, which is the oldest in the country, this year. The municipal administration aims to reduce energy costs, ensure barrier-free access, and partially restore the more than one hundred-year-old building itself. The city's management estimates the costs at 64 million crowns. Deputy Mayor Šárka Prachařová (ANO) expects that a contractor could be selected at the turn of this year and next year. In that case, the reconstruction of the crematorium could be completed by the end of 2027.

"It is a question of how it will proceed. That is such a positive scenario," added the deputy. According to her, it will also depend on how successful they are in obtaining grants. "Firstly, we would like to target grants from the environment in the context of energy savings, but also possibly from heritage care, which means focusing on the valuable building itself. And possibly utilize some grants for monuments provided by the region," stated Prachařová.

The Liberec crematorium, built in the Art Nouveau style, has been in operation for over a hundred years, with the first cremation occurring on October 31, 1918, of the Liberec citizen Robert Jahn. The crematorium was constructed in the Art Nouveau style by the Liberec firm Gustav Sacher & Sons between 1915 and 1917 according to the design of the Dresden architect Rudolf Bitzan. Its current form dates back to 1974 when the large ceremonial hall was reconstructed, both wings of the colonnade were glazed, and a new refrigeration unit was added. The original furnishings of the large hall, which has a height of 14 meters, have not survived. There are no stained glass windows; more than 40 years ago, they were replaced by transparent glass.

"The crematorium is a unique building, so the modernization should be carried out as sensitively as possible," said the deputy. The city aims to achieve energy savings through insulation of the building, replacement of windows, and installation of heat recovery systems. Barrier-free access should be ensured by an elevator at the back of the building. "So that it does not disturb the overall impression of the historical building," added the deputy. The project is in the phase of developing project documentation, for which the municipal administration will pay 3.8 million crowns.

The city continuously invests in the repairs of the crematorium; in 2023 and 2024, a general overhaul of both cremation furnaces was conducted, costing the municipality more than 16.5 million crowns. Annually, the Liberec crematorium cremated approximately 2,000 deceased.