<Jablonec nad Nisou> will start this year with another phase of repairs to the functionalist town hall

Jablonec nad Nisou - Jablonec nad Nisou will begin another phase of repairs to the functionalist town hall later this year, for which the city hall has obtained a European grant for a project costing 21 million crowns. The granite cladding on the ground floor of the town hall is expected to be the first to be restored, and experts will also restore all the portals and the granite coat of arms of the city above the main entrance to the building, said city hall spokesperson Jana Fričová to ČTK today. The city is looking for a contractor for the contract worth nearly five million crowns, with the deadline for bids ending on May 11.

The Jablonec town hall, constructed from 1931 to 1933, is a national cultural monument. The building is an important example of Czechoslovak interwar architecture and the most famous work of Liberec architect Karel Winter. The city is gradually restoring it to its original state as it was when completed. "Renovation and repairs have been ongoing since 2012. My estimation is that it has exceeded 150 million crowns, with 99 percent funded by the city budget, and there have been minimal grants," added Mayor Miloš Vele (ODS).

"The new project addresses the issues of the current state of the town hall's ground floor, particularly the granite base and steel grilles," said Iveta Habadová, head of the city hall's grants department. The replacement of the main entrance doors, which are not original, is also planned. The city will have new ones made according to Winter's designs. There are plans to revise other doors, shop windows, and windows, as well as to modify and make accessible the terrace by the ceremonial hall. Jablonec has obtained 14 million crowns for the project from the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP), which is expected to be completed by 2028.

In recent years, the city has had the façade and windows repaired, and work is also being done in the interiors of the town hall. The transformation of the meeting rooms is the most visible, with, for example, the mayor's office returning to its original appearance. Much from the past has been preserved in the building; for example, workers discovered original sliding doors under the cladding of the representative hall that separated it from the neighboring lounge. The 1970s melamine also concealed the original oval table from hall 201. Tables, chairs, and even lighting have been replaced with replicas made according to the original designs by Winter.

According to secretary Marek Řeháček, the city is also preparing for a gradual renovation of the infrastructure, which is estimated to cost tens of millions of crowns. The water and sewer systems, in particular, are in poor condition. Many of them are original systems from the 1930s, with only a small portion replaced so far. "Most of the installations are beyond their lifespan," added Řeháček.