{"id":39291,"date":"2026-08-11T17:11:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T16:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/?p=39291"},"modified":"2026-08-12T10:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T09:08:05","slug":"interview-with-ing-jiri-jilek-design-and-hydraulic-engineer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/2026\/08\/interview-with-ing-jiri-jilek-design-and-hydraulic-engineer\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Ing. Ji\u0159\u00ed J\u00edlek, design and hydraulic engineer"},"content":{"rendered":"\"\"<\/a>\n

Ing. Ji\u0159\u00ed J\u00edlek is one of\u00a0the\u00a0leading figures in\u00a0Czech hydraulic engineering. Throughout his professional career, he has designed, delivered, and supervised the\u00a0construction of\u00a0numerous water management projects, including river restoration schemes and urban\u00a0water features. His work includes the\u00a0system of\u00a0ponds in\u00a0Prague\u2019s\u00a0Stromovka Park, including the\u00a0unique raft connection to the\u00a0island, the\u00a0water feature on Letn\u00e1 Plain, the\u00a0Bran\u00edk Water Biotope, the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0fire ponds in\u00a0Lysolaje and Doln\u00ed Chabry, the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0the\u00a0Rokytka River and the\u00a0Boti\u010d, Kunratick\u00fd, Motolsk\u00fd, and \u0160\u00e1reck\u00fd streams, as well as\u00a0the\u00a0currently ongoing project to utilise mine water on Pet\u0159\u00edn Hill. In\u00a0this interview, he reflects on his experience with major engineering projects, the\u00a0importance of\u00a0first-hand knowledge of\u00a0the\u00a0site, working with stone as a\u00a0construction material, and why hydraulic structures should not only be functional but also sensitively integrated into their surroundings.<\/p>\n

Mr J\u00edlek, about eight years ago I\u00a0discovered your pond on the\u00a0Lysolaje stream. What brought you to this creation and to working with water?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0come from eastern Bohemia, specifically the\u00a0town of\u00a0Vysok\u00e9 M\u00fdto, which is home to the\u00a0country\u2019s\u00a0oldest water management school. It was founded in\u00a01897, and by 1903 it already was known as the\u00a0Agricultural and Grassland Management School. Even then, it enjoyed an\u00a0excellent reputation among professionals, thanks to its outstanding teachers and a\u00a0wonderful community. Although I\u00a0was more of\u00a0a\u00a0technically minded, hands-on person than\u00a0an\u00a0excellent student, the\u00a0school was fantastic and gave me the\u00a0opportunity to acquire a\u00a0lot of\u00a0technical knowledge.<\/p>\n

So did you already know back then that you wanted to work with water?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After graduating from secondary school, my teacher Ji\u0159\u00ed Muzikant convinced me that I\u00a0should continue my studies, so I\u00a0enrolled at the\u00a0Faculty of\u00a0Civil Engineering at the\u00a0Czech Technical University, where I\u00a0studied Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management. There were experts on weirs, dams, and river engineering; thanks to them, I\u00a0was able to delve deeper and deeper into the\u00a0field. I\u00a0think it\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0fascinating discipline, one that\u2019s\u00a0closely connected with both everyday life and the\u00a0way our civilisation functions.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always been a\u00a0fairly creative person, and I\u2019ve never liked the\u00a0idea of\u00a0simply hiding behind standards and prescribed procedures. Standards are, of\u00a0course, important, but every site and every project is different, and that\u2019s\u00a0how they should be approached.<\/p>\n

After graduating, the\u00a0choice of\u00a0where to work was an\u00a0easy one \u2013 I\u00a0joined Hydroprojekt, which was already a\u00a0major engineering company at the\u00a0time, with offices across the\u00a0Czech Republic and Slovakia. It brought together experts from almost every discipline, including architects, mechanical engineers, and geologists. It was there that I\u00a0gained a\u00a0wealth of\u00a0experience that would be hard to come by today.<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 1. System of interconnected ponds and water features in Stromovka Park, restored following the 2002 floods. The project included not only the restoration of the ponds, but also the rehabilitation of stream channels, culverts and pools, together with the construction of new bridges and footbridges, a\u00a0duck pontoon, a\u00a0raft providing access to the island, a\u00a0paddling area, a\u00a0central fountain jet, and the renovation of the ornamental fountain<\/h6>\n

