<p>110 years ago, Czech architect Jaroslav Fragner was born</p>

Prague - Czech painter, architect, and furniture designer Jaroslav Fragner, who was born on December 25, 1898, is among the most significant creators of Czech functionalism. His highly aesthetic buildings draw attention for their timelessness, extraordinary functionality, and attention to detail, and can still be seen today primarily in Prague and Kolín.
    After studying at the AVU under Josef Gočár, Fragner designed the pavilion of the hospital in Mukachevo in Subcarpathian Rus (1928), one of the first modern buildings in Central Europe. In Kolín, he created the still prominent ESSO thermal power plant (1932), which featured the tallest chimney in Bohemia at the time. Later, he became famous for his work on the restoration, completion, or repair of Czech historical monuments, such as Prague Castle or the Bethlehem Chapel. He also maintained contacts with the German Bauhaus school and was a member of the artistic association Devětsil.
    Fragner's life project was the completion of the Prague Carolinum. He sought to reveal the original medieval core of the building and apply every preserved Gothic element, complemented by modern features and decoration. He added a new rector's wing to the old student residence, thus creating a new monumental whole. However, he did not live to see its final form, as he passed away on January 3, 1967.