The competition for the second tower of the church in Plzeň aims to spark interest in Plzeň

Plzeň - The architectural competition for the design of the second tower of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral in Plzeň aims to stir interest, attract attention, and ignite discussion about the symbiosis of historical and modern architecture, and perhaps even bring forth a realizable proposal in the future. The international architectural competition was announced today by a network of cafés in Plzeň. According to its owner, Jan Janák, who came up with the idea of adding the missing tower, it will certainly generate interest and strong emotions. However, he does not abandon the thought that someday in the future the church could have two towers, he told reporters today.
    The cathedral is a national cultural monument and belongs to the Plzeň Bishopsric. The chance that a second tower will actually be built is small. The church has been a dominant feature of the center of Plzeň since its inception in the late 13th century, and over the centuries, its appearance has changed, absorbing characteristics of various styles and epochs. Therefore, the organizers of the competition believe that today's era could leave its mark as well. They talk about the courage and free-thinking of Plzeň, but they admit the controversial nature of their idea. When modern gilded fountains were installed in the historic square a few years ago, it evoked strong negative reactions from many people, and many have not reconciled with the fountains to this day.
    Plzeň Bishop František Radkovský definitely does not anticipate that a second tower will rise by the cathedral, but he does not oppose the competition, as it may draw attention to other more pressing matters. According to jury member, architect Jiří Boudník, the project also aims to open the thinking and perception of people. Even if the tower is not built, the discussion surrounding it could have an effect on raising the profile of the cathedral. "Perhaps a way will then be found to acquire the missing bell mentioned by the bishop," Boudník stated.
    Preservationists are not in favor of building the tower, nor is well-known Plzeň architect Jan Soukup. Historical sources indicate that the church was indeed supposed to have two towers once, but plans were later abandoned, and the southern tower was never constructed. The current tower, which is more than 102 meters tall, is the highest church tower in Bohemia.
    The competition will run until the end of September, and around mid-October, the jury, which will include globally acclaimed architect Eva Jiřičná and architect David Vávra, is expected to choose the winner. The competition does not impose any conditions on the materials or style of the second tower. Therefore, it is not excluded that among the ideas, there may also appear intangible representations through projections or modern visual technologies. According to Boudník, the entire project also serves as support and draws attention to Plzeň, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2015.