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Current AffairsAsbestos concerns rise as affected schools close
The city hall in České Budějovice closed three primary schools in a
housing estate this week after health workers discovered the presence of
carcinogenic asbestos. While teachers attempt to create alternative plans
for the several hundred students, asbestos concerns have returned to the
public awareness nationwide, and health officials warn that many more
public buildings may carry the same risks. More
Current AffairsEyesore of an apartment bloc in Havlíčkův Brod to be torn down
Pre-fabricated apartment blocs known in the Czech Republic as paneláky
(panel buildings) were once the Soviet ideal and countless thousands were
built in Czechoslovakia from the 1950s until 1989. Now, for the first time,
one such bloc of homes will be demolished strictly for aesthetic reasons.
The Southeast Bohemian town of Havlíčkův Brod has confirmed that a
low-rise smack in the town centre – considered an eyesore for years –
will soon be a thing of the past. More
Czech LifeA look behind the thin walls of Czech panelák apartment buildings
A legacy of the communists’ fascination with the pre-fabricated building
method, paneláky or tower block buildings to this day can be found across
the Czech Republic, often in prominent and elevated places, towering over
cities and towns. After all, they were considered the height of
architectural and technological progress during communism. More
Current AffairsLarge 3D model of Prague goes on display at Anděl shopping mall
Before the computer age, Prague city planners used a large 3D model of the
capital to see what new buildings, roads and other features would look like
in the given environment. But 10 years ago, the model was replaced by
digital technologies; now it has been put to a new use. With new
interactive features, the model has gone on display in one of the city’s
shopping malls. More
ArtsOut My Window – A 360 degree internet documentary examines lives behind the gray walls of the highrise, from Prague to Beirut
In this week’s Arts I talk to Czech-Canadian documentary filmmaker
Katerina Cizek – the director of Out My Window, a fascinating and
highly-innovative project that looks at lives behind the walls of highrise
buildings in 13 cities around the world, from Prague to Beirut. The
non-linear feature film – called the first 360 degree internet
documentary in the world – is up for an international Emmy next month and
can be viewed on the website of the National Film Board of Canada. Kat
Cizek told me more about the idea behind her project and how it all came
together, on a line from her home in Toronto this week. More
Czech LifeA look behind the thin walls of Czech panelák apartment buildings
A legacy of the communists’ fascination with the pre-fabricated building
method, paneláky or tower block buildings to this day can be found across
the Czech Republic, often in prominent and elevated places, towering over
cities and towns. After all, they were considered the height of
architectural and technological progress during communism.
More
PanoramaNyctalus - Helping bats injured in the city return to flight
Nyctalus is a chapter of the Czech Union for Nature Conservation made up of
young zoologists and specialists, focussing on the plight of bats injured
in Czech towns and cities. Every year dozens of the creatures are retrieved
in poor condition, sometimes having suffered cruelly at the hands of
humans. One example: in February workers near Prague killed hundreds of the
creatures uncovered in pre-fab apartment buildings. On the other hand, a
good number were saved by Nyctalus and some bats will be released this
Thursday in Prague’s Stromovka Park.
More
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