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One on OneJan Kaplicky - a Czech architect turning "future systems" into reality
Today we meet Jan Kaplicky, who is regarded by many as the greatest Czech
architect of his generation. Readers in the UK will surely know his
amazing Selfridges building in Birmingham. But although Jan Kaplicky has
won world renown for the work of his London-based company Future Systems,
he has found himself somewhat at odds with the establishment here in the
Czech Republic. Mr Kaplicky was born in Prague in 1937, and when we met
recently he first told me something about his family background.
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SpotlightPrague's Veletrzni Palac
If Prague's Veletrzni Palac or Trade Fair Palace didn't house the modern
art collection of the National Gallery, most of us would probably not
notice the large building that stands just a few metres away from the
city's exhibition complex. But the Palace is one of Prague's earliest and
largest buildings in the Functionalist style.
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Current AffairsIs there a future for new skyscrapers in Prague?
The development of the Czech capital has been the subject of continued
debate for years, not least the future for Prague's Pankrac district. The
area is famous for three skyscrapers - including the city's tallest, the
so-called City Tower. At 109 metres, it's being redesigned by New
York-based architect Richard Meier. Many would like to see
the area unified with additional buildings. But, some professionals have
complained additional skyscrapers would only compound the problem. And,
they're not alone. More
Talking PointIs Prague successfully preserving its architectural heritage?
Over the past decade or so, visitors have been flocking to Prague in
ever-increasing numbers. Many of them have been attracted by tales of the
city's beautiful, well-preserved architecture, which embraces many
different styles ranging from the imposing gothic grandeur of St Vitus'
Cathedral to the baroque opulence of St. Nicholas' Church. This upsurge in
tourism has resulted in a swathe of development projects across the Czech
capital aimed at meeting the demands of visitors to the city. Critics say
such initiatives pose a threat to the architectural splendour of Prague,
which is what brings so many people here in the first place.
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ArtsExperimental visions in music and architecture
In the Arts we'll be looking at experimental vision in both music and
architecture. First, we look at the Czech band known as SOIL, and second,
we'll be looking at a new exhibition titled Futura Pragensis, where
students of architecture foresee and propose how Prague might look in two
hundred years.
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Czech BooksEva Jiricna: taming steel, glass and stone to create lightness and space
If you want to give someone a really stylish Christmas present that gives
you a taste of the very best of Czech design, then I think I have just the
thing for you. A richly illustrated new book has just come out, presenting
the work of one of the best contemporary Czech architects.
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Current AffairsSixteen years after Velvet Revolution few communist relics remain
Sixteen years ago this week 40 years of communism in Czechoslovakia
dramatically
came to an end, rapidly dismantled by massive public protests in the city
streets. Almost overnight, the old structures collapsed and with it the
symbols of a decayed system: countless red stars, party banners, statues
of revolutionaries, and 'eternal' monuments to the country's communist
presidents - were carted off to unknown 'graveyards' - usually the
dustbin. More
SpotlightFrom conversion to decay: taking stock of the industrial heritage in the Czech Rep
The Czech Republic is a country with a fascinating industrial heritage all
too often overshadowed by the Renaissance or the Baroque. Anyone who has
ever travelled through Prague's formerly working-class districts of Karlin
and Holesovice, for example, or has cycled in the north or east of the
country, will have taken note of beautiful but crumbling 19th century
factories, forgotten textile plants and old mills, falling apart girder by
girder, brick by brick. More
Current Affairs"Vestiges of Industry" highlights industrial heritage
In a country full of medieval castles and Renaissance palaces it is
sometimes easy to overlook the Czech Republic's rich industrial heritage:
abandoned 19th century breweries, forgotten mines, and massive steel or
textile factories now left to rust and crumble brick by brick. But, the
last five years have seen a major turn-around: investors in the Czech
Republic have at last been attracted into buying industrial space and
turning factories into fashionable galleries, studios, or living space.
This week, the 3rd "Vestiges of Industry" biennale maps some of
the successes - but also some of the risks.
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Czechs in HistoryA look at the Czech architect who built Hiroshima's Industrial Promotion Hall - today's A-Bomb Dome
This week citizens of Hiroshima, but also the rest of the world will mark
the 60th anniversary of the first use of the atomic bomb in war. On the
morning
of August 6th, 1945 - in an instant - most of Hiroshima ceased to exist. More
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