Plzeň councilors did not decide on the fountains in the square

Plzeň - Plzeň city councilors were supposed to decide today whether new fountains would be built in three corners of the Plzeň square according to designs that won a city architectural competition. However, the citizens of Plzeň and some local politicians had previously opposed the construction of the winning fountains. Currently, there is a wooden model of one fountain - the Angel - standing in the square. Ultimately, the councilors decided to withdraw the decision from the agenda - they claim that it still needs to be assessed whether the flowing water in the square will be too noisy. Thus, a new council that emerges from the municipal elections will decide on the fountains.
Architect Ondřej Císler won the public competition last year. However, the councilors did not accept the proposal, which sparked mixed reactions. The designs then underwent certain changes. The fountains were originally to consist of hollow beams up to five meters tall, with water flowing into reservoirs made of artificial stone. They have now been somewhat lowered, will be made of bronze, and will then be variably gilded. The working group formed by the city hall from architects, conservationists, and representatives of the city is already satisfied with their appearance.
In the competition for the design of the fountains, which, according to the city's plans, should fill three corners of the square, there were 42 proposals submitted two years ago. Císler's solution was deemed unequivocally the best by the jury. The jury saw in the fountains an imaginative connection between the present and tradition. While architects mostly appreciated the modern design, some conservationists opposed it, and it was also notably unpopular among citizens in a survey. Císler and many experts argued that the fountains were specifically created for the square, correspond with it, emphasize it, but at the same time do not detract from the valuable historical buildings in the area.

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> Plzeň councilors want fountains in the square, which won the competition [12.1.2006]