And this was in\u00a0the\u00a0eighties?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That was in\u00a01974. Even then, I\u00a0was surprised that, as a\u00a0young newcomer joining such a\u00a0large company, there was a\u00a0noticeable gap between generations. I\u00a0had just graduated, while most of\u00a0my colleagues were in\u00a0their fifties or older. It\u00a0was quite a\u00a0striking age gap for the\u00a0time.<\/p>\n

At that time, I\u00a0was most interested in\u00a0major water engineering projects. I\u00a0joined a\u00a0department that worked on all kinds of\u00a0water management structures, from stream restoration and river training projects to weirs, power plants, and dams.<\/p>\n

What was the\u00a0first project you worked on?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As the\u00a0youngest member of\u00a0the\u00a0team, I\u00a0was assigned almost immediately to the\u00a0Josef\u016fv D\u016fl Dam, which is now an\u00a0important water-supply reservoir. At first, I\u00a0did just about everything. In\u00a0those days, project teams weren\u2019t nearly as large as they are today. A\u00a0project of\u00a0that scale was prepared by just a\u00a0handful of\u00a0people, of\u00a0course under the\u00a0guidance of\u00a0experienced specialists. I\u00a0wasn\u2019t just involved in\u00a0the\u00a0design work; I\u00a0also bound reports, ran\u00a0off copies on a\u00a0mimeograph machine, assembled the\u00a0documentation, and generally helped put everything together. It was demanding work, but for a\u00a0young engineer it was an\u00a0exceptional learning experience.<\/p>\n

Every now and then I\u00a0surprised people by approaching things a\u00a0little differently. For example, I\u00a0used to draw reinforcement layouts as mirror images, which wasn\u2019t common practice at the\u00a0time. But once my colleagues saw the\u00a0technical logic behind it, they accepted the\u00a0idea without hesitation.<\/p>\n

At the\u00a0time, Hydroprojekt employed specialists who each focused on a\u00a0particular area of\u00a0work, and it was obvious that they really knew their field. I\u00a0think that\u2019s\u00a0extremely important. These days, it\u2019s\u00a0quite common for one person to be expected to do almost everything, but they may not have enough experience in\u00a0every aspect. And it\u2019s\u00a0often that lack of\u00a0experience that leads to solutions which are not often the\u00a0best ones.<\/p>\n

You stayed with Hydroprojekt even after 1989. How did you eventually make the\u00a0move into running your own design practice?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0stayed there until 1992. People often used to say that staff were never the\u00a0problem, that you could always find people. I\u2019ve always seen it differently. In\u00a0my view, what really matters are people who genuinely know what they\u2019re doing. Managers can\u00a0be replaced, but finding people with the\u00a0skills and experience to actually deliver the\u00a0work is much harder.<\/p>\n

Around that time, environmental issues were becoming a\u00a0major topic, so\u00a0together with a\u00a0new team that I\u00a0was able to put together, we started working on landfill engineering. It was a\u00a0very timely field then. Entirely new lining and sealing systems were coming from Western Europe, and standards were being developed for how landfills should be designed, built, and financed. It\u00a0was a\u00a0completely new body of\u00a0know-how.<\/p>\n

And was that what brought you to large-scale water engineering?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, because after a\u00a0while I\u00a0found it all a\u00a0bit repetitive. You were constantly having to explain\u00a0to people that building a\u00a0landfill wasn\u2019t always the\u00a0best solution. Many people think it\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0lucrative business, but in\u00a0reality it all depends on the\u00a0specific circumstances.<\/p>\n

Gradually I\u00a0lost interest. What I\u00a0enjoy is creativity \u2013 having each project present a\u00a0different challenge. That\u2019s\u00a0exactly what river restoration offers. I\u00a0much prefer complex, unconventional sites where you really have to think carefully about how to work with the\u00a0landscape.<\/p>\n

Since I\u00a0have always had a\u00a0strong interest in\u00a0structural analysis, soil mechanics, and geology, I\u00a0also carried out various remediation projects various remediation projects \u2013 not just landfill remediation, but also repairing embankments, for example where water was seeping through them. In\u00a0Prague, that included sites such as \u010cern\u00fd Most, Nov\u00e9 Butovice, and \u010cimice.<\/p>\n

