The repairs of the municipal crematorium in Liberec are nearly complete

Liberec – The repairs of the city crematorium in Liberec are almost complete. The work has been carried out while in operation since last summer, when the city hall took the monument-protected building back under its management. According to Mayor Jaroslav Zámečník (SLK), the city has spent more than 15 million crowns on the repairs.

"We also want to build an elevator for the disabled so that they can more easily overcome the stairs that are there. This is probably the last major investment," said the mayor. The elevator is expected to be glass, and the costs for its construction are estimated at four million crowns.

The Liberec crematorium is the oldest in the country, built between 1915 and 1917 according to the design of Dresden architect Rudolf Bitzan. The first person to be cremated there was the Liberec citizen Robert Jahn on October 31, 1918. The crematorium has its current appearance from 1974, when the large ceremonial hall was reconstructed, both wings of the colonnade were glazed, and an extension with a new refrigeration room and a small ceremonial hall was built.

In previous years, the crematorium was leased to a private company, and the city hall took it back into its management on July 1st last year. "After taking over the crematorium, it was necessary to urgently repair the non-functional cooling technology and the damaged cremation technology," said David Novotný, head of the municipal property management office.

The building also suffered from leaks, and the roof was repaired in two phases last year and this year. "It will be completed by the end of July; only minor finishing works remain. The city spent about ten million crowns on the roof," Novotný stated. The reconstruction of the small ceremonial hall cost about three million; during the repairs, it regained its original architectural appearance from 1974. The hydraulics of the more than one-hundred-year-old elevator for transporting coffins to the catafalque in the large ceremonial hall also needed repairs.

In the year of functioning under the management of the city, the crematorium performed about 1800 cremations, with around 500 ceremonies. "Compared to previous years, there has been an increase. The previous tenant recorded between 300 and 400 ceremonies annually," added Novotný.