<p>Fifty years ago, architect Jaroslav Fragner passed away.</p>

Prague - Architect Jaroslav Fragner, whose death will be 50 years ago on January 3, was one of the most significant creators of Czech functionalism. His most famous works include the completion and reconstruction of Karolinum and the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague as well as the building of the thermal power plant in Kolín, which featured the tallest chimney in Bohemia at the time.

Fragner was born on December 25, 1898, into the family of Karel Fragner, one of the founders of the Czech pharmaceutical industry. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts under Josef Gočár, and after his studies, designed the pavilion for the hospital in Mukachevo in Subcarpathian Ruthenia (1928), one of the first modern buildings in Central Europe. Later, he became famous for his work on the restoration, completion, or repair of Czech monuments, such as Prague Castle, the Bethlehem Chapel, and primarily Karolinum.

The Merkur Palace on Revoluční Street in Prague also comes from Fragner's workshop. Especially for relatives and friends, including his wife, dancer and choreographer Milča Mayerová, he designed several small weekend houses, reflecting insights from his trip to America (1935) and inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alvar Aalto.

After Gočár's death in 1945, Fragner took over the management of the School of Architecture at AVU, where he trained a whole array of excellent architects. He also maintained contacts with the German Bauhaus school and was a member of the artistic association Devětsil.