{"id":21218,"date":"2022-12-13T19:36:12","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T18:36:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/2022\/12\/predstaveni-nekterych-vysledku-vyzkumneho-projektu-mapujici-vyvoj-staveb-vezovych-vodojemu-na-uzemi-ceske-republiky-2\/"},"modified":"2024-05-27T15:33:51","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T14:33:51","slug":"presentation-of-some-of-the-results-of-a-research-project-mapping-the-development-of-the-construction-of-elevated-water-tanks-in-the-czech-republic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/2022\/12\/presentation-of-some-of-the-results-of-a-research-project-mapping-the-development-of-the-construction-of-elevated-water-tanks-in-the-czech-republic\/","title":{"rendered":"Presentation of some of the results of a research project mapping the development of the construction of elevated water tanks in the Czech Republic"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABSTRACT<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

This paper presents a summary of\u202fsome of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>results of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research project, \u201c<\/span>Water towers \u2013 identification, documentation, presentation, new utilization<\/span><\/i>\u201d, (DG18P02OVV010), which has been implemented since 2018 as part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Programme for the\u202fSupport of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>applied Research and Development of\u202f National and Cultural Identity for 2016\u20132022 (NAKI II) of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Ministry of\u202f Culture of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech Republic. In terms of\u202fcontent, it follows on from articles from previous years published in this periodical, but clarifies and supplements the\u202fissues of\u202ftechnical terminology and typology established at its inception based \u2028on the\u202fknowledge gained during the\u202fproject. Furthermore, it presents general results of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>records of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>structures of\u202felevated water tanks and focuses on a\u202fbrief description of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>historical development of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these structures in our territory.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

INTRODUCTION<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

At<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research project \u201c<\/span>Water towers\u00a0 \u2013 identification, documentation, presentation, new utilization<\/span><\/i>\u201d (DG18P02OVV010) it was necessary to address the\u202fissue of\u202fdefining the\u202ftechnical terminology and typology of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>structures of\u202felevated water tanks. A group of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>authors elaborated and presented this topic in 2018 and 2019 in two issues of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>magazine VTEI [1, 2]. In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>course of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>project, a number of\u202fnew findings were attained, on the\u202fbasis of\u202fwhich some of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>technical terms were specified and the\u202fknowledge of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>typology of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these structures was expanded. This referred especially to a more precise delimitation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>object of\u202four interest \u2013 i.e. elevated water tanks, and determination of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time frame of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their construction.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>goals of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research project was to create records of\u202felevated water tanks. We have managed to localise almost 1,500 existing and demolished structures, the\u202fclassification of\u202fwhich is further described below. Thanks to the\u202fextensive research of\u202fstructures both in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>field and in archival and literary sources, we were able to fulfil the\u202fmain objective of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>project: to capture the\u202fhistorical, constructional, technological, and architectural development of\u202felevated water tanks in our territory in relation to various types of\u202fwater supply systems in which they served a variety of\u202ffunctions. A brief outline of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>development, which is part of\u202fthis paper, was created on the\u202fbasis of <\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>facts ascertained during the\u202fproject, and can serve as a summary for its more detailed elaboration in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>forthcoming book.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

METHODOLOGY<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Identification and localisation of\u202felevated water tanks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The first step in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research was the\u202fidentification and localisation of\u202fexisting and demolished elevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech Republic. The\u202fprimary source of\u202fdata and information when creating the\u202finitial records was mainly the\u202fweb database <\/span>Vod\u00e1rensk\u00e9 v\u011b\u017ee (Waterworks towers)<\/span><\/i> [3]. At<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>project there were 530 structures recorded, although these also involved structures which were not considered elevated water tanks according to the\u202fmethodology of\u202four project. These records were supplemented by the\u202fexcerption of <\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>database<\/span> Industri\u00e1ln\u00ed typologie (Industrial typology)<\/span><\/i> of\u202fV\u00fdzkumn\u00e9 centrum pr\u016fmyslov\u00e9ho d\u011bdictv\u00ed (Research Centre for Industrial Heritage), Pam\u00e1tkov\u00fd katalog NP\u00da \u010cR (Monument catalogue of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>National Heritage Institute of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech Republic) and others [4]. In addition, various map sources were used: <\/span>Z\u00e1kladn\u00ed vodohospod\u00e1\u0159sk\u00e9 mapy <\/span><\/i>\u010cR<\/span> (Basic water-management maps of <\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>CR<\/span><\/i>), publicly available maps from internet portals, and historic orthophotomaps [5]. Contemporary specialised literature, including regional and technical periodicals and newspapers, was also used [6]. The\u202fresults of\u202fprevious projects or research of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>members of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research team were also taken into account [7]. An important source of \u202finformation in terms of <\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>existence and location of\u202fstructures on railways were the\u202factivities of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a number of museums and interest groups focused on the\u202fhistory of\u202frailway transportation in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech Republic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Archival research activities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

