In Jablonec, an atypical extension of the museum has been completed

Jablonec nad Nisou - The construction of an atypical extension of the museum in Jablonec nad Nisou has been completed for 57 million crowns, shaped like a glass crystal. It will permanently open to the public only at the end of this year after the completion of a new permanent exhibition, which will require an additional eight million crowns. However, interested visitors may be able to access the three-story extension as early as May, as the museum would like to showcase the empty spaces for the first time during Museum Night. "It depends on how the measures related to the coronavirus will proceed, whether the museum will be open," said the museum director Milada Valečková to ČTK today.

According to the original plans, the extension, including the new exhibition, was supposed to be open since the end of last year. However, the construction was accompanied by complications, leading to several months of delays and an increase in costs of about five million crowns. "Construction work lasted almost two years," stated the museum's technical deputy Jan Pleštil. Nevertheless, the museum's management is satisfied with the results. "The extension is attached to the back side of the museum, which is not very attractive, where the façade is not very intricate, so it has been quite enlivened there and looks significantly more interesting," Valečková noted.

The project also included the revitalization of the park, which is now completed. "Our intention was not only to gain new spaces but also to contribute to improving the attractiveness of the museum and its immediate surroundings. Therefore, we also included the entire museum park in the implementation, which should become a relaxation zone and gradually also a glass gallery under the open sky," the director added.

The museum extension consists of three floors. The lowest level will serve as the technical background of the museum with storage, garages, a workshop, and air conditioning. The middle floor will house a permanent exhibition of Christmas ornaments upon completion, and the upper floor will connect freely to the current vestibule of the Art Nouveau building of the museum. It is designed as a multipurpose space. The first event there will be a presentation of lighting from June 20 as part of the exhibition of the International Triennale of Glass and Costume Jewelry.