nám. T. G. Masaryka 51 House

The former glass export house in the square of T. G. Masaryk 51 in Kamenický Šenov is a classic building in the Liberec Region in the district of Česká Lípa. The building built in 1772 is an example of a well preserved glass export house, which is characteristic of the historic building of the city. Since 30 December 2020, this building is a protected cultural monument.

This large building with a separate plan was built in 1772 by a merchant with glass Franz Zahn. Construction was carried out in the 1970s. At that time the Czech glass industry and the North Czech region experienced great economic development associated with glass exports to the whole world. In the Habsburg monarchy, the enlightened reforms of Marie Teresa and Josef II were taking place, which supported the expansion of crafts and trade. The original form of the house and its floor-plan track from the 18th century were preserved also on a map of a stable cadastral from 1843.

The Classicist building has undergone several building modifications during its existence. In 1902 the building was significantly transformed according to the plan documentation of local builder Adolf Richter. That's when the eastern risalite came to the house in a historic style. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, there was also construction of a northeast extension and a carriage station. There is a paved courtyard in front of the west front of the house. The northern part of the complex includes a small separate construction of the pram. The whole residential building is surrounded by a garden with a fence. In its southern part a historical sandstone suspect and entrance gate survived. Valuable structures include uniquely preserved built-in shelves in the attic storage area, original layout and historical fillings.

The first documented owner since 1772 has been the glass merchant Franz Zahn. Since the 19th century, the object belonged to the chandelier manufacturer Gustav Adolf Palme. The historical form and memorial files about the house were recorded by the local native Harry Palme. In the second half of the 20th century the house was divided into individual apartments. This resulted in insensitive modifications to the layout and exchange of a number of window fillings.

Among the key moments in the history of the building is the year 1772 when the original building was created. It is also the year 1902 associated with the port of eastern risality and modifications according to Adolf Richter. In the end, it is December 30, 2020, when the entire area was taken under state conservation. An important interest is the attic storage shelves associated with the former glass function of the house.

The building is located in the historical core of the town monument zone in Kamenický Šenov. The area is currently not open to the public. The house serves as valuable evidence of the gradual development of specific building practices and historical buildings in the area. It is therefore worth visiting it from the outside at least while walking through the square.