We mainly used archival sources to obtain information about elevated water towers. In particular, this involved construction documentation and related files. They can be used not only to obtain awareness about the\u202fstructural form of\u202felevated water tanks but also information about who had each structure built and when, how it was financed, who built it and how, and how it was structurally transformed, etc. In addition, these sources often provide broader information about the\u202ffunction of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>whole complex of\u202fwhich the\u202felevated water tank was part.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Construction documentation of\u202fmunicipal elevated water tanks was searched for in fonds of\u202frelevant authorities. These are usually urban and municipal archival fonds and also fonds of\u202fdistrict councils. Here, depending on the\u202fnature of\u202findividual files, written sources are usually archived under the\u202fpressmark of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>water department. Another important source of\u202finformation was the\u202fagenda of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>awater management book and related collections of\u202fdocuments and plans, which is nowadays also archived in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>fonds of\u202fdistrict authorities. Documents of\u202fboth aforementioned fonds are now deposited in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>fonds of\u202frelevant State District Archives. In addition to this, construction files were also used; these historically originated under the\u202fresponsibility of\u202fmunicipalities functioning as construction authorities. Nowadays, they are usually archived in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>record office of\u202fcontemporary territorially competent construction authorities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction documentation related to industrial elevated water tanks was searched for mainly in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>fonds of\u202fdistrict councils, deposited in relevant State District Archives. Here, depending on the\u202fnature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>file, the\u202fdocumentation is usually archived under the\u202fpressmark of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>trade licensing department (exceptionally also of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction department). The\u202faforementioned agenda of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>water management book and related collections of\u202fdocuments and plans were also used. It was also possible to find construction and file documentation in archival fonds of\u202fgiven enterprises (stored in relevant State District Archives or State Regional Archives) and also in unofficial archives which were part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>heritage or originated by activities of\u202fowners or operators of\u202fgiven complexes and have not been shredded. When it was necessary, materials that historically originated under the\u202fresponsibility of\u202fmunicipalities functioning as building authorities were also examined.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The main source of\u202finformation about elevated water tanks on railways were archival sources from the\u202ffonds specialising in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction and operation of\u202frailway lines in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>territory of\u202f today\u2019s Czech Republic [8]. In some cases these were disorganised fonds requiring time-consuming research.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The main source of\u202finformation about the\u202ffew elevated water tanks used for agricultural operation built before the\u202fSecond World War were the\u202frecord offices of\u202fconstruction authorities. The\u202fmass construction of\u202felevated water tanks in agriculture only began in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>1960<\/span>s<\/span><\/sup> and information about them is usually traceable in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>fonds of\u202fdistrict national committees stored in relevant State District Archives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from construction documentation, a number of\u202fother archival documentation was also used and this helped us to also explain<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>economic-social context of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>origin and operation of\u202felevated water tanks in towns and villages. These are, for example, village chronicles, minutes from town authorities meetings, and station chronicles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>case of\u202fdemolished structures, archival documents are often the\u202fonly relevant sources of\u202finformation about the\u202fappearance and history of\u202findividual structures. In this respect, it was also important for us to track down their historical appearance, usually stored in photographic collections of\u202frelevant archives, but often also in regional museums, etc.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Field research<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>case of\u202fsome structures, field research was carried out. It was based, wherever possible, on the\u202fmethods of\u202fconstructional-historical research. The\u202fon-site research focused in detail on constructional and technological design of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>a structure and its spatial context, as well as on the\u202fidentification of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>wider context, i.e. knowledge about energy management, water sources and their subsequent distribution. Where possible, simplified documentation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>current state was created in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202f basic specialisation, including elementary geometric characteristics and photo documentation. In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>case of\u202fsome structures, their most frequent constructional-technical problems were analysed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY AND RESEARCH TOPIC DELIMITATION<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

In accordance with the\u202fproject results and existing laws and standards [9], we solely use the\u202fterm elevated water tank, which refers to structures consisting of\u202fone or more reservoirs. These reservoirs, which serve for water accumulation, are placed at a certain height on supporting structures which were constructed for the\u202fpurpose of\u202fbearing reservoirs, and the\u202freservoirs here serve one of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>defined functions of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>elevated water tank [10]. They also include structures which could have been created by construction intervention into the\u202fstructural design of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>original elevated structure with the\u202fclear aim of converting it into an elevated water tank [11].<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These are also multi-purpose structures which, apart from the\u202ffunction of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>an elevated water tank, also serve different functions unrelated to the\u202fwaterworks operation, and which were designed and subsequently (not necessarily at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>same time) constructed as one elevated structure. At<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>same time, there must be a\u202fcondition fulfilled that this operation itself would require another elevated structure. The\u202fassessment of\u202fmulti-purpose structures requires an individual approach.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In some factories \u2013 especially textile ones \u2013 we can see a reservoir placed above the\u202froof in a separate part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>building. There was a fire escape staircase situated in this building which connected individual floors of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>operation and the\u202fwater accumulated in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>reservoir was also mostly used for fire-fighting purposes. These structures do not correspond to our definition of\u202fmulti-purpose structures (a staircase as such is not a tower-like structure by its nature) and with regard to the\u202flocation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>reservoir on a structure which was not primarily designed to bear it, it does not correspond to the\u202fdefinition of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>an elevated water tank either, so we did not deal with them further.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not even reservoirs which are situated either directly on roofs of\u202fstructures (usually factories) or above their roofs on low elevated structures are considered as elevated water tanks because the\u202fpredominant structures under them are not primarily designed to bear them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An important task of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research was to state clearly from what period elevated structures of\u202fwaterworks systems could be considered as elevated water tanks. As early as in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>first half of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>15<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> century, towers with reservoirs on top floors were documented in waterworks systems, into which water was driven by piston pumps and then flowed gravitationally to public fountains or private houses [12]. However, the\u202fvolume of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these reservoirs was small without any space for creating any reserve [13]. Therefore they did not enable the\u202fsupply of\u202fwater in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>case of\u202funexpected situations, which could have included failures of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a water wheel, pumping equipment, or discharge piping. The\u202fconstruction of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>tower was also designed mainly with regard to ensuring the\u202fstatics of\u202frelatively tall buildings, although the\u202fsmall volume of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>reservoir itself\u00a0<\/span>usually did not pose a major problem for its load-bearing capacity and stability. Water towers, which from the\u202faforementioned period supplemented the\u202fpanorama of\u202fmany Czech towns <\/span>(Fig. 1)<\/span><\/i>, served only a pressure function within<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>distribution networks and we do not classify them as elevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>scope of\u202four research.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h6>\n
Fig. 1. Old Town Water Tower, which was mentioned as early as in the 15th<\/sup> century, forms an inseparable part of the panorama of the right Vltava riverbank (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/h6>\n

