The fountain in the area in front of the station enlivened the pedestrian area. It enticed passers-by to stop for a short time or sit comfortably on hot summer days.
Every hour they could listen to the melodies of world music and watch the “dancing” water that rose from the jets built into the pavement.
“Last summer, they briefly played music, but otherwise the fountain ‘bubbles’ like this. It’s a shame. Tourists took pictures with her. The children who frolicked in the water in the summer probably had the most fun,” assessed the polyclinic’s reception worker.
The fountain has been in poor condition for a long time. Already in 2018, the costs of its repair were calculated at an amount exceeding 8 million crowns.
“However, the reconstruction returning it to its original form with lighting and music production did not take place,” said Svatopluk Binder, chairman of the Municipal District Commission (KMČ) of Nová Hodolany.
The KMČ discussed the fountain repeatedly. The last time was at the beginning of April this year, when a more limited repair was discussed. Without sound accompaniment and with limited light production – only for the purpose of illuminating it.
“The borough commission is of the opinion that the fountain should not serve as a public town bath. He proposes simplifying its form and canceling the musical accompaniment, possibly even canceling the entire fountain and placing it in a more suitable place in a different form,” pointed out the chairman of the KMČ.
Water flows for free at the Olomouc railway station in several places. Do you know where?
Fundamental change is not possible
However, a fundamental change is not possible due to copyright.
“The co-heir of rights fundamentally disagrees with any intervention changing its form or even its cancellation, he would like to restore it to its original state,” explained Svatopluk Binder.
In the investment plan for this year, the city is counting on the acquisition of project documentation for the repair of the fountain.
“About a month ago, a meeting was held on this topic, at which the next procedure regarding the selection of the project documentation contractor was resolved. The Department of Investments will now approach, as part of a market survey, specialist companies to submit a bid for a public contract – processing of project documentation,” said Radka Štědrá, spokeswoman for the Olomouc municipality.
Operation and uncomplicated maintenance
According to the municipality, the contract being prepared will have the following basic principles: preservation of the existing pavement-type fountain and lighting above the water level.
“The main criterion for the developers of the project documentation will be the creation of such a solution to ensure technologically, artistically and architecturally its long-term functioning and uncomplicated maintenance at reasonable operating costs,” explained the spokeswoman.
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The city was primarily interested in approaching the academic sculptor Jiří Finger – as one of the heirs to the copyright. But he did not accept the offer, saying that the processing of project documentation for repairing the fountain is a job for a specialist company.
“Given that he has expressed interest in cooperation, he will be invited as one of the members of the production committees that will discuss the project documentation being developed,” the spokeswoman added.
Light fountain
Light fountain on the roundel at the RCO. It was removed in 2021Source: Michal Maňas/Wikimedia CommonsIn the area not far from Olomouc’s main train station, in the inner area of the roundel by the tram turnpike, there was another fountain – a light fountain. It was put into operation almost 20 years ago, when the city completed the transformation of the southern part of the area in front of the train station. Jiří Finger participated in the unusual solution.
In this case too, the water element was considered. However, it could not be in operation during the winter due to traffic safety. In the end, the arrangement of 21 colored columns illuminated from the inside was chosen, which, thanks to a light source based on LED diodes, created various figures on the plastic screen of the column’s surface, the shape and replacement of which is controlled by a computer.
In 2021, the light fountain was removed. It has not been inspected and reconstruction would be too expensive.