From what you\u2019re saying, it sounds as though you\u2019re still very busy. How many projects are you working on at the\u00a0moment?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0demand is certainly greater than\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0handle in\u00a0the\u00a0standard of\u00a0quality that is expected \u2013 I\u2019m not getting any younger. At the\u00a0moment, I\u2019m working on\u00a0about three major projects.<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 2. The romantic raft providing access to the island in one of the many ponds in\u00a0Stromovka Park, one of the park\u2019s\u00a0main attractions, had to be subsequently reinforced to accommodate adult visitors<\/h6>\n

And sometimes you\u2019re brought in\u00a0to rescue projects\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

In\u00a0addition to supervising construction work, I\u2019m often asked to step in\u00a0and help fix problems I\u00a0see in\u00a0other people\u2019s\u00a0projects after the\u00a0client or contractor has become frustrated with the\u00a0results and turns to me. Sometimes the\u00a0solution is fairly straightforward; other times it\u2019s\u00a0much more complicated.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0fact is that the\u00a0technical expertise in\u00a0some areas of\u00a0our profession is beginning to decline. There are fewer people with the\u00a0depth of\u00a0practical experience. The\u00a0worst answer I\u00a0can\u00a0hear is, \u201cWe\u2019ve always done it this way.\u201d I\u00a0don\u2019t like that approach at all, because every solution should be based on the\u00a0specific site, the\u00a0particular structure, and the\u00a0conditions on the\u00a0ground. You can\u2019t apply the\u00a0same solution everywhere.<\/p>\n

When I\u00a0can\u00a0see that a\u00a0proposed design isn\u2019t the\u00a0right one, I\u00a0try to get involved and help improve it as best I\u00a0can. Of\u00a0course, nobody has a\u00a0monopoly on good ideas, but practical experience is invaluable in\u00a0this field. These days there are very few people still actively working who have been involved in\u00a0several major dam projects and who also have decades of\u00a0experience working with construction companies, contractors, and subcontractors.<\/p>\n

Do you have a\u00a0favourite project \u2013 one that has stayed with you over the\u00a0years and that you still enjoy going back to?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not long ago, I\u00a0was travelling by train, and every time it stopped I\u00a0realised how many places I\u2019d worked in\u00a0over the\u00a0years. There is an\u00a0incredible number of\u00a0projects. But if I\u00a0had to choose one, it would probably be Stromovka. At\u00a0the\u00a0time, I\u00a0didn\u2019t really believe I\u2019d win\u00a0the\u00a0competition for the\u00a0project. My aim was to restore the\u00a0area, which had been devastated by the\u00a02002 floods, using natural approaches. It was an\u00a0ideal place to make use of\u00a0simple structures with a\u00a0flexible function.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0stream Mal\u00e1 \u0158\u00ed\u010dka had been completely torn apart by the\u00a0flood, and I\u00a0offered to put it back together. I\u00a0designed a\u00a0new weir and a\u00a0cascading inlet from the\u00a0navigation channel, and it\u2019s\u00a0become a\u00a0place where people enjoy spending time. It\u2019s\u00a0not a\u00a0conventional design \u2013 there are no rectangles, squares, or right angles. That kind of\u00a0approach is much more in\u00a0keeping with nature.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0expansion of\u00a0water surfaces at the\u00a0former Rudolf Pond created further challenges regarding the\u00a0integration of\u00a0valuable areas. A\u00a0significant tree left standing on a\u00a0small island called for an\u00a0unconventional approach; to design something interesting that would allow people to reach it by more than\u00a0just a\u00a0footbridge. That\u2019s\u00a0how I\u00a0came up with the\u00a0idea of\u00a0a\u00a0cable-guided raft. Originally, it was meant to be supported by two large puppet figures, but that idea was eventually rejected and replaced with ordinary posts. At first, I\u00a0imagined it mainly as something fun for children, but then I\u00a0ran\u00a0into problems because attractions like that have to meet certification requirements. In\u00a0the\u00a0end, following an\u00a0agreement with Prague City Hall, I\u00a0increased the\u00a0raft\u2019s\u00a0buoyancy \u2013 since adults were also riding on it \u2013 and today it serves as an\u00a0operational facility.<\/p>\n