The same happened with towers which had been constructed for purposes other than waterworks, for example as defence towers in town fortification systems. Some of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>them had reservoirs integrated into them after their original function had ceased, which thus became part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>water supply system. These structures were not built for the\u202fpurpose of\u202fbearing reservoirs and these, due to their small capacity, provided only sufficient water pressure in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>pipeline, therefore these structures are not considered elevated water tanks either.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elevated water tanks were mentioned for the\u202ffirst time in connection with the\u202fconstruction of\u202fsteam-powered railways at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>end of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>first half of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup>\u202fcentury. To operate steam locomotives it was necessary to ensure a\u202fsufficient amount of\u202fwater. Filling their storage tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>station by pumping would take too long and would disrupt the\u202ftraffic flow. Therefore it was necessary to create a corresponding supply of\u202fwater in another way at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>location of\u202flocomotive water-filling. As a result, such structures started to be built in those floors where there was a storage reservoir as a source of\u202fimmediately available water.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In connection with elevated water tanks for the\u202fneeds of\u202fsteam locomotives, we have made a slight change in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>terminology suggested in 2018. At that time we started to use the\u202fterm railway elevated water tank. But after having examined these structures carefully, we stopped using this term. Water accumulated in elevated water tanks on the\u202frailway was used not only for filling steam locomotives but in some complexes with a similar kind of\u202foperation it was used for washing vehicles, washing locomotive boilers out, or for extinguishing purposes, and drinking water was accumulated here too. There were several ways water could have been used and to simplify the\u202fterminology of such an elevated water tank to just a railway elevated water tank would be imprecise and confusing. Therefore, we use the\u202fterm elevated water tank and add a more detailed specification indicating what purpose the\u202faccumulated water was used for if this information is available. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Basic data from the\u202frecords of\u202felevated water tanks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Within<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research and localisation, almost 1,500 existing and demolished structures of\u202felevated water tanks have been recorded. 517 structures in total have been classified as systems supplying populations with water, out of\u202fwhich 475 structures still exist. For the\u202fneeds of\u202findustrial complexes, 246 structures have been localised, out of\u202fwhich 156 structures exist. In agricultural complexes, a total number of\u202f206 elevated water tanks have been identified, out of\u202fwhich 189 still exist. For the\u202fneeds of\u202frailway operations, a total amount of\u202f525 elevated water tanks have been recorded. Given the\u202ffact that<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>steam power operation was terminated in our country in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>1970<\/span>s<\/span> and 1980<\/span>s<\/span><\/sup> and a lot of\u202fnon-functional structures [14] have already been demolished, 316 of \u202fwhich have been preserved so far [15].<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The construction of\u202fstandardised spherical elevated water tanks (called Hydroglobes and Aknaglobes) was quite a significant phenomenon in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>field of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of\u202felevated water tanks. The\u202fimportation of\u202fHydroglobes (<\/span>Fig. 21<\/span><\/i>) started in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>middle of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>1960<\/span>s<\/span><\/sup> from the\u202fHungarian People\u2019s Republic and about 200 of <\/span>\u202f<\/span>these elevated water tanks were set up. At first, they were used for the\u202fneeds of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>agricultural complexes, later they were integrated also into waterworks systems, supplying population and complexes of\u202findustrial enterprises with water. Subsequently, they were supplemented with similar types of\u202fstructures, Aknaglobes, of\u202fwhich about 250 were constructed. Approximately one third of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>all recorded elevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>territory of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech Republic are formed by these standardised steel structures.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outline of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>historical overview of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>development of elevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>tracked period<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Fig. 2. The oldest preserved elevated water tank in our territory was built at the railway station in Rajhrad in 1838 (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/h6>\n

Modern reinforced concrete started to be used quite slowly on railways. With the\u202fexception of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a unique structure of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>elevated water tank in Bohum\u00edn, built in 1907 (<\/span>Fig. 3<\/span><\/i>), it became increasingly popular only during the\u202f1920<\/span>s<\/span>. Its introduction to railways first brought a new solution for the\u202faccumulation of\u202fwater in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202ftwo concentric cylindrical reservoirs with a flat bottom and a thin-walled shell. Later, it also expanded into the\u202fsupporting structures designed on a circular ground plan in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202fclosed skeleton systems in already completely separate buildings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 3. Bohum\u00edn elevated water tank is the first documented example of the use of reinforced concrete for these railway structures (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/h6>\n

Elevated water tanks have played an important role since the\u202f1880<\/span>s<\/span>, especially in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of\u202furban water supply systems and industrial plants. Their construction took place at these sites until the\u202fSecond World War.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Great emphasis was placed on the\u202farchitectural design of\u202felevated water tanks in towns in particular. Elevated water tanks became symbols of\u202ftechnical advancement and their appearance was to correlate with the\u202fmost significant buildings of\u202ftowns (their vertical form also usually became a new part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>town panorama). Development and methods of\u202fuse of\u202fbuilding materials, hand in hand with influences and transformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>turn of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> and 20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup>\u202fcenturies, gave rise to a wide range of\u202felevated water tanks of\u202fgreat value. Their appearance was often formed by prominent architects and builders of\u202fthat time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The architecture of\u202felevated water tanks in towns thus took on a natural form based on historicising styles, especially Neo-Renaissance, which created the\u202fappearance of\u202fmodern towns at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>end of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/span> century (<\/span>Fig. 4<\/span><\/i>). However, the\u202fexternal appearance of\u202felevated water tanks and the\u202fsearch for their morphology were not autotelic at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their construction. They emerged from the\u202fspecial nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their new purpose, which was the\u202faccumulation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>amount of\u202fwater at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>height of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 4. The Neo-Renaissance elevated water tank of the former Kr\u00e1lovsk\u00e9 Vinohrady aqueduct is still a prominent feature of this part of the city of Prague (Archive of R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/h6>\n

