New multifunctional hall by architect Petr Hájek will revitalize the Imperial Spa in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary will have a new concert hall. It will be created as a unique insertion into the hall of the historic Neo-Renaissance building of the Imperial Baths, one of the symbols of Karlovy Vary's spa tourism. The design by the Petr Hájek Architects studio engages in a sensitive yet progressive dialogue with the original building from 1895. The inserted structure does not touch the monumentally protected building and stands on six steel legs. All contemporary interventions are thus clearly acknowledged and reversible, allowing for easy replacement with new technologies in the future. The restored national cultural monument will open to the public in June.

The new multifunctional hall will also be used for concerts by the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra. However, it will also serve film productions, theatrical performances, balls, and other cultural events. The unique insertion into the hall provides a modern environment for organizing conferences and other social events. The variability of the space is therefore very important. Thanks to the adjustable height, the auditorium can quickly transform into a conference or dance hall that requires a flat floor. The hall will be complemented by a multimedia exhibition showcasing the history of spa therapy in both a global and local context, a café, an information center, and a research room.

The Neo-Renaissance building of the Imperial Baths, dating from the late 19th century, has been protected as a national cultural monument since 2010. Therefore, the Petr Hájek Architects studio designed an innovative insertion that seemingly hovers in the middle of the hall on six steel legs. The inserted structure completely avoids any direct contact with the historic building and the original cast-iron columns at the perimeter walls. The individual parts were inserted through an opening roof and assembled on-site into a compact whole.

"It was like building a sailboat in a bottle. First, we had to manufacture everything and do a dry assembly in the hall to ensure that nothing was missing. Then it was necessary to number everything, disassemble it, and reassemble it in the atrium of the building. It was an ant-like task, supported by the amazing technicians from GRADIOR TECH and AVT Group," describes architect Petr Hájek. All necessary audiovisual, scenic, and acoustic technologies are therefore part of the inserted object. The insertion is only connected to electrical installations. All contemporary interventions are thus clearly noticeable and, from a heritage perspective, reversible.

The color of the inserted structure is significantly red. "Our design is based on great respect for the historical space. From the beginning, we knew we would have to tread lightly around the original building. We want to supplement it gently, enrich it, but not disturb it. Some people find the shapes of the hall reminiscent of a film transformer, while others see a red crab that has space for music in its embrace. The chosen red color is archetypal with many other implications. It represents excitement and emotion, but also the machine aesthetics of the late 19th century," adds architect Petr Hájek.

"Petr Hájek's design perceives the insertion as an autonomous object. It fully respects the limits of heritage protection while also fulfilling acoustic, operational, and technical requirements for a top-tier concert hall for the music productions of the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra, as well as other groups and ensembles that will use this space not only for concerts. The Imperial Baths will open to visitors in June following a comprehensive and demanding renovation that has been awaited for more than twenty years," says Petr Kulhánek, Governor of Karlovy Vary Region.

Unique are also the acoustic properties of the inserted hall. The stage is equipped with a movable acoustic wall and adjustable rotating panels that can adapt the space to various sound requirements. Each side of the rotating triangles in the ceiling serves a different function. One absorbs sound, another reflects, and the third diffuses. This creates ideal conditions for performers and different forms of programs. The panels are additionally adorned with a delicate texture inspired by the morphology of the Slavkovský Forest. Classic audiovisual technologies are installed in such a way as to not disturb the overall impression. A significant part of the design also includes an organ, which will be installed later.

The grand opening of the Imperial Baths to the public will take place on June 17, 2023.