A new place for "the hat" in Most's Střed Park.
25. august 2023
A well‑known symbol of Most, the Biological Body sculpture, has changed its location for the first time in 51 years. To mark the occasion, representatives of the city and the Karel Komárek Family Foundation, which provided financial and expert support for the park’s renovation through the Urban Transformations program, gathered in the newly renovated Střed Park. The diorite sculpture, created by academic sculptor Josef Klimeš, now dominates an open space in the northern part of the park, where it stands out more prominently. The 4.3‑ton sculpture, often compared by locals to a UFO due to its distinctive shape, was moved and secured by specialists using a construction crane and a manipulator in a process that took approximately half an hour.
The sculpture in the shape of a hat is an inseparable part of a place where many people of Most have met, shared their first kisses, or walked their dogs. This unique piece, first displayed in 1969 at the "Sculpture and the City" exhibition in Liberec, has become deeply embedded in the hearts of the people of this North Bohemian city over more than 50 years. The first version of the sculpture was made of resin, and based on it, the sculptor created a new version for the city, which was placed in Střed Park in September 1972. Thanks to the collaboration between the Karel Komárek Family Foundation and the city of Most, a new chapter in the life of this sculpture has begun.
"The relocation of this iconic sculpture is a significant event for both our foundation and the city. The people of Most have many personal memories connected to the Biological Body and Střed Park, so it was important to all of us that the sculpture be given a dignified location. The architectural design allows it to stand out in an open grassy area, making it visible from all sides," said Luboš Veselý, acting director of the Karel Komárek Family Foundation.
"My grandfather, academic sculptor Josef Klimeš, would be delighted to know that one of his major works remains an integral part of Střed Park in Most. After the renovation, the sculpture will once again become a part of the daily lives of local people. I want to thank the Karel Komárek Family Foundation and the city of Most for their collaboration and, most importantly, for their dedication to beautifying this space," said Ludmila Mojžíšová, granddaughter of Josef Klimeš.
Before the actual relocation, workers secured the sculpture to the crane's support arm using straps. They then used a special lifting device, known as a manipulator, to precisely position the sculpture onto a pre‑prepared concrete pin. The entire relocation process took about half an hour.
"The whole operation was quite a challenge for our company. Due to the heavy weight of the sculpture and the fact that its center of gravity is not in the middle, we had to carefully measure and test the securing, movement, and final placement into its new position. This was one of the key moments in the transformation of the park," explained Alice Volfová from Gardenline, adding that a team of seven people worked on the relocation.
The Karel Komárek Family Foundation supported the park's renovation with a donation of 25 million CZK. Throughout all project phases, it worked closely with the city of Most. The total cost of the park's reconstruction was approximately 100 million CZK.
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