The construction design of\u202felevated water tanks and their appearance were closely related to the\u202fshape of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>reservoir, the\u202fmaterial used for its production, and the\u202fway it is placed on the\u202fsupporting structure. Circular steel reservoirs with a flat bottom used for the\u202foldest elevated water tanks were placed on beams anchored in load-bearing walls onto which they transferred their load, and thus the\u202fconstruction design corresponded to the\u202fdesign of\u202felevated water tanks of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time \u2013 prismatic structures on a square ground plan without a necessary extended upper space with the\u202freservoir. The\u202fdesign of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their facades could thus easily be adapted to the\u202farchitectural trends of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When, at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> century, steel tanks constructed according to Professor Otto Intze\u2019s patent [17] began to be used, the\u202fresult was the\u202fnarrowing of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure and thus the\u202ftechnical nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>silhouettes of\u202felevated water tanks was accentuated for the\u202ffirst time when the\u202fground plan of\u202fits floor with the\u202freservoir exceeded the\u202fsupporting part (<\/span>Fig.\u202f5<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 5. Libe\u0148 elevated water tank from 1904, with the characteristic extension of the shell around the Intze reservoir (Archive of R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/h6>\n

Outline of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>historical overview of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>development of elevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>tracked period<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The oldest elevated water tanks appeared in our territory in 1838 [16], when the\u202ffirst steam-powered railway was put into operation in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech lands between B\u0159eclav and Rajhrad (<\/span>Fig. 2<\/span><\/i>). The\u202frapid development of\u202frailway transportation caused their number to increase and these structures to be modernised, especially with respect to the\u202fapplication of\u202fnew trends in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>material and structural design of\u202freservoirs and methods of\u202fwater pumping. The\u202fuse of\u202fbricked buildings with steel reservoirs with a flat and suspended bottom and the\u202fstandardisation of\u202fbuildings (including their equipment), which, moreover, often took over the\u202farchitecture of\u202fother buildings within<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>station or the\u202fwhole railway, was typical for this period. While the\u202foldest of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>them were still built in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles of\u202fEmpire and then Classicism, later on buildings started to appear reflecting historicist approaches. Their design included a wide range of\u202fstructures, ranging from architecturally sophisticated objects to more austere structures built in a generally accepted style.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Modern reinforced concrete started to be used quite slowly on railways. With the\u202fexception of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a unique structure of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>elevated water tank in Bohum\u00edn, built in 1907 (<\/span>Fig. 3<\/span><\/i>), it became increasingly popular only during the\u202f1920<\/span>s<\/span>. Its introduction to railways first brought a new solution for the\u202faccumulation of\u202fwater in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202ftwo concentric cylindrical reservoirs with a flat bottom and a thin-walled shell. Later, it also expanded into the\u202fsupporting structures designed on a circular ground plan in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202fclosed skeleton systems in already completely separate buildings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elevated water tanks have played an important role since the\u202f1880<\/span>s<\/span><\/sup>, especially in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of\u202furban water supply systems and industrial plants. Their construction took place at these sites until the\u202fSecond World War.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Great emphasis was placed on the\u202farchitectural design of\u202felevated water tanks in towns in particular. Elevated water tanks became symbols of\u202ftechnical advancement and their appearance was to correlate with the\u202fmost significant buildings of\u202ftowns (their vertical form also usually became a new part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>town panorama). Development and methods of\u202fuse of\u202fbuilding materials, hand in hand with influences and transformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>turn of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/span> and 20<\/span>th<\/span>\u202fcenturies, gave rise to a wide range of\u202felevated water tanks of\u202fgreat value. Their appearance was often formed by prominent architects and builders of\u202fthat time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The architecture of\u202felevated water tanks in towns thus took on a natural form based on historicising styles, especially Neo-Renaissance, which created the\u202fappearance of\u202fmodern towns at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>end of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/span> century (<\/span>Fig. 4<\/span><\/i>). However, the\u202fexternal appearance of\u202felevated water tanks and the\u202fsearch for their morphology were not autotelic at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their construction. They emerged from the\u202fspecial nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their new purpose, which was the\u202faccumulation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>amount of\u202fwater at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>height of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The construction design of\u202felevated water tanks and their appearance were closely related to the\u202fshape of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>reservoir, the\u202fmaterial used for its production, and the\u202fway it is placed on the\u202fsupporting structure. Circular steel reservoirs with a flat bottom used for the\u202foldest elevated water tanks were placed on beams anchored in load-bearing walls onto which they transferred their load, and thus the\u202fconstruction design corresponded to the\u202fdesign of\u202felevated water tanks of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time \u2013 prismatic structures on a square ground plan without a necessary extended upper space with the\u202freservoir. The\u202fdesign of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their facades could thus easily be adapted to the\u202farchitectural trends of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When, at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> century, steel tanks constructed according to Professor Otto Intze\u2019s patent [17] began to be used, the\u202fresult was the\u202fnarrowing of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure and thus the\u202ftechnical nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>silhouettes of\u202felevated water tanks was accentuated for the\u202ffirst time when the\u202fground plan of\u202fits floor with the\u202freservoir exceeded the\u202fsupporting part (<\/span>Fig.