Zprávy památkové péče 2013, 73(3):246-248

What else shall we demolish? The destruction of the unique water tower at the Studénka train station

Alena Borovcová

On 2-8 April 2013, a unique railway water tower in Studénka was demolished; the absence of prior notification of the demolition was justified by unsubstantiated arguments. The water tower at the Studénka station, which lies on the main line of the former Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway (KFNB), was built in 1891 according to a KFNB project type from bare brick walls and fitted with three four-squared riveted tanks. For building production of the 1880's and 1890's, the use of bare brickwork was characteristic in the Studénka station; the Studénka - Štramberk track made extensive use of it at its operating facilities and residential buildings as well as in the KFNB company, which was introducing modular projects in the same period. A water tower identical to the one in Studénka (Spezialplan No. 466) was also built at the station Opava East and in Poland's Auschwitz. The Opava water tower was later enlarged and plastered. The only realization of this project in authentic condition in the Czech Republic remained in Studénka. With the destruction of this water tower, Studénka lost a strong identification element that made it different from other stations. This technical monument's loss of original function in no way meant a reduction of its value. The typical tower form of the water tower provided a continuous and unambiguous statement of its original purpose. Proof that even railway water towers are capable of new use can be found in the waterworks in the railway station Opava East. In Studénka, this initiative was sadly missing. An enlightened approach by the municipality, which could have conditioned the project of the construction of a transport terminal to the incorporation of the water tower into the overall concept, was the only thing missing. The tower itself, moreover, could have become a local attraction, a stop for the planned bike path. The interior of its ground floor offered the possibility of a new use with an interesting view into riveted tanks.

Keywords: railway, water tower, typization, authenticity, technical monument

Published: September 1, 2013  Show citation