The repair of the water tower in Letná will cost 54 million CZK

Prague - The renovation of the water tower in Letná will cost 54 million crowns, of which 12 million will be contributed by the capital city. It will house a children's and youth house, a community hall, and one kindergarten classroom. Work will begin in November, and it is expected to reopen in a year, the Prague 7 district informed in a press release. The water tower was built from 1887 to 1888 and served for water supply for 25 years.

"After the construction work is completed, we will return the water tower to children and youth for leisure activities and club activities. In the extension of the tower, we will open a new kindergarten classroom," said the mayor of Prague 7, Jan Čižinský (KDU-ČSL). The district also aims to secure European funds for its construction.

The reconstruction project was created by the architectural office Petr Hájek Architekti. The plan includes modifications to both the exterior and interior spaces. In the newly equipped areas of the tower, there will be club rooms for the House of Children and Youth, as well as a tea room with a library. A multifunctional community room will be created in the former water reservoir space.

The extension of the tower was originally used for preschool education of children. Its roof will be covered with a rooftop garden and a wooden terrace. The surrounding area will also be modified, including repairs to the fence and the original historical pump. "The reconstruction chooses an extremely sensitive approach, all artistic and craft elements will be carefully restored," said deputy mayor Pavel Vyhnánek (Prague 7 for itself).

The neo-Renaissance water tower was completed in 1888 according to the project of architect Jindřich Fialka. The construction was realized by the company Karel Hübschmann and František Schlaffer. The tower was part of the water supply complex that supplied water to the upper part of Holešovice and Bubeneč. It was decommissioned from water supply operations in 1913.

Subsequently, apartments for waterworks employees were built in its various floors. Later, parts of the tower were used as storage. In the 1970s, the underground four-chamber cylindrical water tank and pumping station were demolished. The tower has been protected as a monument since 1992.