\u202f5<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outline of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>historical overview of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>development of elevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>tracked period<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The oldest elevated water tanks appeared in our territory in 1838 [16], when the\u202ffirst steam-powered railway was put into operation in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech lands between B\u0159eclav and Rajhrad (<\/span>Fig. 2<\/span><\/i>). The\u202frapid development of\u202frailway transportation caused their number to increase and these structures to be modernised, especially with respect to the\u202fapplication of\u202fnew trends in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>material and structural design of\u202freservoirs and methods of\u202fwater pumping. The\u202fuse of\u202fbricked buildings with steel reservoirs with a flat and suspended bottom and the\u202fstandardisation of\u202fbuildings (including their equipment), which, moreover, often took over the\u202farchitecture of\u202fother buildings within<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>station or the\u202fwhole railway, was typical for this period. While the\u202foldest of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>them were still built in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles of\u202fEmpire and then Classicism, later on buildings started to appear reflecting historicist approaches. Their design included a wide range of\u202fstructures, ranging from architecturally sophisticated objects to more austere structures built in a generally accepted style.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Modern reinforced concrete started to be used quite slowly on railways. With the\u202fexception of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a unique structure of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>elevated water tank in Bohum\u00edn, built in 1907 (<\/span>Fig. 3<\/span><\/i>), it became increasingly popular only during the\u202f1920<\/span>s<\/span>. Its introduction to railways first brought a new solution for the\u202faccumulation of\u202fwater in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202ftwo concentric cylindrical reservoirs with a flat bottom and a thin-walled shell. Later, it also expanded into the\u202fsupporting structures designed on a circular ground plan in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of\u202fclosed skeleton systems in already completely separate buildings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elevated water tanks have played an important role since the\u202f1880<\/span>s<\/span><\/sup>, especially in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of\u202furban water supply systems and industrial plants. Their construction took place at these sites until the\u202fSecond World War.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Great emphasis was placed on the\u202farchitectural design of\u202felevated water tanks in towns in particular. Elevated water tanks became symbols of\u202f technical advancement and their appearance was to correlate with the\u202fmost significant buildings of\u202ftowns (their vertical form also usually became a new part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>town panorama). Development and methods of\u202fuse of\u202fbuilding materials, hand in hand with influences and transformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>turn of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> and 20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup>\u202fcenturies, gave rise to a wide range of\u202felevated water tanks of\u202fgreat value. Their appearance was often formed by prominent architects and builders of\u202fthat time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The architecture of\u202felevated water tanks in towns thus took on a natural form based on historicising styles, especially Neo-Renaissance, which created the\u202fappearance of\u202fmodern towns at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>end of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>19<\/span>th<\/span> century (<\/span>Fig. 4<\/span><\/i>). However, the\u202fexternal appearance of\u202felevated water tanks and the\u202fsearch for their morphology were not autotelic at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their construction. They emerged from the\u202fspecial nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their new purpose, which was the\u202faccumulation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>amount of\u202fwater at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>height of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The construction design of\u202felevated water tanks and their appearance were closely related to the\u202fshape of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>reservoir, the\u202fmaterial used for its production, and the\u202fway it is placed on the\u202fsupporting structure. Circular steel reservoirs with a flat bottom used for the\u202foldest elevated water tanks were placed on beams anchored in load-bearing walls onto which they transferred their load, and thus the\u202fconstruction design corresponded to the\u202fdesign of\u202felevated water tanks of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time \u2013 prismatic structures on a square ground plan without a necessary extended upper space with the\u202freservoir. The\u202fdesign of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their facades could thus easily be adapted to the\u202farchitectural trends of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When, at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> century, steel tanks constructed according to Professor Otto Intze\u2019s patent [17] began to be used, the\u202fresult was the\u202fnarrowing of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure and thus the\u202ftechnical nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>silhouettes of\u202felevated water tanks was accentuated for the\u202ffirst time when the\u202fground plan of\u202fits floor with the\u202freservoir exceeded the\u202fsupporting part (<\/span>Fig.\u202f5<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The\u202ftransformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>technology of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>most important functional part of\u202felevated water tanks \u2013 their reservoirs \u2013 thus also originated the\u202fbeginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>transformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>understanding of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>external presentation of\u202felevated water tanks as purely technical structures. Hand in hand with the\u202ftransformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>approach to architecture and the\u202frelated transformation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles (especially with the\u202fadvent of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>art Nouveau), the\u202fdecorative and artistic representation of\u202felevated water tanks gradually faded away, and their appearance took on simpler forms which underlined their real purpose (<\/span>Fig. 6<\/span><\/i>). The\u202ftechnical nature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these structures was accentuated by the\u202fausterity of\u202ffacades and practical design solutions, even before modern architectural trends which held an approach in which form followed the\u202ffunction were fully reflected in our country.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 6. The shape of the elevated water tank in T\u0159ebo\u0148 was designed by architect Jan Kot\u011bra, who was also in charge of the design of the elevated water tank of Vr\u0161ovice waterworks in Prague-Michle (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/h6>\n

