Step inside the colossal brick edifice, a testament to Prague’s early 20th-century pursuit of sanitation. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Stará Čistirna odpadních vod, the Old Wastewater Treatment Plant, and it is a monument to a time when the city was grappling with the consequences of rapid industrialization. The construction of this plant was a monumental undertaking, driven by the pressing need to keep Prague’s Vltava River free of pollution. Before the Stará Čistirna, untreated sewage flowed unabated, posing a serious threat to public health. The city turned to the renowned British engineer, Sir William Heerlein Lindley, who had already designed innovative sewage systems for other major European cities. Lindley’s design capitalized on gravity, cleverly channeling the wastewater from the city through the intricate network of sewers to this site. The Stará Čistirna was innovative for its time, incorporating cutting-edge technology to remove impurities from the wastewater before it was discharged back into the Vltava. Now, venture down into the plant’s underground labyrinth. It is a fascinating world of brick vaults, machinery, and a glimpse into Prague’s sanitation history. The clinker brick vaults are intricately designed, with round openings meant to vent fresh air. The machinery, while mostly silent now, once buzzed with activity. The tour even allows you to crank a sluice gate that used to power a water wheel, a vital part of the plant’s ventilation system.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to