You mentioned certification requirements. You\u2019re very much old school in\u00a0the\u00a0best sense of\u00a0the\u00a0word. Has today\u2019s\u00a0bureaucracy made it harder to design and build water engineering projects than\u00a0it was thirty or forty years ago?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, yes. We seem to want to fit everything into neat little boxes, but I\u00a0don\u2019t think that\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0right approach. It leads to a\u00a0kind of\u00a0standardisation that often does more harm than\u00a0good. History shows us that the\u00a0great structures built by earlier civilisations weren\u2019t based on templates \u2013 they were original solutions, created by teams of\u00a0true professionals. Sadly, I\u00a0think we\u2019re losing some of\u00a0that professionalism today. The specialisation of construction companies in particular types of structures has practically disappeared, and this is reflected in the structures themselves.<\/p>\n

On top of\u00a0that, we\u2019re constrained by standards and regulations, leaving less and less room for independent thinking. As a\u00a0result, engineers can\u00a0end up assembling projects from predefined components instead of\u00a0developing creative solutions.<\/p>\n

Do you think that also has something to do with the\u00a0way engineers are trained today?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One of\u00a0the\u00a0biggest problems, in\u00a0my view, is that projects often fail to take account of\u00a0all the\u00a0conditions that really need to be considered. Clients can\u2019t always be expected to know exactly what they should ask for. That\u2019s\u00a0why designers shouldn\u2019t just respond to a\u00a0brief \u2013 they should think for themselves about what\u2019s\u00a0important for the\u00a0site and the\u00a0project, and make sure those considerations are reflected in\u00a0the\u00a0design.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0don\u2019t think it\u2019s\u00a0acceptable to make excuses afterwards by saying something couldn\u2019t be done, or that the\u00a0client did or didn\u2019t ask for it, or that nobody knew about a\u00a0particular issue. That\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0wrong approach. The\u00a0same applies to project documentation. We often spend a\u00a0great deal of\u00a0time describing things in\u00a0minute detail, but not always to any real benefit. A\u00a0lot of\u00a0the\u00a0documentation has become an\u00a0administrative exercise rather than\u00a0something with genuine technical value.<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 3. Water reservoir in the western part of Letn\u00e1 Park (design proposal), showing the inlet cascade beneath a\u00a0wrought-iron grille, designed to induce water circulation within the lake, which is characterised by exceptionally clear water throughout the year<\/h6>\n
\"\"<\/a><\/h6>\n
Fig. 4. The Bran\u00edk aquatic biotope is supplied by groundwater, which is not usual. It was created in spring 2023 not only as a\u00a0new landscape feature on previously open grassland, but also, together with a\u00a0short educational nature trail, as part of\u00a0environmental education for the people of Prague. It is now home to hundreds of\u00a0edible frogs, smooth newts, grass snakes, and 27 species of aquatic and wetland plants<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 5. Revitalisation of the fire pond on the Lysolaje stream and the upper section of\u00a0its channel below one of Prague\u2019s\u00a0most productive springs, the so-called Miraculous Spring (Z\u00e1zra\u010dn\u00e1 stud\u00e1nka). The recreational biotope is now fed by this spring, making it one of the coldest water bodies in Prague<\/h6>\n

Do you have a\u00a0trusted team of\u00a0people you like to work with? I\u00a0remember watching one of\u00a0your excavator operators place a\u00a0boulder exactly where you wanted it \u2013 it was incredible to see how skilfully and efficiently he worked.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There are plenty of\u00a0contractors, of\u00a0course, but not all of\u00a0them have teams of\u00a0operators, technicians, and labourers who are truly outstanding at what they do. Fortunately, there are still people who are exceptionally creative, highly skilled, and willing to listen and learn. I\u00a0enjoy working with people like that. You can\u00a0talk things through with them \u2013 they immediately understand what you\u2019re trying to achieve, what you want them to do, and why. And it doesn\u2019t matter whether they\u2019re Czech, Ukrainian, or from anywhere else. On construction sites you meet people from all kinds of\u00a0backgrounds. Some are even trained engineers who eventually swapped the\u00a0drawing board for heavy machinery because they found it more rewarding \u2013 and they\u2019re excellent at it.<\/p>\n

Have you ever encountered any major technical difficulties while building water engineering structures? Is it even possible to predict everything in\u00a0advance?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