The emergence of\u202fmodern building materials, especially reinforced concrete [18], at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup> century helped to gradually transform existing architectural forms. In fact, reinforced concrete immediately started to be used for all construction parts of\u202felevated water tanks. The\u202ffirst use of\u202freinforced concrete as the\u202fexclusive material in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>an entire elevated water tank in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>urban environment in our country is paradoxically also connected with the\u202fuse of\u202fopen Art Nouveau architecture, which led to its somewhat bizarre appearance (<\/span>Fig. 7<\/span><\/i>). However, later constructions can be characterised by more austere forms. In contrast to the\u202fconstruction of\u202fwater tanks in industrial complexes or as parts of\u202fwater supply systems financed by industrial plants for their working-class housing, in our urban environment there are no documented elevated water tanks with open reinforced concrete supporting structures. Water tanks thus always became part of\u202fsophisticated architectural design only in connection with brick lining (<\/span>Fig. 8<\/span><\/i>) or, less frequently, in combination with independent supporting pillars and a closed connecting shaft (<\/span>Fig. 9<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 7. The oldest preserved reinforced concrete elevated water tank in an urban environment was built in Pardubice in 1907 (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 8. Elevated water tank in Kol\u00edn, designed by architect Franti\u0161ek Janda in a functionalist style (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 9. Combined load-bearing structure of the elevated water tank in Chrast (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/h6>\n

A slightly different development can be observed in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>case of\u202fwater tanks built for the\u202fneeds of\u202findustrial complexes, although even here we can find some common features. To put it simply, even in industry the\u202fshape of\u202felevated water tanks was logically also influenced by the\u202fform of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>functional essence of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>structure \u2013 the\u202freservoir. The\u202foldest elevated water tanks in industrial complexes documented from the\u202fturn of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>1880<\/span>s<\/span> and 1890<\/span>s<\/span><\/sup> were thus constructed as masonry buildings (plastered or with facing masonry and the\u202fappearance reflecting either contemporary architectural styles or the\u202fnature of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>premises) with steel reservoirs and flat or suspended bottoms (<\/span>Fig. 10<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 10. One of the first elevated water tanks built in industrial complexes was Rudolf R\u00fctgers\u2019s tar processing plant in Z\u00e1b\u0159eh nad Odrou (today part of Ostrava) [19]<\/h6>\n

Elevated water tanks in industrial complexes usually also had an architectonic form which often reflected the\u202fappearance of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>factory premises, especially if the\u202fwater tanks were an integral part of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>complex. In spite of\u202fthat, it was in this area \u2013 which was logical \u2013 where the\u202ftrend of\u202futilitarisation manifested itself much earlier than in others and was influenced mainly by the\u202fuse of\u202freinforced concrete and technologies which, thanks to this material, allowed the\u202fdesign of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>supporting structure in a specific way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The emergence, or establishment, of\u202freinforced concrete occurred much faster in industrial complexes than in towns (<\/span>Fig. 11<\/span><\/i>). Although even among industrial elevated water tanks we can find examples where the\u202fsupporting structures from reinforced concrete were finished by masonry, much more often can we see uncovered open beam structures whose austere appearance complemented their utilitarian use of\u202fbearing the\u202freservoir with water usable for industrial operation or production (<\/span>Fig. 12<\/span><\/i>). This type of\u202fconstructional design can therefore be encountered exclusively in industry, although several of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these elevated water tanks were built outside factory complexes as well. These were structures built for the\u202fneeds of\u202femployees\u2019 housing. An example is an elevated water tank in a housing area called Kanada, built by T\u0159inec Iron and Steel Works.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/h6>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/h6>\n
Fig. 11. The oldest elevated water tank in our territory, during the construction of which reinforced concrete was used, was located in Hole\u0161ice from 1905 [20]<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 12. The elevated water tank of the former glass factory in B\u00edlina-Chude\u0159ice is an example of the use of a subtle open reservoir-bearing structure (Photo: M. Postl)<\/h6>\n

A similar approach can be seen in structures whose reservoir was supported by steel truss beams or rolled profiles.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In industrial complexes we can also find reinforced concrete elevated water tanks with a combined constructional design where the\u202fopen part is\u00a0<\/span>complemented by a closed central shaft. The\u202foldest preserved structure of\u202fthis kind is an elevated water tank built in 1909 for the\u202fneeds of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a nearby brewery in Vlk\u00fd\u0161, in today\u2019s cadastre of\u202fHe\u0159manova Hu\u0165 (<\/span>Fig. 13<\/span><\/i>). In subsequent years, the\u202fvillage was expanding and today the\u202fwater tank is part of\u202fits built-up area of\u202findependent houses and blocks of\u202fflats. The\u202fsign \u201cBRAUEREI WILKISCHEN\u2019\u2019 on the\u202freservoir shell reminds us of\u202fits industrial past. This structure, which was out of\u202foperation for a long time, underwent reconstruction and today it serves as a\u202flookout tower accessible to the\u202fpublic. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 13. The reinforced concrete elevated water tank in He\u0159manova Hu\u0165 \u2013 Doln\u00ed Seky\u0159any was rebuilt as a lookout tower and is accessible to the public (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/h6>\n

Such trends in industry continued to occur simultaneously until the\u202fSecond World War, and none of <\/span>\u202f<\/span>these approaches ever prevailed against the\u202fothers. In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>1920<\/span>s<\/span> and 1930<\/span>s<\/span> we can still come across purely utilitarian (<\/span>Fig. 14<\/span><\/i>) and architecturally more sophisticated implementations of\u202felevated water tanks (<\/span>Fig. 15<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 14. An elevated water tank for the Michelin tyre factory in Prague-Z\u00e1b\u011bhlice was built in a purely utilitarian style [21]<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 15. The elevated water tank in Ostrava-Mari\u00e1nsk\u00e9 Hory is united with the surrounding buildings by a reinforced concrete skeleton with a combination of plastered surfaces, faced masonry, and openwork motifs (Photo: R. Pol\u00e1\u0161ek)<\/h6>\n

