Liberec will soon start looking for construction companies to repair two historic buildings in the city. The cost of modernising the Warsaw cinema is estimated by the city hall at CZK 53.2 million and the conversion of the former Linsern foundry into a cultural and creative centre called Linserka at CZK 38 million. Both construction contracts were approved by councillors on Tuesday. Šárka Prachařová (ANO), the deputy mayor for strategic development and subsidies said yesterday. The town hall received European subsidies for both constructions, CZK 31 million for the Linserka and CZK 40 million for the listed cinema.
The Warsaw is the oldest stone cinema in Liberec. Its history has been written in the upper town centre since 1908. The original single-storey cinema was replaced in 1922 by a magnificent building in the then modern art-deco style. Subsequently, the building in Frýdlantská Street underwent several reconstructions and has had its present appearance since 1965. The cinema was threatened with extinction 16 years ago when the town hall closed it down due to lack of money for reconstruction and competition from multiplex cinemas. In 2014, however, a group of enthusiasts reopened the cinema and thanks to them, it is still screening to this day.
“It is only because the cinema is alive and has shown us that it can draw in its customers that we decided to modernize the cinema in this way, even though the building is ours,” Prachařová said. The city hopes to start the reconstruction of the cinema in the summer and it will take no more than a year. The building needs to repair the façade, deepen the first floor, build a new ceiling above it, stabilize the walls of the hall, replace the water, sewage, heating, electricity, and air conditioning systems, and repair the waterproofing and drainage system. The reconstruction also includes the construction of a new stage and screen structure.
The former foundry in Ressl Street, the last remnant of the factory complex founded in 1858 by Christian Linser, is also due for extensive reconstruction. Today it is a dilapidated building used only occasionally. “With the reconstruction project we will give this building the possibility of further functioning and we believe that it will find its place in the development of creativity and culture in Liberec,” said Prachařová.
The town house is awaiting a complete reconstruction, and the city’s ambition is to return it to the original atmosphere of the industrial building of the former factory. “I believe that when it is finished, it will create a completely unique creative space not only for young creators, artists or architects, but also a quality social and inspirational centre for the general public. I also hope that this is the first project that will become part of a significant transformation of the whole area around Papírového náměstí,” said Jiří Janďourek, Deputy Mayor for Architecture, Public Space and Transportation Construction (Mayors for the Liberec Region). This area has long been one of the most neglected places in the lower centre of Liberec, and the City Hall’s intention is to transform it into a creative and residential district in the future. The town hall plans to open Linserka next autumn after its modernisation.
Source: CTK
