vodojem Něchov Technical monument

Welcome to Peacock. You have just stopped at one of the most important technical structures in this area, and now that you have headphones in your ears, you can perceive it not only through your eyes, but through its deep history. You are standing right in front of a monumental tower, which, with its height of seventeen meters, sticks to the sky and in its circular form seems very harmonious, even though it is made of such a firm material. Feel the power emanating from this building. It is a work that is not just a simple technical object but a symbol of progress and the engineering courage of its time. Look up and watch how this high construction stands out against the sky. Its presence here is not random, it is evidence of an effort to modernise and secure the basic needs of the people.

Now let's go deeper into the past together to understand why this object is standing right here. The water in Nochov was not built as a separate building, but as a key and necessary element of the bohemian group water pipeline. Imagine the atmosphere of 1927, when major technical projects began to take place in this part of the country, which were meant to fundamentally change the lives of local people. It was this year that Lanna Praha started to build this water tower. The aim was to ensure a stable and reliable water supply to nearby municipalities, which was at that time one of the most important tasks for developing infrastructure and improving hygiene conditions. The construction started in 1928, when the test operation started to verify that the whole technique and pressure of water would function exactly as planned. It was only in 1929 that the construction was officially co-ordinated and fully started to serve its people.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and to what you're seeing right now. If you look at the structure of this tower, you'll see something that was completely revolutionary at the time. It's a skeleton reinforced concrete structure on a circular plan. Feel the fascinating game between matter and space. Instead of being a closed, heavy khviiem, its skeleton form creates a more open and lighter impression, even though it is made of extremely solid reinforced concrete. This geometry, this circular shape, gives stability to the structure and also gives it aesthetic elegance. Feel the line of construction rising up and how this circular plan works with the surrounding space. It is a fascinating example of how new materials began to work in the first half of the 1920s and how engineering thought began to connect with modern architecture.

However, in order to fully understand the importance of this place, we need to look at the people behind this success. Behind this whole technical miracle were the great minds of the time. The architect František Doskok and engineer Oldřich Lebl designed architecture and technical solutions. It was the engineer Lebl who had expert supervision over the entire implementation, which was at that time absolutely essential to ensuring the quality of such demanding and precise work. These men were not just builders, they were visionaries, who had to calculate in every detail the strength of concrete and the stability of the entire 17-meter tower. Their names are now closely linked to this waterjet and their work is visible in every piece of this structure that has resisted the trials of time.

However, the history of this place has not always been about peaceful progress and technical perfection. If you look at the chronology of events, you'll see that this object has gone through some very difficult and dramatic times. After years of successful operation came 1945, which brought destruction to the whole country. Water was damaged as a result of the bombing. You can only imagine the uncertainty and concern about whether this symbol of modern engineering will ever be saved and whether it will only become a ruin. Fortunately, however, the resilience of this building and the efforts of people to save it have prevailed. After repairs and heavy repairs, the water line was successfully put into operation in 1952. This ability to survive the war and serve the community again gives this place special depth and weight.

It is interesting that this building was not only seen as an ordinary technical object for water supply. Its importance and architectural value were so high that in 2012 this building was officially declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This is proof that even things that have been created with primary purpose as practical machines can acquire the status of artistic and historical jewels of our national heritage.

We hope that this view of the water in Pekhov has enriched you with new insights into the history of technical progress and that you have been able to imagine the people and events that have left their mark. Feel the beauty of this structure and its continuing strength. We thank you for your visit and wish you a pleasant rest of the tour around. Goodbye.