MUZOOS is the name of the biggest project so far, which could not have been realized without the close cooperation of many people and institutions (more on History of the project).
The name carries the abbreviation of the subject of interest, i.e., extinct villages, settlements, and isolated places (ZOOS). By adding the letters M and U, it is intended to evoke the term museum while arousing curiosity and interest. The unusual name is meant to be exceptional, just like the content of this project.
However, it will not be a museum, but primarily a documentation center for extinct villages, settlements, and isolated places in the Bohemian Central Highlands, including structures that were not intended for residential purposes (e.g., excursion restaurants or lookout towers).
What is MUZOOS
MUZOOS is actually the name of the entire building, which will be created by reconstructing the existing House of Culture in Rýdeč, whose condition in June 2021 is visible in the adjacent photo (source: mapy.cz). In 2022, the façade of the gable wall was repaired, and in the summer of 2023, the façade facing the street was renovated, along with improvements to the area in front of the gable wall, including seating on benches.
MUZOOS will be a multifunctional building where, on the ground floor, currently unused spaces will house an interactive exhibition of the documentation center and a tourist information center. The existing restaurant and kitchen will be operated in a "new" spirit. The ground floor will also include shared sanitary facilities for both the documentation center and the restaurant.
On the first floor, the previously underutilized hall will be transformed into a multifunctional space suitable for lectures, seminars, exhibitions, as well as social events such as screenings, musical performances, balls, weddings, or family celebrations. The remaining space on the first floor will serve as a simple tourist hostel with shared sanitary facilities for all guests.
Landscaping will be carried out on the adjacent grounds, including the creation of a small parking lot. Plans also include a connection for one caravan with an emergency charging option for electric bicycle batteries, as well as a stand for charging electric cars.
The external appearance of MUZOOS should resemble the look of the building captured in a colorized photograph taken around 1910 while also incorporating contemporary elements. Similarly, the interior, except for the exhibition and sanitary facilities, should evoke the atmosphere of the first half of the 20th century but with a modern touch. This rather complex task is to be addressed by a study prepared by the architectural studio 3+1 architekti from Ústí nad Labem by the end of January 2024.
MUZOOS is located in Rýdeč, almost in the very heart of the Bohemian Central Highlands. Its position on a relatively busy road between Ústí nad Labem and Litoměřice makes it easily accessible by public transport. The road is maintained during winter.
The border of the Czech Central Highlands Protected Landscape Area is marked with a red line (source: mapy.cz).