Architects can compete for the design of the façade of the New Stage

Prague - The ideological architectural competition for the new appearance of the facade of the New Stage of the National Theater (ND) was announced today in Prague by a company that manufactures building materials, among other things. Although the building from the 1980s is controversial from an architectural point of view today, according to ND director Ondřej Černý, there are currently no plans to change its exterior.
    "The competition has nothing to do with any realization, but it can, like similar competitions, bring impulses, ideas, and contribute to discussion about the New Stage building," Černý told reporters. Even after discussions with current architects, he wants the New Stage building with its typical glass facade to remain "anchored in the time in which it was created."
    The organizer of the competition chose the New Stage building only as a means; they could have just as easily chosen Prague Castle or the historic building of the ND, added Černý - in the case of the Castle, it is also very unlikely that the appearance of its buildings would change.
    Nevertheless, a similar competition recently took place concerning Prague Castle, organized by students of the UMPRUM (Art and Design College). The contestants proposed several bizarre plans; the competition aimed to draw attention to the current situation regarding architecture and heritage preservation in the Czech Republic: for example, the relative power of wealthy developers, but also the "untouchability" of the Prague skyline.
    In recent years, the New Stage has been home to the performances of Laterna magika, which functioned as an independent organization established by the Ministry of Culture. Starting next year, Laterna magika will return under the administration of the National Theater. The New Stage will thus become its third stage; it was also established in the 1980s as an experimental stage of this theater. The New Stage's stage will be shared with Laterna magika by one third, one third will be for ND's artistic ensembles, and the rest will operate as an "open season," which could also bring money from commercial rentals to ND's budget.
    The reason for transferring it back under ND, where Laterna magika previously operated, is primarily its financial situation. The ensemble, which used groundbreaking staging techniques in its time and excelled at world exhibitions in the 1950s and 1960s, is now searching for a new identity.
    The problem with utilizing the building designed by Karel Prager is the poor acoustics of the hall. ND has prepared project documentation that should solve this problem, and according to Černý, is negotiating with the Ministry of Culture regarding financing. Better acoustics would allow opera to enter the New Stage.
    The conditions for the ideological competition, where architects must use materials produced by the organizer, can be found on the website www.dupont.cz. The deadline is January 15, 2010, and in spring, an exhibition of the competition works will be prepared at the ND piazzetta. According to the competition organizer, its conditions were approved by the Czech Chamber of Architects.