In Most, the long-awaited reconstruction of the Repre cultural house has begun

Most - The reconstruction of the Repre cultural house began today with a symbolic laying of the foundation stone. The largest investment in the modern history of the city will cost 785 million crowns, and the city hall will receive half a billion crowns in subsidies. Within three years at the latest, the building, which will house a library, planetarium, cinema, hall, and restaurant, will serve the public. According to critics, the project is insensitive and will destroy a valuable building.

The contract was won by the company OHLA ŽS, whose representatives signed a contract with the city today. "Now we will take over the construction site, the building will start to be cleared, and the overall reconstruction will be carried out according to the project," said Petr Zach, director of the Western division, to ČTK. "The actual work should start within two weeks, but since there is asbestos in the building, the technological process must be approved first, and hygienists will comment on it. We hope not to discover anything unexpected because the building dates back to a time when construction was done quite unusually. It is a complicated project, but our most experienced team is here,” he said.

The reconstruction begins six years after the start of the design work. "The project has not changed; as it was conceived, it should be implemented," said Miroslav Kroupa, the designer, to ČTK. According to him, it was crucial to preserve the mass of the building, that which is valuable. The owner had to come up with the usage for the irregularly shaped building. The green space in front of the building will be expanded, and water surfaces that have been discussed for a long time will be preserved. "This was the main wish of the author, Mr. architect (Mojmír) Böhm, with whom we consulted this matter from the very beginning," he stated.

Some residents of Most again opposed the reconstruction of the building without announcing an architectural competition. The city management argued that there was no reason for an architectural competition since the building's appearance would not change. The plan to move the library to Repre also faced criticism. The last meeting of the council ended in a political altercation regarding the investment, where a group of opponents of the reconstruction once again attended. Dissatisfied residents sent an open letter to the city with about 1100 signatures. Most has over 60,000 inhabitants. The repair of the building in the center has been in preparation by the city for several years. In the autumn, the public competition was announced for the third time.

The library will become the administrator of the entire building. "It will be a real cultural and educational center. The library will occupy a large part, but there will be a social hall for 800 people, where balls and concerts will be held, where we want to organize fairs, intergenerational meetings, and use it for commercial purposes, and there will be a restaurant and café downstairs," said Petr Petrik, the library director, to ČTK. He considers it beneficial that the library will be in the very center of the city. The library will need to hire employees for technical professions or for production and IT specialists.

The Repre cultural house is located in the center by the main street of Budovatelů, right next to the city hall. In 2010, the city sold the building for 28 million crowns. In 2015, the arbitration court declared the purchase contract invalid and identified Most as the owner. A demolition order had previously been issued for the building. The irregular building was constructed between 1972 and 1984 alongside the development of the new town. A copper sphere of the planetarium is on the roof. After the reconstruction, it will return along with the lighting fixtures and some artworks.