The granite fountain named Unification or United Europe on the Prague square named náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad has undergone a harsh restoration that removed its original stone patina and the signature of its author, according to local reports and critics. Local resident Jan Charvát first publicized the controversial alterations on his Facebook pages dedicated to second-half-20th-century art, pointing out that aggressive cleaning stripped the brutalist mass of its texture and left the stone looking sterile and white.
Restoration Criticized for Damaging Brutalist Texture
According to Jan Charvát, the stone blocks of the fountain were aggressively and unprofessionally cleaned, causing the granite to lose the natural patina it acquired over decades. This patina previously gave the brutalist structure its depth, character, and texture, but the surface now appears pale, sterile, and whitish. Furthermore, water from the fountain’s jets reportedly fails to flow correctly, pooling instead in the upper sections of the monument.
The situation escalated when critics noticed that the carved name of author Petr Šedivý and the date of creation had vanished from the stone. When inspected alongside the author himself, the signature area showed signs of being chiseled or sandblasted away entirely. Petr Šedivý described the missing mark at the site by stating that the signature had been completely removed.
The Mystery of the Reappearing Signature
When questioned about the disappearance of the author’s name and year, Prague 3 district officials initially maintained that the signature remained sufficiently visible. Following subsequent press inquiries, a newly legible inscription appeared on the stone, visible from a distance of several meters. Petr Šedivý dismissed this reappearance as a crude forgery, noting that the letters looked clumsily traced with a pencil or carved like a gravestone marker.
Prague 3 spokesman Petr Habáň denied that the municipal office ordered any official post-restoration modifications. According to Habáň’s explanation provided to reporters, officials had the site photographed with a clearly visible signature after receiving media questions, suggesting someone might have acted independently upon hearing of the controversy. Jan Charvát rejected this explanation, characterizing the administration’s handling of the matter as childish.
Did You Know? The granite fountain known as Unification or United Europe shares space on náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad with a brutalist metro air vent originally installed in the 1980s.
Destruction of the Historic Metro Air Vent
Alongside the fountain controversy, the historic brutalist metro air vent designed by Petr Šedivý, which stood on the square since the 1980s, was completely demolished. Petr Šedivý stated that the original concrete structure was smashed to pieces and replaced by a sharp-pointed design that mimics the sculptures created by John Hejduk on the Mikoláš Aleš Embankment.
Prague 3 spokesman Petr Habáň defended the removal by stating that the original air vent was unsatisfactory because polluted air flowed laterally toward the ground, damaging nearby trees, lawns, and the space used by farmers’ markets. Habáň noted that after technical adjustments to redirect airflow upward proved impossible, the owner, the Dopravní podnik (Transit Department), decided to replace it with a new vent designed by architect Miroslav Cikán, who authored the broader revitalisation of the square.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes were made to the granite fountain?
According to critics and local observers, the fountain’s granite blocks underwent aggressive cleaning that removed their natural patina, altered the water flow, and initially resulted in the disappearance of the author’s signature and creation date.
Did the municipal office alter the author’s signature?
Prague 3 spokesman Petr Habáň denied that the local authority ordered any official modifications to the signature, suggesting that an outside individual may have tampered with the stone independently after the issue became public.
What happened to the original metro air vent on the square?
The original 1980s brutalist air vent created by Petr Šedivý was demolished and replaced by a new pointed structure designed by Miroslav Cikán, after transit officials determined the old vent’s lateral airflow damaged surrounding greenery and interfered with farmers’ markets.
How do you think cities should balance modern architectural revitalization with the preservation of original brutalist art?
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