The multi-purpose structures of\u202fchimney water tanks [22], which started to be built in factory complexes at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span> century, acquired a\u202fvery specific form of\u202fsteel reservoirs based on the\u202fdesign of\u202fProfessor Otto Intze\u2019s reservoirs and reinforced concrete reservoirs in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>shape of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a cylindrical or cone placed on a narrower base (<\/span>Fig. 16<\/span><\/i>). The\u202fbiggest motivation for their construction was mainly to save financial costs compared to the\u202fconstruction of\u202fseparate elevated water tanks with reservoirs of\u202fsmaller cubic capacity, and probably also to save space in limited areas of\u202ffactory premises [17]. Other multi-purpose structures in industrial complexes include, for example, cooling towers of\u202fcoking plants or some tower structures of\u202furban slaughterhouse cold rooms, which apart from bearing a reservoir also bore shower coolers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 16. In 1942, an 80-metre high chimney with a reinforced concrete reservoir with a volume of 300 m3<\/sup> was built for Josef Sochor\u2019s Mechanical weaving and textile printing works in Dv\u016fr Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9 nad Labem (Photo: M. Vonka)<\/h6>\n

The construction of\u202fwater supply systems and elevated water tanks in villages had also already started before the\u202fFirst World War. These constructions took place mainly in areas where existing sources of\u202fdrinking water were not sufficient at all or were polluted by industrial production or as a result of\u202ftechnically inadequate implementation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>aqueducts (for example, in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>an open storage reservoir). Investors in such structures were either various cooperatives, the\u202fmunicipalities themselves, or also cases where external investors were those who motivated the\u202fconstructions. These rural water tanks were often interesting structures too, becoming dominant features of\u202fvillages and the\u202fsurrounding landscape, and there are even examples of\u202funexpectedly modern designs and architectural solutions or the\u202fearly use of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>advanced building materials (<\/span>Fig. 17<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 17. As early as 1914, an elevated water tank was completed in Bezno with features typical of\u202ffunctionalism, which did not become more widespread in our country until later (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

Massive development of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of\u202felevated water tanks in villages started only in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>period of<\/span>\u202f <\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>First Republic in connection with the\u202fgenerous state and provincial policy of\u202fsubsidising group water supply systems of\u202fwhich they were part. In contrast, until the\u202fend of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Second World War, elevated water tanks serving the\u202fneeds of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>agriculture were quite exceptional.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elevated water tanks could also be found as parts of\u202fwater supply systems, which cannot be unequivocally included in any of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>distribution networks described so far. These were, for various reasons, located in complexes which had a specific kind of\u202foperation and were usually closed, although they could extend beyond their original boundaries over time. They were often created outside urbanised areas where it was not possible to connect with existing water supply networks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>surrounding areas. These include, for example, waterworks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>premises of\u202fhealth care establishments (<\/span>Fig. 18<\/span><\/i>) or waterworks serving the\u202farmy, but also several public facilities or specific kinds of\u202foperation (<\/span>Fig. 19<\/span><\/i>) as well as waterworks at manor houses (<\/span>Fig. 20<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 18. The\u202felevated water tank of\u202fDob\u0159any psychiatric hospital was built at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>hospital between 1876 and 1883 (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 19. Open reinforced concrete supporting structures were used in our territory for the\u202ffirst time for the\u202fconstruction of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>elevated water tank of\u202fOpava wastewater treatment plant (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 20. An elevated water tank also formed part in the water supply of Sychrov Castle park, where the supporting structure on a circular ground plan was used in our territory for the first time (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/h6>\n

The construction of\u202felevated water tanks in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>second half of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> century was carried out in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>spirit of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>search for simplified constructional and economically favourable solutions in accordance with the\u202fimplementation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a\u202fstandardised structure and design process. While, for example, in neighbouring Germany the\u202fattention regarding building elevated water tanks was focused on processing reinforced concrete [17], in our country the\u202fconcept of\u202fsteel structures achieved dominance. So, in Czech territory, Hydroglobe elevated water tanks with steel structures became more widespread; they were imported from Hungary from the\u202f1960<\/span>s<\/span> [23] and their typical spherical tanks became new dominant features of\u202four landscape (<\/span>Fig. 21<\/span><\/i>). Thanks to their availability and simplicity\u00a0<\/span>of\u202fconstruction, they caused the\u202fspread of\u202felevated water tanks into newly built agricultural complexes and became an important part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>further development of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>aqueducts intended for the\u202fwater supply of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>population. Later, they were supplemented with typologically similar structures called Aknaglobes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 21. The first Hydroglobe elevated water tank in our territory was built in Borotice (Photo: R. Ko\u0159\u00ednek)<\/h6>\n

Nevertheless, masonry and reinforced concrete structures were still being built, albeit to a much lesser extent. Projects of\u202felevated water tanks prevailed in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>construction of\u202fwhich prefabricated reinforced concrete components were used. From time to time, a constructionally, architecturally, or technologically unique structure emerged from a uniform range of\u202fstructures, which is a phenomenon that can be found in all areas where elevated water tanks found their use (<\/span>Fig. 22<\/span><\/i>) [24].<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 22. The elevated water tank found in Brno-Kohoutovice since 1969 was designed by the architect Tom\u00e1\u0161 \u010cerou\u0161ek (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn)<\/span><\/h6>\n

