CHIMNEY RESERVOIRS: UNIQUE TECHNICAL STRUCTURES FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Abstract

In the past, various methods and technological systems were used to supply water on industrial and other sites. In the early 19th century, Professor Otto Intze invented a new form of water reservoir that could be installed in a tower tank or even on the body of a chimney. This gave rise to a structure that had never been seen before – a chimney reservoir. The advantages of this structure resulted in it quickly becoming very popular, especially in the country in which it originated, Germany. The structure spread from the German Empire into other countries, including Austria-Hungary. The first chimney reservoir on the Czech territory originated in the late 19th century, the last structure of this type was built in 1962. Although their history was short, more than sixty distinctive structures of this kind were built in the Czech lands, the twenty-one of which that have survived to the present day can be described as a unique industrial heritage. This article outlines the origin and evolution of different types of chimney reservoirs and describes the structural and technological designs used for such structures on the territory of what is now known as the Czech Republic.