Unity in diversity
Installation of the German House at Moravian Square
From May to October, the Moravské náměstí in Brno will be enlivened by the multi-genre festival Summer 2017. The rich program, which will kick off on May 19 with the Meeting Brno festival, will also adapt the space of the square itself. The project for the temporary modification of the square is the work of the architectural studio Chybik+Kristof Architects & Urban Designers, and its concept, as well as the main motto – Unity in Diversity – aims to remind of all the historical layers that have accumulated here over the centuries.
Moravské náměstí in Brno is a place with a rich history. It is located on the northern edge of the historical core of the city and was part of the city fortifications with a bastion until the mid-18th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had already become a vibrant social hub, and after the demolition of the walls in 1850, it became part of the green ring of Brno's circular boulevard. From 1888 to 1891, the German House was built in the middle of the park, complemented by a sculpture of Emperor Joseph II, which served as a cultural center for the German-speaking citizens of Brno. The monument was removed in 1919, and the German House ceased to exist with the end of World War II. After the war, Red Army soldiers who lost their lives liberating Brno were briefly buried here, and the space was later landscaped as a park. In 1946, a foundation stone for a T. G. Masaryk monument was unveiled in the park, which, however, was never completed. From 1970 to 1973, the area was remodeled in the spirit of the then-current ideology – a five-pointed pool with a fountain was placed in the center, with the sculpture "Communists" behind it. After 1990, only the pool remained. All these historical layers are an imprint of the history not only of the city of Brno but of the entire Czech state. They document the dramatic changes in society that were the driving force behind most changes in the square. With a bit of exaggeration, one could say that Moravské náměstí is a hidden manifesto of our history.
The installation designed by architects Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof for Summer 2017 evokes these layers and intertwines them in unexpected moments. It evokes a desire to connect. It refers to the long-forgotten layer of city fortifications as well as the bond between Bohemia and Moravia with the Habsburg monarchy, reminding of the largest minority in Brno – the Moravian Germans – as well as the Red Army soldiers, and does not forget the long years of the communist regime.
The task was to create a summer pavilion that would contain a stage, a bar, a beer terrace, and an outdoor gallery with the necessary facilities. The layout of the individual functions in the space is based on the floor plan of the German House, represented in the form of a structure made of scaffolding tubes; the inscription placed on the main facade proudly announces the festival's main motto – Unity in Diversity – in the languages of all the nations that have appeared in the space of Moravské náměstí. The central part of the pavilion serves as a stage, the right wing contains the bar and beer terrace, and the left wing holds the outdoor gallery with an exhibition of artworks. A red star, painted on the pavement, dominates the central space, referencing the sculpture of the communists, which is the work of sculptor Pavel Karous. Concrete obelisks are installed along the main axis of the square leading to the city center as a reminder of fallen Red Army soldiers. The oldest layer – the city walls – is converted into the form of a simple fence. This will be complemented by information panels describing the individual fragments.
The summer installation will host a number of cultural and social events in the square, starting with the Meeting Brno festival, followed by folklore, theater, or music festivals, and even beer festivities. The rich program will precede the overall reconstruction of the square, planned for 2018. The author of the solution – the studio consequence forma – was selected based on an architectural competition held in the second half of 2016.
Moravské náměstí in Brno is a place with a rich history. It is located on the northern edge of the historical core of the city and was part of the city fortifications with a bastion until the mid-18th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had already become a vibrant social hub, and after the demolition of the walls in 1850, it became part of the green ring of Brno's circular boulevard. From 1888 to 1891, the German House was built in the middle of the park, complemented by a sculpture of Emperor Joseph II, which served as a cultural center for the German-speaking citizens of Brno. The monument was removed in 1919, and the German House ceased to exist with the end of World War II. After the war, Red Army soldiers who lost their lives liberating Brno were briefly buried here, and the space was later landscaped as a park. In 1946, a foundation stone for a T. G. Masaryk monument was unveiled in the park, which, however, was never completed. From 1970 to 1973, the area was remodeled in the spirit of the then-current ideology – a five-pointed pool with a fountain was placed in the center, with the sculpture "Communists" behind it. After 1990, only the pool remained. All these historical layers are an imprint of the history not only of the city of Brno but of the entire Czech state. They document the dramatic changes in society that were the driving force behind most changes in the square. With a bit of exaggeration, one could say that Moravské náměstí is a hidden manifesto of our history.
The installation designed by architects Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof for Summer 2017 evokes these layers and intertwines them in unexpected moments. It evokes a desire to connect. It refers to the long-forgotten layer of city fortifications as well as the bond between Bohemia and Moravia with the Habsburg monarchy, reminding of the largest minority in Brno – the Moravian Germans – as well as the Red Army soldiers, and does not forget the long years of the communist regime.
The task was to create a summer pavilion that would contain a stage, a bar, a beer terrace, and an outdoor gallery with the necessary facilities. The layout of the individual functions in the space is based on the floor plan of the German House, represented in the form of a structure made of scaffolding tubes; the inscription placed on the main facade proudly announces the festival's main motto – Unity in Diversity – in the languages of all the nations that have appeared in the space of Moravské náměstí. The central part of the pavilion serves as a stage, the right wing contains the bar and beer terrace, and the left wing holds the outdoor gallery with an exhibition of artworks. A red star, painted on the pavement, dominates the central space, referencing the sculpture of the communists, which is the work of sculptor Pavel Karous. Concrete obelisks are installed along the main axis of the square leading to the city center as a reminder of fallen Red Army soldiers. The oldest layer – the city walls – is converted into the form of a simple fence. This will be complemented by information panels describing the individual fragments.
The summer installation will host a number of cultural and social events in the square, starting with the Meeting Brno festival, followed by folklore, theater, or music festivals, and even beer festivities. The rich program will precede the overall reconstruction of the square, planned for 2018. The author of the solution – the studio consequence forma – was selected based on an architectural competition held in the second half of 2016.
Chybik+Kristof Architects & Urban Designers
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