The Ústí Region plans to renovate a historic villa in Ústí, which will house library classrooms

Ústí nad Labem – The Ústí region plans to renovate the historic Kindl Villa in Ústí nad Labem. The building is managed by the North Bohemian Research Library, which wants to establish a multicultural center in it, classrooms for virtual reality, and it will also be used for language teaching, as well as relocating the digitization center for the Ústí region here. The reconstruction follows on from completed work in the first phase of the European Library project. The plan was approved by the regional councilors.

The house, built in 1925 by architect Karel Kindl on a steep slope, is connected to a new depository that the library opened this February. Energy sources for the villa and its new extension are located in the basement. "The historical building is in a state of emergency. Since it is functionally linked to the depository, its renovation is necessary," said library director Jana Linhartová to ČTK today.

Repair costs are estimated at 61 million crowns. "We will now explore the possibility of utilizing grant titles so that we do not have to pay for the investment from our own funds," said councilor Tomáš Rieger (ODS) to ČTK. The library already has a valid building permit for the reconstruction. "The project for the renovation was ten years old, so we updated it and can start working. We believe a suitable grant will be found," the director stated.

The scope of the modifications includes a complete replacement of internal installations, façade, windows, and roofing, including static adjustments to the truss, the installation of an elevator in the stairwell, and drainage and insulation of the building. The implementation will include all surface modifications, flooring replacement, and refurbishment of internal doors.

The extensive building is not protected as a monument. "However, we are collaborating with Martin Krsek from the Ústí museum, who has studied the history of the villa. We want to create a space that reflects history while also being modern," the director noted. The ground floor will feature a foreign language literature department with an American library, while the basement will house a vault for rare prints and the entire digitization unit, which is currently in other spaces of the Ústí region. A large multifunctional hall and modern clubrooms will also be available to the public.

> Villa Kind (usti-aussig.net)