The extension of the hospital in Ostrov is the Building of the Year in the Karlovy Vary Region

Karlovy Vary – The extension of the new pavilion at Nemocnice Ostrov has won the main jury prize in this year's Stavba roku Karlovarského kraje competition. Among the projects, the jury particularly appreciated the design of the Kyselka Municipal Baths complex. In the voting for a rescued or in-progress historic landmark, the reconstruction of the rafter and roof of the fortress building in Pomezné won. The public voted the Use of the Princes' Palace for the Municipal Library in Ostrov as the Building of the Quarter-Century. The results of the competition were announced today by ČTK Regional Construction Association Karlovy Vary, which has organized the competition for 25 years.

The three-story cubic extension of the Ostrov hospital visually fits perfectly into the appearance of the surrounding complex. The pavilion, which will serve as a new psychiatric department, was built extremely quickly within six months thanks to innovative modularity.

The project to restore the former baths in Kyselka aims to attract visitors across generations and social statuses. On the northern side, there is a section designed for kayakers, of which about 50,000 pass through annually. In the center lies Vilemínin dvůr, which was built as a hotel during the First Republic and will also be restored as a hotel. Next to the hotel are Švýcarský and Jindřichův dvůr, where 40 beds in apartments for longer family stays are proposed. Surrounding this will be a public space with a landscaped park and a new pavilion that will cover the spring.

Among the buildings, the jury also praised the Construction of the Cultural and Creative Center Ostrov, the Reconstruction of the passenger building at the Františkovy Lázně railway station, and the Revitalization of the Mining House in Sokolov.

Awards were also given for projects such as the Design of the Karlovy Vary Social Services Center, the Air Rescue Service project in the Karlovy Vary Region, and the Urban Study of Svatava.

The Minister of Industry and Trade Award went to the new construction of the Carry Tech Industries s.r.o. complex in Toužim, the Karlovy Vary Regional Governor praised the Multifunctional Relaxation Park in Nová Role, and the Mayor of Karlovy Vary recognized the Building Modifications of the Library and the establishment of the Creative Center in Jáchymov.

This year, 14,880 votes were cast in public internet voting, with the most support in the building category going to Hotel Marshall Sokolov. Among the projects, the most votes were given to the Modernization of the Elementary Art School in Habartov.

This year, the public could also vote for the Building of the Quarter-Century. Among the winners of the competition over the last 25 years, the Use of the Princes' Palace for the Municipal Library in Ostrov received the most support. The project included the restoration of historical structures, the renovation of architectural elements, and the insertion of new interiors that meet the current demands of library services. The building contains reading rooms, study areas, sections for children, and spaces for cultural and educational events.