Kladno wants "second" Antonín Raymond

Kladno - A new competition The Architect Antonín Raymond Award is aimed at architecture and design students from Czech universities, which will be announced in mid-February by the city of Kladno together with the Czech Center Tokyo and architect David Vávra. The winner will receive a four-week internship in Japan at the Raymond Architectural Design Office, where the Kladno native worked, including visits to his completed buildings.
      "The purpose of the competition is to bring new and inspiring ideas for creating a quality living environment for the people in Kladno through students' designs," said Mayor Dan Jiránek. He also admitted that Kladno is trying to draw attention to its nearly forgotten native son.
The subject of the competition includes urban, architectural, or design studies focused on a multifunctional building in the Kladno square of Svobody and the transformation of an industrial facility in the POLDI Kladno area.
      The jury, which will assess the competition entries in mid-September, will include Czech and Japanese architects. In addition to the main prize, a trip to Japan, there will also be a special mayor's prize of 30,000 crowns.
      Although the city leadership does not expect to implement any of the competition entries directly, it anticipates a new wave. "We believe that fresh proposals will arrive that can inspire Kladno for future use," added Jiránek.
      Czech architect Antonín Raymond is considered the founder of modern Japanese architecture. Although he emigrated to the USA in 1910, he spent and worked a large part of his life in Japan. Among his most significant buildings is the Gunma Music Center in Tokyo, which is listed on the list symbolizing modern Japanese architecture of the 20th century.
      Last year, he was posthumously awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Kladno, and architect David Vávra is currently making a documentary film about his life and work. "I believe he is one of the greatest figures in Czech architecture. I would place him alongside Kotěra, Gočár, Novotný, and others," noted Vávra for Czech Radio.