In Letná, a historical water tower will open, serving children

Prague - In Prague 7, Letná, a historic water tower will open after reconstruction. It will serve children, providing space for one class of kindergarten and a children's and youth center. The reconstruction began in November 2016 and cost the municipal district 62 million Czech crowns, of which 38 million was obtained from the capital city and European funds. This was stated today by the Deputy Mayor of Prague 7, Pavel Vyhnánek (Prague 7 for Us). The water tower, built in 1888, is a protected monument. Prague 7 has been preparing the reconstruction for several years. The current city hall leadership had the original project, which planned for commercial use of the tower, revised.

"After decades of various uses, the water tower was no longer in good condition. Our aim was to carry out a sensitive reconstruction that respects the character of the monument, the specific elements of the original architecture, and the requirements for the operation of facilities for children and youth. In addition to the tower and the annex, the surrounding area has also been modified, where, among other things, the original historical pump has been reconstructed," said Vyhnánek. The monument-protected pump, dating from the 1880s and originally located in Prague 2, has received a new coating and the municipal district is consulting with preservationists on the restoration of two lamps that were formerly part of it.

In the highest part of the tower, where the main water reservoir used to be, a social hall has been created. The hall also has access to an observation deck and a cabin, where a periscope will be placed in the future, allowing for a view over the high surrounding buildings and into the wide area. The periscope with a powerful telescope is currently being manufactured. The children's and youth center, which operated in the tower before the reconstruction, will return in the summer. There will be club rooms and a club library in the tower's floors. From September, a new kindergarten class for 22 children will operate in the adjacent building.

The reconstruction project was prepared by the studio Petr Hájek architects. "All layers of history from inception to the present have been preserved during the adjustments. We do not differentiate or categorize individual parts of the architecture but preserve them indiscriminately. The result is a building that together presents the quality of artistic craftsmanship and details from various periods. Here you will find a fluted window from the 19th century next to doors from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Aluminum windows from the 21st century, Bakelite, brass, and steel fittings," said architect Hájek.

The tower will be ceremoniously opened on Wednesday, May 30, at 5:00 PM. The municipal district has prepared a supplementary program with workshops for children. The first three weeks of June will feature guided tours and thematic children's workshops in the water tower.

The water tower in Letná was built between 1887 and 1888. The structure was part of a water supply complex that served the upper part of Holešovice and Bubenec. It was decommissioned from water supply operations in 1913. Since then, the complex has undergone several reconstructions, and only the tower has survived in its original form, which has been a protected monument since 1992.