Hotel Thermal, Hotel in Tschechien
Hotel Thermal is a large concrete building in Karlovy Vary with a stark, block-like form and brutalist design. It opened in 1977 and includes multiple floors, an outdoor thermal pool, a cinema, and spaces dedicated to hosting film festival events.
The hotel was designed in 1968 and opened in 1977 after an architecture competition was won by the design duo Věra and Vladimír Machonin. It was part of a modernization project for the festival palace and built to house visitors attending the film festival.
The hotel is closely linked to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which takes place annually in the city. Its design and furnishings reflect the vision of 1960s and 1970s aesthetics, showing how people of that era imagined modern living.
The building is located outside the city center but is easy to identify and reach. Visitors should know that ongoing renovations are still in progress, so some areas like the outdoor pool may not be fully accessible at all times.
The concrete structure was conceived as a complete work of art with custom furniture and decorative elements designed by notable artists of the era. Many of these original details were lost or hidden over the years, but there is hope they can be restored during renovation.
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