Compared to previous years, at present there are significantly less elevated water tanks being built, with steel standardised structures prevailing among the\u202fnew ones (although one successful exception can be found \u2013 see <\/span>Fig. 23<\/span><\/i>). In water supply systems, elevated water tanks are nowadays often replaced by other technical solutions, but these do not always offer such a full range of\u202foperational possibilities as elevated water tanks. To a large extent, these structures are disappearing on railways. In recent years, however, projects focused on the\u202fconversion of\u202felevated water tanks have been successful, which helps to\u202ffind new uses and lives for them (<\/span>Fig. 24<\/span><\/i>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 23. The shape of the elevated water tank in Ohrazenice proves that it still makes sense to look for original and decent solutions for these structures (Photo: O. Civ\u00edn) [25]<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 24. The elevated water tank in Kladno from 1933 underwent a challenging conversion and its top floor today serves as a meeting room for the local waterworks company (Photo: M. Vonka)<\/span><\/h6>\n

CONCLUSION<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>course of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>research project \u201c<\/span>Elevated water tanks \u2013 identification, documentation, presentation and new use\u201d<\/span><\/i>, new facts were identified which helped us specify some of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>originally proposed technical terms and expand our knowledge of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>typology of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these structures. By means of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their long-term research, we could achieve a more precise delimitation of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>object of\u202four interest and determination of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>time frame which we consider as a period of\u202fconstruction of\u202felevated water tanks. These facts were also an important starting point for the\u202fsystematic monitoring of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>their development.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Elevated water tanks started to be built in our territory at<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>end of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>1930<\/span>s<\/span> in relation to the\u202fneed to create a sufficient supply of\u202fwater for steam-powered operations on the\u202frailways. Almost 50 years later, their vertical forms appeared in urban water supply systems and soon expanded into industrial complexes. In<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span> century, they also started to be built in villages and the\u202flast place where they were widely used was the\u202fagricultural sector. They have thus become an integral and indispensable part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>a wide range of\u202fvarious water supply systems involved in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>distribution of\u202fdrinking and non-drinking water.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Structures of\u202felevated water tanks have undergone constructional, architectural, and technological development as part of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>development of\u202fwater supply systems. At<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>beginning of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span> century, masonry used for supporting structures was supplemented with steel and reinforced concrete in particular. The\u202flatter was also used for the\u202fconstruction of\u202fstorage reservoirs where, especially in urban and rural environments, it completely replaced the\u202fuse of\u202fsteel reservoirs. However, it was not for good \u2013 steel returned in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>second half of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>20<\/span>th<\/span> century because it enabled various design possibilities and simplification of\u202fconstruction and, finally, has become (almost) the\u202fonly material currently used for load-bearing parts as well as the\u202freservoirs. The\u202fdevelopment of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>these structures in our territory was presented in a summarised form within<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>scope of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>periodical VTEI; more details will be presented in\u202fa\u202fforthcoming book, which will be one of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>final results of\u202fthis project.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Acknowledgement<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

This paper was created as part of<\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>project \u201cElevated water tanks \u2013 identification, documentation, presentation, new use\u201d (Program for Support of<\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>applied Research and Development, NAKI II, Ministry of\u202fCulture of<\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span><\/i>\u202f<\/span>Czech Republic, code DG18P02OVV010).<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This<\/span> article<\/span> has <\/span>been<\/span> peer-<\/span>reviewed<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This paper presents a summary of\u202fsome of\u202fthe\u202fresults of\u202fthe\u202fresearch project, \u201cWater towers \u2013 identification, documentation, presentation, new utilization\u201d, (DG18P02OVV010), which has been implemented since 2018 as part of\u202fthe\u202fProgramme for the\u202fSupport of\u202fapplied Research and Development of\u202f National and Cultural Identity for 2016\u20132022 (NAKI II) of\u202f the\u202fMinistry of\u202f Culture of\u202fthe\u202fCzech Republic. In terms of\u202fcontent, it follows on from articles from previous years published in this periodical, but clarifies and supplements the\u202fissues of\u202ftechnical terminology and typology established at its inception based \u2028on the\u202fknowledge gained during the\u202fproject. Furthermore, it presents general results of\u202fthe\u202frecords of\u202fthe\u202fstructures of\u202felevated water tanks and focuses on a\u202fbrief description of\u202fthe\u202fhistorical development of\u202fthese structures in our territory.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":17630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,92],"tags":[1560,1426,3022,1457,1455,1562],"coauthors":[595,1405],"class_list":["post-21218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-the-world-of-water-management","category-main","tag-elevated-water-tank","tag-evidence","tag-records","tag-research","tag-terminology","tag-typology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21218"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29395,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21218\/revisions\/29395"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21218"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=21218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

The oldest elevated water tanks appeared in our territory in 1838 [16], when the\u202ffirst steam-powered railway was put into operation in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Czech lands between B\u0159eclav and Rajhrad (<\/span>Fig. 2<\/span><\/i>). The\u202frapid development of\u202frailway transportation caused their number to increase and these structures to be modernised, especially with respect to the\u202fapplication of\u202fnew trends in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>material and structural design of\u202freservoirs and methods of\u202fwater pumping. The\u202fuse of \u202fbricked buildings with steel reservoirs with a flat and suspended bottom and the\u202fstandardisation of\u202fbuildings (including their equipment), which, moreover, often took over the\u202farchitecture of\u202fother buildings within<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>station or the\u202fwhole railway, was typical for this period. While the\u202foldest of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>them were still built in<\/span>\u202f<\/span>the<\/span>\u202f<\/span>form of<\/span>\u202f<\/span>architectural styles of\u202fEmpire and then Classicism, later on buildings started to appear reflecting historicist approaches. Their design included a wide range of\u202fstructures, ranging from architecturally sophisticated objects to more austere structures built in a generally accepted style.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n