Věžový vodojem Water tower

Welcome to Opava, Part Předměstí. Stop for a second and look ahead. You're standing in front of a construction that may seem unusual at first glance, perhaps even a little mysterious. It's a tower water. Notice his strange form. It's not a massive wall, as we're used to with the old water tanks, it's a so-called open skeleton. You see the four strong pillars that hold the whole structure? It is this aerial appearance that is the most striking feature that welcomes you here.

Now let's go back more than a hundred years together to the period when Opava was changing and modernising. It was the year of nine hundred and seven. At that time, the city faced challenges that accompanied the growth of all the great centers of that time. The issue of hygiene and the collection of impurities needed to be resolved. That is when the construction of the main sewers of the sewerage system in Opava began. This ambitious plan was prepared by two distant engineers, Eduard Bodenseher and Rudolf Nemetschke. Their vision was to create a system that would ensure the purity and health of the people of the city.

This watercourse that you are now facing was part of this great plan. A few years later, nine hundred eleven years later, it was built by Ed. And here comes the most interesting moment. Notice the material from which the tower is built. It's reinforced concrete. At that time it was a completely modern and revolutionary material. This building was the first of its kind in the territory of the Czech Republic today built in this open reinforced concrete construction. Imagine what courage and technical skill builders had to have when they tried something that no one in our countries had ever built in this form.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and try to follow the building lines from the bottom up. Look at the base. The tower has a square plan, which makes it a stable base. See those four pillars? Watch them rise up and gradually converge together. This geometrical game creates a dynamic impression and directs your view to the top. At the end of these pillars there is a circular plate. This plate carries the tank itself, which is shaped like a cylinder. It is small, its volume is only 18 cubic metres, but it was completely sufficient for its purpose.

If you look up, you'll see the end of the tower. The tank is covered with a bell-shaped roof, which is increased by a lantern. This whole look is a typical example of technical Art Nouveau. Secese was a style that sought beauty in new forms and combined function with artistic approach. Here we can see that even a purely technical object, such as water, could have its aesthetic value. Engineers and architects did not try to hide the building, but instead showed its construction as part of beauty.

Perhaps you can think of a question as to why this water was needed at all and what it was used for. The answer will take us to nine hundred thirteen years, when the construction of a sewage treatment plant was completed. The water was not intended for drinking water for the inhabitants, but it provided supply of the dry cleaners with so-called utility water. It was therefore a purely technical tool without which the modern dry cleaners could not function properly at the time. It is fascinating to think that this elegant tower was basically the heart of a technical system that kept the city clean.

The key figures behind this work were Eduard Bodenseher and Rudolf Nemetschke. Although their names may not be everyone's home today, their work in Opava has left a trail that remains to this day. Thanks to their planning and courage to try new materials we can admire this unique piece of technical architecture today.

The interesting thing that may interest you is that this building was a real breakthrough in nine hundred and eleven years. At that time, the reinforced concrete was starting to promote itself in the industry, but using it for the open construction of the water tower was very brave. This tower thus served not only as a water supply, but also as a sorts technical experiment which proved that the new material is reliable and can also be beautiful.

For years, this building served its purpose, until it was finally recognised as an important part of our heritage. In the year two thousand and five, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic officially declared it a cultural monument. This step recognised its unique character and historical importance for the whole country. It is no longer just an old technical object, but a protected piece of history that tells of ambition, progress and courage in the early twentieth century.

If you look at the whole structure for the last time, try to perceive the atmosphere of this place. Předměstí Opava thus retains the memory of the time when it was believed in the endless progress of technology and when even the ordinary water tank could be a work of art. It's a silent testimony about how the city of Opava became a modern center.

Thank you for accompanying me to this brief interpretation. I hope you're interested in this extraordinary iron concrete skeleton and that you now see more than just old concrete in this tower. I invite you to explore further the surroundings and discover other hidden corners of our city. I wish you a pleasant continuation of your journey and a beautiful day in Opava. I'll say goodbye to you and leave you to enjoy this unique memory in peace.