There will be Gate of Time in the beginning of the pedestrian zone

Prof. Marian Karel, sculptor from Prague became the winner in the competition of artwork design in the frame of pedestrian zone reconstruction. A 9 m high artefact will grow at the boundary of pedestrian zone and King George Square, called Gate of Time.

  Basic construction element is door leaf. The bearing part is steel frame made from steel pipes, the frame surface and door leaf will be covered with steel panel. Text with first written mention about Cheb will be burnt on both sides of the leaf. „Gate is a universal symbol, well legible even in abstract form.  The focus aim is not visible from most of Svobody Street. Rather deeper situated square appears behind terrain break. The sense of designed artwork is to hold observer´s attention until the moment of seeing the square as a unit and enter it. That is why the artefact has feature of high dominant" Karel explains. The reason for locating the artwork on the boundary of the square and the pedestrian zone is stressing the fact that medieval Cheb opened itself to industrial era exactly in this place. „The gate is set to the place of original southern front of the square - as a reminder of no more existing house. It symbolizes passage from one period to another", Karel added. During the day the gate wil rotate continually around its vertical axis. At midnight it will be in the „close" position to match the original southern front of the square as a door into no more existing house, at noon it will be in the „open" position, seen as a subtle stele.„It will be possible to invite New Year or important visitors, open or close festivals symbolically through ceremonial opening the Gate to the heart of Cheb. Honorary citizens and visits can be given symbolical key of the Gate", Karel remarked.Decorative drainage cover with the most important dates from the town´s history passing through the whole pedestrian zone will be linked to the artefact.