The dilapidated spa in Jablonec nad Nisou will be revitalized by artists and craftsmen

Jablonec nad Nisou - A group of thirty artists and craftsmen will revitalize the dilapidated spa building and adjacent Tyrš Park in Jablonec nad Nisou. The aim of the project "Breath for the Spa," which will take place in the area on Saturday, August 3, is to draw attention to the problem of the long-unused and deteriorating Art Nouveau building of the former municipal spa. A free artistic reflection on the spa object may bring valuable suggestions for future use, said today Jakub Chuchlík (Pirates), the deputy mayor, who has taken patronage over the event.

The spa in the center of Jablonec was built from 1908 to 1909 based on a design by architect Rudolf Hemmrich. He is also noted as the author of the spa building in Nové Město pod Smrkem, and he designed a church in nearby Loučná as well as observation towers on Černá Studnice, Bramberk, and in Proseč. The spa was one of the first larger buildings that Jablonec financed at that time. However, its current appearance has been significantly altered by insensitive modifications in the 1960s, when the building lost its external stucco decoration. Many original elements such as windows, doors, and pavements have been preserved.

"There have been several attempts to revive the spa. The most notable from the city's perspective was the plan to create a library, which was ten years ago," Chuchlík said. However, the plan was abandoned, and the building remained unused until 2015, when the city reached an agreement on a lease with the ArtproProstor association. They held concerts and other events there for about two years. Everything came to an end when the building began to leak. "During the repairs, it turned out that the suspension of the arch is not in good condition and the structural engineer prohibited entry to the building," added Anna Strnadová from the ArtproProstor association.

According to a new assessment commissioned by the city, the condition of the building is not so bad. As a result, the ArtproProstor association was able to return to organizing events in the area and is collaborating with the city to find a new use for the abandoned building. "There are many perspectives and opinions on what should be created in them. We would like to hear and see as many of them as possible during one eventful day and at the same time energize and connect the cultural scenes of Jablonec and Liberec," said one of the organizers, Pavlína Mullerová, regarding the upcoming event. "Breath for the Spa" will not be the only event in the area; on Saturday, August 17, the audiovisual project "Monumentum" by Lenka Dusilová & VJ Aeldra will be presented there.