They said about the project
Journalist, historian, publicist. He has received several awards for his journalistic work. However, he is remembered by many as a popularizer of regional history. As a historian, he participates in the activities of the Museum of Ústí nad Labem. He is, among others. He is a co-author of the project “Ústí NEJ…”, which won the special Gloria Musaealis award for the museum exhibition of the year 2006. Together with his friends, he “bought” a step to the tower.
A stone monument to the history of Ústí nad Labem
A stone monument to the history of Ústí nad Labem, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is for the historian above all. It has stood since the founding of Ústí as a royal town, i.e. since the beginning of the 13th century. since the beginning of the 13th century. It has been plundered, burnt down repeatedly. It was always the people of Ústí who completed, rebuilt, repaired and restored their town church. It bears traces of Romanesque, Gothic to Neo-Gothic architecture, inscriptions in Latin, Czech and German. Every generation of the town’s inhabitants has made its mark on its walls over the past 800 years.
On April 17, 1945, it seemed that this chronicle would finally close. Five aerial bombs hit the church and its immediate surroundings. In the end, the church surprisingly emerged with “only” a heavily leaning tower, which will forever be a reminder of the horrors of the Second World War. World War II. I always felt there was an opportunity to make a significantly positive effect for the church and the city. It is exciting to help birth another major entry into the walls of our church.
Martin Krsek, historian
Making the tower accessible means building a two-part path for visitors
The outer path leads up to the elevation +12,260 and consists of a tower inserted into the space next to the main church tower. It consists of a simple wooden structure in the shape of a quadrilateral prism. This structure is covered on the outside by solid wooden louvres which protect the structure against the weather.
Inside the tower there are spiral stairs. They are designed as so-called double-acting. The two spirals of spiral stairs are set into each other so that visitors can climb up one and descend down the other.
The tower follows the traditionally used morphology.
Its simple shape clearly demonstrates its relationship to the main church tower – the proposed tower is of a profane service character.
With its light airy structure it gives prominence to the main thing – the mass of the church.
The internal route from elevation 12,260 to elevation 31,805 is in principle already possible. It’s just not very safe or comfortable. The aim of the design is therefore to find a solution that harmonises the requirements of fire and operational safety with the view of conservation.
We very much appreciate the opportunity to participate in this work and firmly believe in the early realisation of this unique building. We are planning to get a step ourselves! Hail to the mouth and the leaning tower in particular!
Prof. Ing. arch. Martin Rajniš
Czech architect and urban planner, co-founder of the Czech Chamber of Architects and several architectural offices. He currently works in the studio he founded called Hut’ architektury Martin Rajniš. He is known among the public mainly as the author of the new Post Office on Sněžka. He is strongly devoted to experimental architecture and the relationship of architecture to nature and human society.
Our city needs to renew and strengthen its spiritual identity
The regional town of Ústí nad Labem has a rich and often turbulent history. The twentieth century was marked by industrial development, two world wars and finally, most significantly, the displacement of the original inhabitants. People often speak of the uprooting of the local population, which came from all over the former Czechoslovakia.
In this situation, I feel that our city needs to renew and strengthen its spiritual identity. How else but by returning to its Christian roots. Then it can become more of a home and a place to live for its people. I believe that this goal can also be helped by the tower access project, which will bring these values closer to visitors.
P. Miroslav Šimáček, Archdeacon
