World Architecture Day for the first time in Litomyšl

Already in 1996, at the gathering of the International Union of Architects, it was agreed that World Architecture Day would take place every year on the first Monday in October. Last year, this day was celebrated for the first time by some cities in the Czech Republic. The main focus was on guided walks through Czech and Moravian towns with architects or art historians. The second edition is proudly embraced by Litomyšl, which will offer a three-day marathon of various events under the title ArchiMyšl 2012 for those interested in modern architecture and design.

Friday, September 28

The program will kick off on Friday, September 28, with a screening at the newly digitized Sokol cinema. We will screen the film Urbanized from 2011, which features a number of world architects, urban planners, strategy authors, and thinkers. After the screening, there will be a discussion with young architects from the architectural quartet Manua. “Cinema tickets will be raffleable. After the screening, we will draw 10 winners who will receive a new wall calendar Modern Litomyšl 2013,” promises the town mayor Michal Kortyš. This will be followed by night swimming at the Litomyšl Municipal Pool, which was declared Construction of the Year last year.

Saturday, September 29

Reservations are required for guided tours
Saturday will be marked by guided tours. Those interested in the revitalization of the castle hill will be led by Mayor Michal Kortyš through the construction site. Wearing a helmet, you will have the opportunity to sneak a peek into the Piarist Church, which is full of scaffolding, view the nearly completed interior of the riding hall, and get a glimpse "under the hands" of archaeologists. There will also be a ride to see the modern architectural buildings in Litomyšl. For both tours, prior registration is required either in person at the information center or via email at vokalova@galerie.litomysl.cz. Participants in the ride will tour the courtyard of the pedagogical school with expert commentary from emeritus mayor Miroslav Brýdl and Antonín Dokoupil, walk along the Loučná River, peek into the Municipal Sports Hall, visit the White Gallery in Osík, the apartment complex in the U nemocnice locality, the New Church, the Municipal Pool, the ice stadium, the Černá hora sports complex, and the dormitory of the pedagogical school. The journey will conclude at the castle hill. A necessary snack will also be part of the trip.

Discussion with architects on the topic of "litomyšl miracle"
The highlight of Saturday's program will be a talk with architects at 6 p.m. in the chapel of the European Training Center. The evening will also include the launch of the wall calendar Modern Litomyšl 2013 and a brochure presenting the most significant realizations of contemporary architecture in Litomyšl. You will be able to purchase the calendar here at a significant discount. We will talk not only about past realizations but also about currently ongoing or planned projects. We will end Saturday with an architectural dance party at Music Club Kotelna.

Academy of Young Architects – workshops for children
As part of the program, we also do not forget future architects. On Saturday and Sunday, we invite children to the Municipal Gallery on the second floor of the castle for the so-called Academy of Young Architects. The architectural studio Manua will conduct creative workshops here and, using various materials, explain to children what architecture is, that it is the result of a process of finding relationships in space and that every detail matters. There will be painting, gluing, building, we believe, to the great joy of all participants. Who knows, perhaps this experience will inspire some children to become architects.

Cruise through Litomyšl
The project by art historian Terezie Nekvintová and architect Eva Vopátková fits perfectly into the architectural weekend. The ladies invite those interested to take a walk through architecture created in the last ten years – the walk will start at the Loučná River and end with a plunge into the depths of the covered swimming pool. Their guide will be water, which is present at every turn in Litomyšl. The meeting point is on Sunday, September 30, at 3:00 p.m. by the statue of Bedřich Smetana.

Zdeněk Fránek – Too Invisible Architecture
Architect Zdeněk Fránek, one of the most published Czech authors abroad, currently has two realizations in Litomyšl – one permanent, the other temporary. He is the author of the New Church of the Brethren Church and the Persian or Invisible Tower, which stands in front of the house U Rytířů. The tower is part of Fránek's exhibition cycle, which had its premiere last November at the Brno House of Art. The exhibition was labeled as one of the best existing architecture exhibitions in the country. Part of this successful exhibition will be installed from September 30 to December 2, 2012, at the house U Rytířů. The Persian Tower is a sort of "preview" of the entire exhibition – it is a spatial installation designed to draw attention to the exhibition. The opening of the exhibition is scheduled for 2 p.m., and from 3 to 5 p.m., we invite all interested parties for a discussion with architect Fránek in "his" New Church.

The organizers of the event believe that this event will find its audience and be interesting for Litomyšl locals, as well as young architects, architecture students, or design students, and other art enthusiasts from across the country.