Current architects will offer expert tours of Czech cities

Prague - An excursion to the National Technical Library, a cycling trip to the most significant construction sites of contemporary Brno, or a trip to the works of architect Michal Sborwitze - this is just a fraction of the events that will take place in early October in twenty Czech and Moravian cities. The iconic buildings or interesting local architecture will be presented to interested parties by contemporary domestic architects. Pavlína Svatoňová informed ČTK about this on behalf of the organizers.
World Architecture Day is celebrated every year on the first Monday of October. This year, the celebration date falls on October 3rd, although some events will take place already the previous day, Sunday, October 2nd.
A series of excursions, lectures, and guided walks across cities in the Czech Republic will be led by many respected architects and architectural theorists, including Jaroslav Wertig, Pavel Nasadil, Roman Brychta, Petr Lešek, and Ondřej Císler. The project involves the Czech metropolis, Brno, and Olomouc, as well as the small town of Lobeč near Mšeno with a population of around five thousand. "The residents of these places will have the opportunity to rediscover their city. And that thanks to the architects who were perhaps born here. The locals will guide them through interesting and distinctive contemporary architectural buildings and point out the landscape and urban contexts or peculiarities," Svatoňová stated, adding that the main organizer of the event is the civic association KRUH.
According to Marcela Steinbachová, the chief initiator of the event, the goal of the project is to present to the general public extraordinary achievements in the field of architecture from the 20th and 21st centuries. "We are interested in exceptional buildings and the genius loci of the specific place. We try to showcase remarkable buildings of an industrial or economic nature, as well as highlight unsuccessful realizations and insensitive urban interventions," Steinbachová added, noting that the walks and excursions are completely free of charge.
Prague residents will have the chance to get to know the metropolis better, for example, through a tour of three educational buildings. Architect Ondřej Císler will comment on the Bílá Elementary School, the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University, and the National Technical Library for attendees. For sports enthusiasts, there is an excursion on roller skates to significant First Republic and contemporary villas in Břevnov, while other events will focus on areas such as Prague’s Letná, transformations in Vysočany, or the surroundings of the Botič River.
Several hundred kilometers away, in Olomouc, there will be a trip to the works of architect Michal Sborwitze, and the locals will also be able to join a tour of the controversial new building of the Faculty of Science. "In Brno, there will be a cycling trip to the most significant construction sites or an unconventional architectural run," Svatoňová added.