Prague has commenced the reconstruction of the lighting on Čechův Bridge

Publisher
ČTK
13.04.2022 17:00
Czech Republic

Prague

Jan Koula

Prague - The company owned by the City of Prague, Technology of the Capital City of Prague (THMP), has begun the reconstruction of the festive lighting on Čechův Bridge. Part of the works will likely include the restoration of the original technologies, which allowed the three-headed dragon sculptures to spout water and the female torchbearer sculptures to have gas burners in their torches. The head of THMP, Tomáš Jílek, told reporters on site today that workers are currently conducting an examination of the sculptures, which will determine the next steps.


Now THMP has started the reconstruction of festive lighting, which is found on the bridge as well as on dozens of other Prague monuments. "Čechův Bridge is the most illuminated bridge, with about 235 fixtures," Jílek stated. He added that part of them has already been replaced with LED fixtures in the past, and now all of them are to be modernized. At the same time, THMP technicians will be able to control the lighting remotely and monitor its status from a dispatch center.

The bridge was opened in 1908 and features bronze sculptures of three-headed dragons or hydras and female torchbearers with torches. According to Jílek, THMP plans to activate the original technologies in the sculptures, which allowed the hydras to spout water and the torchbearers' torches to function as gas burners. However, the director added that there is not enough information in the archives to ascertain the exact functioning of the technologies, and therefore an examination must first be conducted.

"We decided on an endoscopic examination using a camera on a flexible carrier inside the sculptures, to confirm whether we can find remnants of gas lines and water pipes. Only then does it make sense to start a discussion with the heritage conservationists," Jílek explained. He added that it is not clear from historical sources whether the technologies in the sculptures were ever fully operational. "There are speculations that part of the effect equipment remained only on paper," he said.

Councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09) added that the total costs for modernizing the lighting and restoring the sculptures will be about 16.5 million korunas. After the examination of the sculptures this year, a project will be developed, and their restoration will follow. "Some of them will need to be removed and restored in the conservator's workshop," he said, adding that it will take 14 months.

For work on the bridge, THMP uses a boat that they purchased for these purposes. "The bridge is extremely poorly accessible, and it does not have a service walkway. This is also one of the reasons why THMP purchased its own workboat. For example, on Charles Bridge, a large part of the conduits and fixtures is only accessible from the water," said the director.

Čechův Bridge was built between 1906 and 1908 according to the design of architect Jan Koula. The 169-meter long bridge connects the Old Town and Holešovice. It features three arch trusses on two piers and rich decoration consisting of bronze sculptures and reliefs. The bridge has been a protected monument since 1958.
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