No, it\u2019s\u00a0impossible to predict everything with complete certainty. Even with a\u00a0thorough geological survey, you\u2019re still working from a\u00a0series of\u00a0sampling points and applying that information to a\u00a0much larger area. So, on rare occasions, unexpected problems can\u00a0arise. The\u00a0most serious difficulty I\u00a0encountered was when a\u00a0flood struck a\u00a0project that was still under construction; there\u2019s\u00a0only so much you can\u00a0do to protect against something like that. Even so, a\u00a0designer should anticipate the\u00a0risk as far as possible and warn the\u00a0contractor where the\u00a0flood hazard is greatest.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0my case, it happened during the\u00a0construction of\u00a0a\u00a0special intake structure on the\u00a0Elbe at the\u00a0Opatovice Power Station. The\u00a0flood virtually tore apart the\u00a0unfinished section of\u00a0the\u00a0project. But you can\u00a0insure yourself against this in\u00a0advance and plan\u00a0for a\u00a0somewhat larger reserve.<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Fig. 6. Planned comprehensive revitalisation of the now-dry pond in Jezerka Park, Nusle, including the creation of a\u00a0new surface water channel and the bridging of\u00a0its part beneath the piazza of the adjacent Jezerka Theatre. The project will also include an\u00a0underground retention tank with a\u00a0flow-regulation function, enabling the\u00a0park\u2019s\u00a0water features to be supplied with rainwater collected from the theatre roof even during prolonged dry periods<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 7. Revitalisation of the lower reach of the Kunratice stream in Bran\u00edk, in Za ml\u00fdnem Park, commissioned by the Prague City Hall (construction supervision) in cooperation with the Prague 4 Municipal District. This extensive restoration project also incorporates the use of decorative boulders and large woody debris<\/h6>\n

Is there a\u00a0general recipe for designing a\u00a0successful river restoration project? I\u00a0know, for example, that you\u2019re particularly fond of\u00a0using basalt for bank protection.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0think the\u00a0first step is to really get to know the\u00a0place you\u2019re working with. It\u2019s\u00a0not enough just to know the\u00a0size of\u00a0the\u00a0site. You need to spend time there, get a\u00a0feel for it, and only then start thinking about what should be done with the\u00a0stream and the\u00a0surrounding landscape so that the\u00a0result is functional, interesting, and fits naturally into its surroundings.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a\u00a0fan\u00a0of\u00a0restoration projects that amount to nothing more than\u00a0a\u00a0few neat little meanders cut into the\u00a0channel, or that produce a\u00a0straight trapezoidal watercourse or a\u00a0perfectly rectangular pond. Unfortunately, you still see that kind of\u00a0thing, but to me it rarely looks right. The\u00a0design should always respond to the\u00a0character of\u00a0the\u00a0landscape it\u2019s\u00a0being built in.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0good example is the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0the\u00a0village pond at To\u010dn\u00e1 in\u00a0Prague 12, which I\u2019m working on at the\u00a0moment. I\u00a0wanted it to be more than\u00a0just another ordinary pond. I\u00a0used basalt not only for the\u00a0bank protection but also for the\u00a0footpaths, created an\u00a0interesting shoreline, and gave the\u00a0whole site a\u00a0slightly unconventional character. When about twenty of\u00a0us met there \u2013 including the\u00a0director of\u00a0Prague Water Supply and Sewerage \u2013 I\u00a0actually received a\u00a0verbal compliment. (laughs) That really meant a\u00a0lot to me, because people often take these things for granted and don\u2019t even notice them.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0know that for the\u00a0Bran\u00edk Water Biotope you personally selected a\u00a0particular stone from the\u00a0quarry because you wanted it to catch people\u2019s\u00a0eye. How important is the\u00a0choice of\u00a0materials to you?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That one was chert instead. When rock is blasted in\u00a0a\u00a0quarry, the\u00a0structure of\u00a0the\u00a0particular stone can\u00a0produce remarkably interesting and distinctive shapes, and I\u00a0think those should be put to good use in\u00a0the\u00a0right setting. That\u2019s\u00a0why I\u00a0often tell contractors not to let someone simply load the\u00a0stones onto the\u00a0truck. We first agree on exactly where to source them, so they suit the\u00a0project, or, if necessary, I\u2019ll go to the\u00a0quarry and choose individual stones myself. You have to think ahead about how the\u00a0stones will fit together, how the\u00a0exposed faces will look, and how their colours will complement the\u00a0site. Of\u00a0course, to some extent, that\u2019s\u00a0also a\u00a0matter of\u00a0personal aesthetic judgement.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0aim of\u00a0water engineering isn\u2019t to transform an\u00a0entire landscape. Only the\u00a0part directly affected by the\u00a0project should be altered. There are many different types of\u00a0stone you could use, but when it comes to subtle surface textures and the\u00a0way the\u00a0stones fit together, basalt and chert are hard to beat. Granite is perfectly serviceable, but I\u00a0don\u2019t find it nearly as interesting. Its grain\u00a0size and colour vary a\u00a0lot, and, more importantly, it tends to split along flat planes, producing rather blocky shapes. I\u2019ve never been much of\u00a0a\u00a0fan\u00a0of\u00a0square blocks of\u00a0stone.<\/p>\n

