In the technical library, they will commemorate the anniversary of the death of Jan Kaplický

Prague - An evening dedicated to architect Jan Kaplický will take place today at 18:30 at the National Technical Library in Prague. Today marks four years since the sudden passing of Kaplický. His wife Eliška Kaplicky Fuchsová, singer and friend Pavel Bobek, architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš, musician Vladimir 518, and other guests will remember him.
     They will speak about the creation, visions, and world of this architect and will also focus on the present and future direction of Jan Kaplický's legacy and architecture in Prague in general. The evening will also include a screening and the lighting of a candle at the site of Jan Kaplický's death. The event stems from the initiative of two art school students and is supported by the Kaplicky Foundation.
     Architect Jan Kaplický became better known in his homeland only after winning the international competition for a new National Library building when he was already 70 years old. After the intervention of President Václav Klaus, politicians began to speak against the design of the library, which was to take shape according to Kaplický's progressive and very unconventional proposal, leading to the complete failure of the project for the new building; the library decided to address its long-term spatial issues through the renovation of its existing facilities.
     According to his wife, the architect believed until the end of his life that his building in Prague would one day be constructed. "This may be the most significant moment of my life. ... It is an incredible honor to achieve something like this here," said the visibly moved architect who had been working in Britain since the late 1960s when he was introduced in Prague as the winner of the competition.
     Disputes, debates, as well as numerous attacks against his work and person, along with constant explanations and defenses of the project, took a significant toll on Kaplický. On the day his second wife gave birth to their daughter, January 14, 2009, the architect passed away.