The Žižkov Tower has been serving tourists and couch potatoes for 20 years

PRAGUE - The transmitter on Žižkov is one of the most prominent buildings in the capital city. Its height of 216 meters not only makes it the tallest structure in the metropolis, but its unusual architectural design also combines functionality with elegance. On November 24, it will be exactly two decades since the construction of the Žižkov Tower began.
The decision to build a new telecommunications center for Prague was made in 1978. The reason was the inadequate technical condition of the television transmitter that had been operating since 1953 at the Petřín Tower. An expert committee selected a location in Mahlerovy sady at the border of Vinohrady and Žižkov from a list of ten sites. This location guaranteed the best television signal coverage for the capital while being situated outside an air traffic route.
The design of the tower was created under the leadership of architect Václav Aulický in 1984. Along with engineers Jiří Kozák and Alex Bém, Aulický proposed a futuristically designed structure that most resembles a rocket ready for launch from a launch pad. Construction began in the fall of 1985 and culminated in the ceremonial opening of the observation tower on February 18, 1992. However, not everyone was thrilled with the new dominant feature of Prague. Residents of the immediate vicinity were particularly concerned about the negative effects of electromagnetic radiation. Others criticized the building for disrupting the city’s skyline with its dimensions.
The unusually designed tower is based on a triangular footprint, with steel columns of circular cross-section rising from its corners. Two of these, with a diameter of 4.8 meters, stop 134 meters above the ground. At the same height, the third, which is over one and a half meters wider, transitions into a high antenna extension. The top of the tower is located 474 meters above sea level. The structure of the tubes consists of a double steel wall filled with concrete. At the time, this was a unique technology, which its authors, along with the fiberglass cover of the antenna system, patented.
The architects conceived the tower not only as a purely technical structure but also as an observation tower. Therefore, at a height of 94 meters, there are three observation platforms from which visitors can observe not only Prague but also the countryside up to a distance of one hundred kilometers. With ideal visibility, one can see as far as Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, or Plzeň. Those willing to forgo approximately thirty height meters can enjoy the view from the restaurant windows. A pair of high-speed elevators transports visitors to both public access levels at a speed of four meters per second. The cabins on the uppermost level of the tower serve transmission equipment and its operators.
The tower's stability is ensured by a massive concrete slab buried deep below the surrounding terrain. Even so, the top of the building can sway more than one meter off its axis in strong winds. However, visitors to the observation tower need not fear seasickness, as the movements are barely perceptible in reality. This is thanks to a vibration damper, whose multi-ton pendulum can effectively stabilize the tower.
Since its opening, the building has undergone numerous changes. One of the less visible was the installation of a new platform for microwave connections at a height of 111 meters, necessitated by the continuously growing telecommunications traffic in 2001. In contrast, the installation of ten fiberglass babies by sculptor David Černý in the summer of 2000 made a noticeable impact. With a short break, perhaps for a diaper change, the giant toddlers continue to climb the tower to this day.