The Hanuš Zápal Award for contributions to Plzeň architecture was awarded in memoriam to Docent Jan Štípek for the building of the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art

The Hanus Zapal Award 2010-2013 was presented this evening by the mayor of Plzeň, Martin Baxa, at the recommendation of the expert jury to Associate Professor Jan Štípek posthumously for the building of the Faculty of Design and Art Ladislav Sutnar at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň. A surprise at the gala evening FINPEX, during which the award was conferred, was also a special recognition that the jury decided to give to the city of Plzeň for the realization of three fountains in the Republic Square. The Hanus Zapal Award is presented once every four years for contributions to Plzeň architecture in the past period. This year, the authors of ten buildings competed for it, which are presented in the accompanying exhibition. It can be seen daily from 8 AM to 8 PM in the Atrium of the Municipal Society until October 13th.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of all the completed buildings nominated for the Hanus Zapal Award 2010-2013. They are truly exceptional works. I am very pleased to have been able to honor such a project, which for me personally is the factory of art represented by the new building of the Faculty of Design and Art Ladislav Sutnar at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň," says the mayor of Plzeň, Martin Baxa.

"The building of the Faculty of Design and Art Ladislav Sutnar was a surprise from many perspectives during the tour of nominated projects. The free concept of large-space studios and their arrangement in the overall organization convincingly demonstrates the trends in modern education of artistic disciplines at both European and global levels. The variability of space and transformation of studios creates an atmosphere of a creative environment for students and educators alike. In contrast, the quiet environment of offices and computer studios is shielded by an outdoor textile double facade with a creative charge for its surroundings. The decision of all jury members to award this project was unanimous," explains the jury chair, Ing. arch. Petr Franta.

During the discussion on the nominated buildings, the expert jury unanimously agreed to award a special jury recognition to nomination No. 2 - The Three Fountains in the Republic Square. "There are few examples where a public client - the city of Plzeň completes a project to its final realization without compromises. The jury voted for the jury's award for the fountains in the historic Republic Square, especially in light of the complexity of executing a project that arises from a public competition and subsequent process. The project sparked a public debate, which the responsible representatives of the city managed convincingly," explains the decision of the jury chair, Ing. arch. Petr Franta.

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About Associate Professor Ing. arch. Jan Štípek
Associate Professor Jan Štípek (August 12, 1941 - May 24, 2012) graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in 1965, then joined the Project Service Pragounion, was a founding member of the A13 Architect Cooperative, and worked in Pragoprojekt Praha as the chief architect of the institute until 1990. Since the early 1990s, in addition to designing, he also engaged in teaching activities. Until 2008, he led the Institute of Building Science at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague.

He was intensively involved in cultivating the architecture profession. He was at the birth of the Czech Chamber of Architects in 1992 and was elected its first president the following year. From 1993 to 2007, he was intermittently a member of the board of the Czech Chamber of Architects. His high moral qualities and general respect are evidenced by the fact that he was elected president of this professional organization ten times. He initiated active cooperation with professional institutions and organizations and was a member of numerous juries and commissions. He received many prestigious awards, including the title of Personality of Construction 2011, awarded by the SIA-Construction Council for contributions in the field of construction, and in 2012 he received a medal from the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction (ČKAIT).