How do you see the\u00a0future of\u00a0water engineering? You mentioned that even when you joined Hydroprojekt there was a\u00a0significant generation gap in\u00a0the\u00a0profession. Do you see a\u00a0new generation ready to take over?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, history seems to be repeating itself \u2013 we\u2019re seeing the\u00a0same generation gap all over again. There simply aren\u2019t enough young engineers coming through who are ready to build on what we\u2019ve done. On top of\u00a0that, fewer and fewer students are choosing engineering because the\u00a0courses are demanding. Another problem is that, although many technical secondary schools still culminate in\u00a0the\u00a0maturita school-leaving examination, the\u00a0vocational training programmes that used to give people real hands-on skills are disappearing. And for water engineering, those practical skills are essential.<\/p>\n

What has a\u00a0career in\u00a0water engineering given you \u2013 and what has it taken away?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s\u00a0work that I\u2019ve genuinely enjoyed, and not everyone can\u00a0say that. A\u00a0lot of\u00a0people go to work simply because they need a\u00a0job and a\u00a0salary, and sooner or later that shows in\u00a0the\u00a0quality of\u00a0what they do. Even under the\u00a0communist regime, water engineers got along well with one another. Politics didn\u2019t really come into it. What mattered was that they understood their profession. You simply can\u2019t approach work with water in\u00a0a\u00a0superficial way.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0also don\u2019t like hearing people say, \u201cIf you\u2019re not earning enough, just find another job.\u201d How can\u00a0anyone become truly good at what they do if they\u2019re constantly changing jobs for a\u00a0higher salary? That\u2019s\u00a0not how you achieve real expertise. Money isn\u2019t everything, even though, unfortunately, it\u2019s\u00a0often treated as if it were.<\/p>\n

And what has working with water taken away? Time \u2013 above all, time. I\u2019ve spent my life chasing deadlines.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s\u00a0finish with your current project \u2013 the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0the\u00a0pond in\u00a0Jezerka Park. Are you looking forward to it, or are you expecting a\u00a0few challenges along the\u00a0way?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0think it\u2019s\u00a0going to turn out well. Looking back, most of\u00a0the\u00a0projects I\u2019ve worked on have been well received, and I\u2019m confident that this restoration will benefit Jezerka too.<\/p>\n

One of\u00a0the\u00a0reasons I\u00a0took it on was that it isn\u2019t a\u00a0routine project. It\u2019s\u00a0not just about designing a\u00a0channel, a\u00a0path, or a\u00a0single engineering structure. It\u2019s\u00a0about working with both surface water and groundwater, the\u00a0park landscape, and the\u00a0overall character of\u00a0the\u00a0site. When all those elements come together, you can\u00a0create something that genuinely enhances the\u00a0whole area.<\/p>\n

Of\u00a0course, a\u00a0lot will depend on how the\u00a0project is ultimately carried out. With this kind of\u00a0work, I\u00a0think it\u2019s\u00a0essential that the\u00a0engineering, the\u00a0way the\u00a0water is managed, and the\u00a0aesthetics all come together naturally. I\u2019m optimistic that we\u2019ll achieve that at Jezerka.<\/p>\n

