Archive: Culture | Architecture Architecture
New tome captures genius of pioneer of Cubist architecture Josef Gočár
In Prague’s Old Town, on the corner of Celetná Street and Ovocný trh,
you will find the House of the Black Madonna, one of the most distinctive
structures in a city known for its unparalleled mix of architectural
styles. It was the first building in the rare Cubist style of architecture
strongly associated with the city, and today houses a Cubist museum. More
Learning to Dwell: Adolf Loos at the RIBA in London
In this week’s Arts I talk to Irena Murray-Žantovská of the Royal
Institute of British Architects in London about a successful new show there
examining work in the Czech lands by famous Functionalist architect Adolf
Loos. The show picks up from a similar exhibition held in the Czech capital
in 2008 and presents to British audiences some of Loos’ best known
buildings in the Czech Republic and Prague, most notably the Müller Villa. More
Famous Art Nouveau gem set to reopen
The famous Jurkovič House in Brno, belonging to the Moravian Gallery in
Brno, will reopen to the public in roughly two week’s time following
extensive renovation. Designed by the Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič and
dating back to 1906, the Art Nouveau villa – which makes marked use of
rustic or folklore elements – will serve as a multiple-purpose museum for
the gallery. The building ranks as a gem of early 20th century
architecture, ranking similarly in importance to the Villa Tugendhat. A
little earlier the gallery’s deputy director Kateřina Tlachová told me
more: More
New tome captures genius of pioneer of Cubist architecture Josef Gočár
In Prague’s Old Town, on the corner of Celetná Street and Ovocný trh,
you will find the House of the Black Madonna, one of the most distinctive
structures in a city known for its unparalleled mix of architectural
styles. It was the first building in the rare Cubist style of architecture
strongly associated with the city, and today houses a Cubist museum. More
Prague’s Villa Bílek, “stronghold of a higher realm”, opens after renovation
Prague’s Villa Bílek, an intriguing piece of modern architecture, has
opened to the public after two years of renovation. Designed by the Czech
Art Nouveau artist František Bílek as his studio and family home, it
stands out as one of the more unusual architectural landmarks of the
capital, reflecting Bílek’s vision of a “stronghold of a higher
realm”. More
Urban Interventions at DOX gallery in Prague
A flower market on a giant paddle boat, a floating cycling path along the
Vltava River or a special high-heels lane running across the cobbled centre
of Prague – these are just a few projects created within the Urban
Interventions initiative, which is currently on display in Prague’s Dox
gallery. The organizers have asked architects to find ways of livening up
what they see as problematic public spaces in the capital.
More
Architect Jan Kaplický "lived for his vision", says curator of new exhibition Eva Jiřičná
The late architect Jan Kaplický has been in the news a lot recently. A new
documentary was released last week about the collapse of his dream to
finally see one of his designs realised in Prague: the futuristic yellow
structure, nicknamed the Blob, was to have served as a new National Library
building, but met opposition from politicians. Now an exhibition at the
city’s Dox gallery – featuring plans, models and more – gives Czechs
a chance to see some of the ultramodern designs Kaplický created at his
world renowned Future Systems studio in the UK. Dox’s artistic director
Jaroslav Anděl says the show has several aims.
More
Film captures thwarted plans for futuristic Jan Kaplický building in Prague
The documentary Oko nad Prahou (The Eye Above Prague), which premiered in
the city on Wednesday night, is about Jan Kaplický winning the contract to
build a new National Library building in the Czech Republic’s first ever
international architecture tender. However, his futuristic design –
nicknamed the Blob – soon met opposition from the president and others
and the plan was abandoned. Tragically, the Czech-born architect died last
year on the day his wife gave birth to their first child. I spoke to
Kaplický’s widow Eliška Kaplický Fuchsová, who produced the film, and
asked her what she felt the fate of the Blob told us about the Czech
Republic today.
More
New sites, objects, named national treasures
The Czech government has added 38 historic buildings, areas and objects to
the country’s list of cultural heritage sites, bringing it to a total of
274. For the first time a dam, a train, and a hotel appear among the
country’s most valued venues.
More
Experimental stage to become National Theatre’s newest venue in 2010
If you have ever seen the Czech National Theatre then surely you have
noticed the modernistic glass cube lodged between it and an 18th century
convent. That is the Nová Scéna, the seat of the well known Laterna
Magika, or Magic Lantern, experimental theatre. Long one of Prague’s top
attractions, Laterna Magika’s popularity has diminished over the years,
and as of 2010 the building and the its programme management will be
transferred to the National Theatre, which is quite literally giving it a
new lease on life. More
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