Libor Šenekel (2nd year) - Vltava, island, islands, and public space

Václav Havel Memorial
The location of the project logically follows the basic places of Václav Havel's activities. The imaginary triangle formed by Havel's apartment on the embankment and the intellectually theatrical center of the artistic community, of which Havel was one of the main personalities for decades on the right bank of the Vltava River, and Prague Castle, where he served in his presidential role on the left bank of the river, represents the ideal intersection of all the life roles of the former president.
Václav Havel became an unforgettable symbol of resistance and human determination for many, reminding us that even one person is capable of great deeds. Just as today the memorial stands against the immense power of the water that tries to engulf it, Václav Havel once stood, along with many others, against the oppressive force of communism. The memorial itself is meant to evoke many feelings in people, to fascinate when viewed from the embankment, to instill fear and simultaneously courage when entering its interior among the mass of water, luring one step into the unknown. These feelings were not only experienced by Václav Havel but also by millions of people who joined the struggle against oppression and injustice. The memorial is a symbol of human determination, that even one person can change the course of history…..

Memorial in points:
The memorial is well visible from Prague Castle and the entire embankment, but its bottom can only be observed from Charles Bridge and the Legion Bridge.
Access is possible by a small boat; the entire vicinity of the Strelecky Island is a no-sailing zone, where only the movement of smaller boats and pedal boats is permitted.
The descent into the memorial is via a staircase made of a thin metal grid, thus preserving the architectural purity of the memorial. The lower walking line is made of the same material, slightly submerged under the water surface, creating the effect of walking on water.
The depth is determined by the height of the average person, so that a person passing through the interior of the memorial has the existing level of the Vltava at eye level.
Water flows into the memorial around its entire perimeter and subsequently drains through drainage openings that are connected to a piping system, which beneath Novotného Lávka leads the water back into the river. Each drainage opening is protected by a grid to prevent clogging. Novotného Lávka is an ideal place for discharging water due to the high difference in water levels without the use of other auxiliary devices. The place also offers a large reserve during increased flow of the Vltava.
Night lighting is provided by a strip of LED diodes, which is located at the point where the water hits the water surface inside the memorial; thanks to this positioning, the light spreads evenly across the entire waterfall.