A bench designed by architect Plesník has been added at the lookout of the regional office in Liberec

Liberec - A massive oak bench dedicated to architect Zdeněk Plesník has been added to the viewing platform on the 17th floor of the regional office in Liberec. It is meant to remind us that this highest building in the city was constructed according to his design from 1966 to 1976. It is a prime example of European architecture from the 1960s that remains in the shadow of the famous mountain hotel and transmitter on Ještěd, said the regional spokesperson Filip Trdla.

The twenty-one-story building made of glass and concrete was originally the seat of the State Research Institute of Textiles; the region has been based there since 2000. The Zdeněk Plesník bench is handmade. The design and realization is the work of the Secondary School of Mechanical, Civil and Transport Engineering in Liberec. "We were given a free hand," said the school's director Jan Samšiňák. However, he stated that they were inspired by Plesník's work in creating it. "As far as I know, he originally focused on woodworking and wood during his studies. So I firmly believe that if he could see the bench, he would perhaps like it because, I would say, it stems from the basics of his architectural furniture designs," the director mentioned. At the same time, he noted that it is a self-sufficient artistic piece of work that should reflect the influence of functionalist style.

Under the guidance of vocational teacher Miloš Čermák, apprentices from the first and third years of the school created the bench. They spent a minimum of three weeks on it as part of their practical training. According to Radim Beran from the first year, the most challenging part was the gluing. "There are some angles that are difficult to clamp tight," he stated. They had ten minutes for the clamping before the glue hardened. "In the end, it worked out," he added.

Architect Plesník lived from 1914 to 2003. His name is particularly associated with buildings in Zlín (formerly Gottwaldov), but he was active throughout Czechoslovakia, and his works can also be found outside Europe. He designed numerous industrial buildings, public and administrative structures, schools, and family homes. His most famous works include the villas in Zlín for travelers Miroslav Zikmund and Jiří Hanzelka, as well as for composer Zdeněk Liška. Other significant works include the engineering plant MEZ Hulín, the Centroprojekt headquarters in Zlín, the Fotografia cooperative headquarters in Zlín, an observatory in Valašské Meziříčí, and abroad, a radio transmitter in Beijing.