English Spring 2020 - Lecture Series at FA VUT

After the previous nine cycles focused on architectural creation in a certain corner of the world, this spring we will set off to the British Isles. The goal of the six lectures will be to explain the continuity of English architecture from the 17th century to the present. In a millennium-old monarchy, conservative styles with a modest appearance and construction logic thrive. Adolf Loos traveled to London to admire the craftsmanship of Arts & Crafts artisans. The famous British high-tech movement is then a natural continuation of the industrial revolution of the 19th century. We will analyze the current English scene in detail, highlighting the specifics of individual creators who now pass their experiences on to students, mainly at ETH Zurich. Following the English Spring 2020 cycle, the next semester will continue with Italian Autumn 2020. Lectures by Petr Šmídka take place at the Faculty of Architecture at VUT Brno for all those interested in contemporary architecture every even Monday in room A118 starting at 9:00 AM.

17.2. Old Masters
William Kent, Christopher Wren, John Nash, John Soane, Nicholas Hawksmoor

2.3. Arts & Craft, International style
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Joseph Emberton, Maxwell Fry, Berthold Lubetkin

16.3. Brutalism
Erno Goldfinger, Denys Lasdun, Troup Steele & Scott, Chamberlin Powell & Bon

30.3. High-Tech
Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Nicholas Grimshaw, Michael Hopkins

15.4. Postmodernism + Ireland
James Stirling, Terry Farrell, McCullough Mulvin, O'Donnell+Tuomey

27.4. Current London Scene
David Chipperfield, Carmody & Groarke, Caruso & St. John, 6a architects

Trip to London
A four-day May excursion to the city on the Thames


Architecture Today - Lecture Series at FA VUT
The spring series will again respond to current events in the world of architecture. It will introduce exhibitions, upcoming publications in advance, and highlight interesting speakers who will visit the Czech Republic. Additionally, we will commemorate events taking place during the semester beyond our borders that deserve attention and should ideally be considered for a visit. Lectures by Petr Šmídka take place at the Faculty of Architecture at VUT Brno for all those interested in contemporary architecture every odd Monday in room A118 starting at 9:00 AM.

10.2. Álvaro Siza
On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the completion of the Serralves Museum in Porto, which has prepared a lifelong retrospective and a rich lecture series for its author.

24.2. Vorarlberg
On the occasion of the exhibition Intergenerational Dialogues at the Architekturzentrum Wien, where Hans Purin, Rudolf Wäger, Gunter Wratzfeld, Matthias Hein, Bernardo Bader, and Andreas Cukrowicz discuss; at the beginning of March, the exhibition will move to VAI in Dornbirn.

9.3. Pritzker Prize
On the occasion of the announcement of the 42nd laureate, we will remember some previous holders of this most prestigious architectural award and invite to the March exhibition of Balkrishna Doshi (laureate 2018) at AzW, organized by the Vitra Design Museum.

23.3. Šik's Students
On the occasion of a lecture and exhibition by a pair of Miroslav Šik's students from ETH at the Gallery of Contemporary Art in České Budějovice. Quintus Miller and Paola Maranta run an office in Basel and teach at the academy in Mendrisio.

6.4. Norwegian Scene
Commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the civic association Kruh, which will welcome Scandinavian creators this year. Focusing on the April lecture by Reiulf Ramstad.

20.4. Los Angeles
On the occasion of the passing of Ray Kappe, founder of the SCI-Arc architectural school. Focusing on the phenomenon of California architecture embodied by Frank Gehry, Thom Mayne, Eric Owen Moss, and Neil Denari.

4.5. Venice Biennale
On the occasion of the May opening of the 17th Architectural Biennale in Venice under the curatorial leadership of MIT Dean Hashim Sarkis. The participation of Czech and Slovak entities is still shrouded in mystery.