Podolská vodárna Waterworks

Welcome to Prague, in the Podoli section. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look around you. You are standing in front of one of the most important technical monuments of our capital, in front of the Podolskaya Water House. It is a place where the practical benefits of high art are met, where the industrial needs of the city have turned into an architectural gem. The first thing you're probably interested in is the massive presence of buildings that, both in size and in appearance, emit stability and importance. Can you feel the calm that radiates from this place even though it is in the very heart of a vibrating city? It's a space that reminds us of how vital access to clean water is to each of us's lives.

Let's go back more than a hundred years together. Imagine Prague in 1922. The city was going through a huge development at the time, the so-called Great Prague. With increasing population and expanding territory, it has become necessary to modernise and expand the entire water network. Old systems were no longer enough, and the city needed a modern solution that would provide enough drinking water for all citizens and for emerging suburbs. It was from this very site that the idea of building a new filtration station here, in Podolí.

This ambitious project was taken by architect Antonín Engel. He was a man who could combine technical functionality with aesthetic value. The construction was carried out between 1925 and 1929 and Kress from Prague was responsible for the construction itself. Imagine those years of work, the noisy machines and the thousands of bricks that lay in these walls. In 1929 the water plant was finally operational and began to perform its crucial task of filtering water from the river Vltava and its subsequent distribution to Prague households.

Now that you know the history of its creation, pay attention to the architecture itself. Look up. The whole complex is dominated by a high water tower that rises to a height of 45 meters. It is a symbol of the power of water and the technical progress of its time. The whole object is performed in the style of neoclassicism. Notice the clean lines, balanced proportions and nobility that radiates from buildings. It is not just an ordinary water factory, but a construction that was designed to decorate the landscape and represent modern Prague.

If you move now by looking at the south building, I suggest you observe the details that are really special here. The building is decorated with sandstone statues. It's an allegory that tells the story of water. You will see here the representation of the river Vltava and its ten most important tributaries. It's a fascinating detail that connects the technical structure to the nature and landscape from which the water comes. These stone figures remind us that water is not only a raw material in the pipeline, but a living element of the landscape that feeds and joins us.

Podolská vodárna was not a static piece. Her history continued after 1929. As the city grew further, the demand for water was also growing. Therefore, another technological building was built between 1956 and 1965, in which a second filtration station was created. This increased the capacity of the whole complex significantly so that the water plant could serve more and more people.

An interesting break occurred in 1992. At that time, it was decided that this unique building should not only serve as technical operation, but should also become a place of education and a monument for future generations. General reconstruction started here, thanks to which the Prague Water Museum was built. It's a place where today you can see inside the technology that remains hidden deep underground in our everyday life.

And here comes the most interesting part. You might think that a building this old is just a museum piece, a historical set. But Podolská vodárna is alive. It's an organism that still works. It underwent further modernisation between 2020 and 2021. The system has been added to the carbon filtration system, which is a modern water cleaning method that ensures its highest quality. and in June 2021, namely the 18th June, the water plant was put back into full operation. So it's a fascinating combination of 20th century architecture and modern technology today.

When you stand outside these walls today, feel the continuity. From the first plans of 1922, to Antonín Engel's visionary project, to today's days when water continues to flow from these buildings into our taps. It's a story about human effort, engineering and respect for natural resources.

Now let's invite you to explore the space more closely. Walk around the buildings, touch sandstone statues if you are allowed to, and feel the atmosphere of this place from Newmanna. If you have the chance, enter the museum space, where you will learn even more about how much water will travel from Vltava to your home. Take another look at the tall tower and imagine the role it has played in the life of the Pražans in the last ten decades.

Podolská vodárna is proof that technology may not be rough and gray, but may be beautiful and inspiring. We hope that you are interested in this short journey through history and that you will bear a sense of gratitude for every drop of clean water. We wish you a pleasant next tour and enjoy the rest of your day in beautiful Prague. Goodbye.