People in Prague say goodbye to architect Kaplický, hundreds have come

Prague - At the Prague Crossroad, a memorial tribute to Jan Kaplický began today shortly after noon, drawing significant public interest. Friends, colleagues, and representatives of the public came to honor the memory of the famous architect in the space created from the Church of St. Anne, where they were greeted at the entrance by the music of the Washboard Orchestra dixieland band. A crowd of people gathered in the adjacent alley before the building opened. At the start of the ceremony, there were at least 500 visitors in the former church, the organizers told the ČTK correspondent.
    The first speaker at the public farewell was architect and singer Pavel Bobek, and a written statement was sent by former President Václav Havel. His wife Dagmar read it to the attendees. Havel framed the letter as a birthday wish for Kaplický's daughter Johanka, who was born on the day of the architect's death. For Havel, the day Kaplický died was reportedly the day he himself stood before the heavenly gate due to his severe illness.
    "I do not know why he was chosen instead of others, but I know he left happy with thoughts of you and your mother. Since then, I often recall how we stood next to each other that moment, waiting for fate's decree. When I learned that I had another chance, it was clear to me that I was also being called to advocate for respect for his architectural visions," wrote the ex-president in the letter. Havel also expressed hope that the National Library building according to Kaplický's design would be constructed in the next 12 years.
    Kaplický, widely known to the public in the Czech Republic primarily for the design of the new National Library building, passed away on Wednesday, January 14. He collapsed near the Victory Square in Prague, just hours after his wife Eliška gave birth to their daughter Johanna. According to a press statement provided by the family, he likely died of a heart attack.
    Among the speakers were several of Kaplický's friends and colleagues from abroad. “Jan quickly entered the architectural world after arriving in England, which he had only previously known through magazines,” praised Kaplický's talent architect Deyan Sudjic.
    In the mourning speech, architect and former partner of Kaplický, Eva Jiřičná, also expressed admiration from architect Zaha Hadid, who was a member of the international jury that selected the winning design for the new National Library building.
    “I have met many people in my life, but I have never known anyone so talented up close,” noted Jiřičná, who got to know Kaplický better while living abroad after 1968.
    In the opening part of the farewell to the holder of the prestigious British architecture award, the Stirling Prize, singer Kryštof Michal from the band Support Lesbiens performed the song Bet My Soul accompanied by guitar. Petr Hapka was also supposed to sing but did not arrive due to health reasons.
    Among the participants in the mourning event, many of whom couldn't hold back tears during the screening of a documentary featuring Kaplický, was senator and former foreign minister Jiří Dienstbier. “I am very sorry, a person has left us with whom you could talk about anything without reservation; he had an amazing outlook,” he told ČTK.
    The memorial act will continue for the public until 7:00 PM with screenings of Kaplický's works and inspirations, as well as some moments from his life. The actual funeral will take place in a close family circle, and the casket was not displayed during today’s remembrance.
    Jan Kaplický was born on April 18, 1937, in Prague, where he studied at the Academy of Art, Architecture, and Design. In 1968 he emigrated to England, where he worked in several architectural offices. He founded his own design office with David Nixon in 1979 and worked there until his death. Kaplický's first wife, architect Amanda Levetová, with whom he has a son named Josef, also collaborated with him for many years. In October 2007, he married producer and director Eliška Fuchsová.
    Kaplický received many awards, including for the construction of the Lord's Media Centre at the London cricket stadium. Among his final designs is the Antonín Dvořák Concert and Congress Centre in České Budějovice. In connection with Kaplický's funeral, voices are growing that a new National Library, which he designed for Prague's Letná, should be built. Fans of the blob, united in the civic initiative Democracy Now, are planning a demonstration in Prague on February 5.