And when you\u2019re not working with water or on a\u00a0construction site, how do you like to spend your time?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always enjoyed being active and making things with my hands. I\u00a0played volleyball for many years, and these days I\u00a0enjoy skiing, although I\u2019m a\u00a0bit more careful than\u00a0I\u00a0used to be. Ever since I\u00a0was young, I\u2019ve also enjoyed working with wood, blacksmithing, sculpture, and painting. I\u00a0renovated and built a\u00a0substantial part of\u00a0my cottage myself, with my girlfriend\u2019s\u00a0help. I\u00a0also handle the\u00a0selection of\u00a0accessories the\u00a0same way. Building stairs, laying floors, or installing tiling poses no problem for me.<\/p>\n

I\u00a0think all of\u00a0that has helped me as an\u00a0engineer. When you\u2019ve worked with materials yourself and understand how things are actually built, it\u2019s\u00a0much easier to judge what\u2019s\u00a0practical and what is simply a\u00a0nice idea on paper that\u2019s\u00a0going to be difficult to build in\u00a0reality.<\/p>\n

Thank you very much for the\u00a0interview. I\u00a0wish you many more original challenges and successful projects.<\/em><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

Ing. Ji\u0159\u00ed J\u00edlek<\/h2>\n

Ing. Ji\u0159\u00ed J\u00edlek was born on 6\u00a0April 1950 in Vysok\u00e9 M\u00fdto. After graduating from the Secondary Technical School of Civil Engineering in Vysok\u00e9 M\u00fdto, he continued his studies at the Czech Technical University in Prague, specialising in\u00a0Water Structures and Water Management. In\u00a01974, he joined Hydroprojekt Prague, where he worked until 1992. In the same year, he established his own licensed design practice, Hydro-Natur, followed by the engineering consultancy Ekotechnik-In\u017een\u00fdring, Ltd. Over the course of his career, he has designed more than 300 new water management and environmental engineering projects. He has also been involved in the repair and rehabilitation of existing structures and the remediation of unsuccessful designs prepared by others, with projects implemented throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In recent years, his work has focused primarily on Prague and its surrounding area. In addition to design work, he remains actively involved in project implementation, serving as a\u00a0construction supervisor. His personal interests include woodworking, craftsmanship of all kinds, the arts, travel, the history of construction and engineering, and, since 2000, renovating and maintaining a\u00a0country cottage. Until the age of 65, he played volleyball competitively, and he continues to enjoy skiing. He lives in the Chodov district of Prague, is widowed, and has three children.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo (pp. 54\u201359): T. Hrdinka<\/h6>\n\"\"<\/a>\n
Fig. 8. Revitalisation of the middle reaches of the Rokytka and Sv\u00e9pravick\u00fd streams within the floodplain of the \u010cihadla dry retention basin, including the creation of flow-through pools to\u00a0enhance biodiversity in aquatic and wetland habitats<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ing. Ji\u0159\u00ed J\u00edlek is one of\u00a0the\u00a0leading figures in\u00a0Czech hydraulic engineering. Throughout his professional career, he has designed, delivered, and supervised the\u00a0construction of\u00a0numerous water management projects, including river restoration schemes and urban\u00a0water features. His work includes the\u00a0system of\u00a0ponds in\u00a0Prague\u2019s\u00a0Stromovka Park, including the\u00a0unique raft connection to the\u00a0island, the\u00a0water feature on Letn\u00e1 Plain, the\u00a0Bran\u00edk Water Biotope, the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0fire ponds in\u00a0Lysolaje and Doln\u00ed Chabry, the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0the\u00a0Rokytka River and the\u00a0Boti\u010d, Kunratick\u00fd, Motolsk\u00fd, and \u0160\u00e1reck\u00fd streams, as well as\u00a0the\u00a0currently ongoing project to utilise mine water on Pet\u0159\u00edn Hill. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":39457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[94,2,86],"tags":[4205,120,4176,4207,4206],"coauthors":[30],"class_list":["post-39291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-issue","category-from-the-world-of-water-management","category-hydraulics-hydrology-and-hydrogeology","tag-hydraulic-engineering","tag-interview","tag-jilek-jiri","tag-urban-water-features","tag-water-management-projects"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39291","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=39291"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39732,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39291\/revisions\/39732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39457"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39291"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=39291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}