The renewal of the Kyselka spa has focused this year on the Ott Pavilion and the Mattoni Villa

Kyselka - Extensive construction and restoration work at the site of the former Kyselka spa in Karlovy Vary has focused this year primarily on Otto's Pavilion, whose original copper cladding was stolen in the past. The restoration is financially demanding and it is also difficult to find craftsmen who master old roofing techniques. However, the non-profit organization Lázně Kyselka, which is working on the restoration of the spa area, has managed to secure artistic roofers for its project, said Miroslav Perout, the director of the company, to ČTK.

Otto's Pavilion was built in 1898. The original copper roofing that clad the building was gradually dismantled by thieves, causing leaks into the structure. "We have managed to find two artistic roofers and sheet metal workers who still know how to do it in the Czech Republic," stated director Perout.

Lázně Kyselka is working from archival project documentation and photographs taken during the removal of the old roofing. Based on this, experts are now creating production documentation for replicas. "It is a beautiful thing, but it is complicated because it is difficult. Craftsmen used to know how to do this, and we are essentially learning it," said Perout.

After World War II, the Mattoni company was nationalized, and the spa complex began to decline. Rescue work began in 2013. The Lázně Kyselka association received 1.1 million crowns from the Ministry of Culture for the restoration of the dome of Otto's Pavilion, but this amount only covers a third of the costs. Therefore, the company has submitted a request for an increase in funding.

Further significant work is ongoing at Mattoni's Villa, a prominent neo-Renaissance building and cultural monument. Craftsmen have built a provisional wooden roof covering there. The material is wood that can be reused after future dismantling. "We want to build on historical practices," explained Perout. "This provisional wood can be used in the future as wooden elements for the restoration and renewal of the Swiss Courtyard, to recycle the material, as builders did in earlier times," stated Perout.

The non-profit organization Lázně Kyselka would like to start the metal cladding of the main dome at Mattoni's Villa next year. It will also be necessary to utilize the expertise of artistic roofers there. This year, the Ministry of Culture did not approve funding for Mattoni's Villa. Therefore, the Lázně Kyselka company primarily relies on an annual donation of five million crowns from Mattoni 1873. The rest of the complex has been put on hold because there is no money for a total restoration. In the future, they plan to collaborate with a new museum curator to invigorate the houses and their parts with small thematic exhibitions.

Mattoni 1873, in collaboration with the Lázně Kyselka association, is striving to restore the buildings of the former spa with the aim of making Kyselka an attractive tourist destination. Six of the historic buildings are owned by Mattoni 1873, which has been renovating them since 2011. Since 2011, Mattoni 1873 has invested over 133 million crowns in the reconstruction and use of historical buildings in Kyselka.