Address: 11 P.I. Ceaikovski Street, 310052
Dates from: 1896
Architectural style: Medieval fortress influences, eclectic, Secessioninfluences
Current role: museum & art gallery
Can be visited: yes, by appointment
Contact: +40 742 053 688
Other sights in the area: “Nativity of John the Baptist” Orthodox Cathedral(1865), the Reconciliation Park
The Water Tower was inaugurated in 1896, built as a water storagefacility. The enormous tank spanning the entire top floor could once store300 tons of water, supplying fresh water to all the houses in the citycentre. At 35 metres high, it was the tallest building in Arad at the time,and so it also served a second purpose as a fire tower, providing wideviews of the city from the top level.
The design belongs to Scottish architects William Dunn & Robert Watson.The main style was inspired by elements of a Medieval fortress, but onecan also notice eclectic and Secession influences, with ornate windows andbalconies. The stone and brick walls are also impressive, varying in widthbetween 80 and 120 cm. Due to financial constraints, the architectsresorted to a specific technical solution that allowed them to place thecircular water tank within an octagonal structure, built on top of therectangular-shaped lower levels of the tower.
The building underwent extensive renovations in 1927 and served itsfunction within the water supply network until 1956. Afterwards, it waslargely neglected until 1990, when, under private ownership, it wasrestored and, beginning with 1996, transformed into a museum and artgallery, regularly hosting cultural events. There are permanent exhibitionspresenting the role of water within the city of Arad throughout the ages,water sports, an homage to firefighters, as well as various temporaryexhibitions dedicated to local artists, regional history, and so on.