Forty meters tall it proudly stands. The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e is a testament to Prague’s blend of industry and art.
Once a vital part of the city’s water system the Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e now serves a different purpose. Today it houses apartments.
Let’s delve into the story of this remarkable structure. The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e was built in 1882 in the Neo-Renaissance style. Anton\u00edn Turek designed it. It was part of a system supplying water to Kr\u00e1lovsk\u00e9 Vinohrady. The system included a waterworks in Podol\u00ed and underground reservoirs. A pumping station and this tower completed it.
The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e initially supplied water to Vinohrady. It also served \u017di\u017ekov Stra\u0161nice Vr\u0161ovice Nusle and Pankr\u00e1c. Imagine the tower bustling with activity. Water pumped to the top flowed down to homes and businesses.
Originally steam engines powered the pumps. Electric pumps replaced them after 1914. By 1962 the pumping station and tower were decommissioned. The tower then became apartments.
Look at the tower’s facade. Sculptures of trumpeting angels adorn the corners. Circular medallions display the Kr\u00e1lovsk\u00e9 Vinohrady emblem. Clocks face each direction with Roman numerals. Hainz’s electrically controlled mechanism operates them.
The top floor once had a viewing terrace. It offered views as far as the Krkono\u0161e Mountains. People paid a small fee. They even rented binoculars from an attendant.
The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e stands seven stories high. Its square layout and detailed facade showcase industrial art.
The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e became a cultural monument in 1991. Restoration in 1993 revitalized its sculptural details. The City of Prague now owns the building.
Note the tower’s division into three distinct levels. Once holding a 200 m3 cylindrical water tank it now offers modern living spaces. The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e stands as a proud example of repurposed industrial architecture.
As we conclude our visit to the Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e remember its dual life. From water supplier to residential building it remains a symbol of Prague’s evolving story. The Vinohradsk\u00e1 vod\u00e1rensk\u00e1 v\u011b\u017e blends history functionality and art.