Transcendence of Architecture: Petr Hájek – Ad triangulum

The second lecture in the series on contemporary architecture will feature architect, educator, and theorist Petr Hájek, one of the partners of the now-defunct studio HŠH, founder of the association LEA – Laboratory of Experimental Architecture, and also the initiator of the research project “/anastomosis/ – the connected city.” In his presentation, which will take place on the rescheduled date of Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 6:30 PM at Café Papírna, he will address architecture inspired by non-architectural principles – acoustics, optics, and geometry.

Date: June 22, 2017

Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Café Papírna, Zahradní 2, Plzeň

What is conceptual architecture? What gives meaning to architectural projects? Is it also their ability to maintain fundamental principles and values even during realization and to bring a new dimension and life to the designated location? And what is the contribution of research and experiment regarding space in architecture?
Like the series' first guest, the architect Pavel Hnilička, Petr Hájek has also addressed the issue of urban densification in the past, seeking its internal reserves and means to achieve more concentrated development. Without completely losing sight of this topic, he now focuses more on research and experimental projects, especially in an academic setting. Based on these experiences, he suggests that the goal of his work as an architect is not to find extravagant solutions, but to provide the best answers to questions related to the assignment and the forces that shape the outcome. For him, experiment is not an end goal, but a means to achieve a good result.
Three years ago, Petr Hájek, who has led his own studio Petr Hájek Architekti since 2009, was nominated for the Architect of the Year 2014 award. The reason was the realization of several exceptional buildings in recent years – primarily the Krkonošské Centre for Environmental Education in Vrchlabí, which sensitively responds to the natural context of the castle park and creates a highly cultivated environment for educational activities aimed at understanding and protecting nature, and the family house Chameleon, which organically intertwines with its natural surroundings and provides an immediate experience of contact with it.
However, the jury also considered Hájek's innovative and experimental approaches and assignments in teaching at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague, which resulted in public exhibitions that received widespread acclaim – “/anastomosis/” and in 2015–2016 “Urbo Kune,” both at the DOX Center for Contemporary Art in Prague. His students from FA ČVUT and VŠVU in Bratislava were also involved in the realization of the project “Care for Architecture,” with which Petr Hájek, together with Benjamin Bradňanský, Vít Hlada, Ján Studený, and Marián Zervan, won a competition for the design of the Czech-Slovak pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2016 in Venice, Italy.
During the lecture, Petr Hájek will also present a completely current project, with which his team won an international architectural competition for the conversion of former slaughterhouses into the municipal gallery PLATO Ostrava. The jury described the winning proposal as sensitive and simultaneously impressive, best meeting the assignment and the needs of the gallery and aligning with the vision that Ostrava has for the future.
Admission to the event is 50 CZK. The next installment of the series Crossings of Architecture will take place on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 6:30 PM again at Café Papírna in Plzeň. The lecture titled Tripod will feature architect and architecture popularizer Marcela Steinbachová, founder of the Kruh association and holder of the Architect of the Year 2016 award.

doc. Ing. Mgr. akad. arch. Petr Hájek (*1970)
He completed his studies at the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague (FA ČVUT) and the School of Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (ŠA AVU). In 1998, he co-founded the architectural office HŠH architekti with Tomáš Hradečný and Jan Šépka, now HXH architekti (where he is still a partner), and in 2009 established his own architectural office Petr Hájek Architekti. Some of his most well-known realized buildings include: Horní náměstí in Olomouc, Jiřské náměstí at Prague Castle (UNESCO monument), Archdiocesan Museum Olomouc (national cultural monument), Modifications of the castle hill in Litomyšl: courtyard, park, stable, carriage house (UNESCO monument), riding hall – multifunctional hall (UNESCO monument), Villa in Beroun, Villa in Černín, Residential containers, KCEV – Educational Center of the Krkonošsko-jesenická Mountains in Vrchlabí, House Chameleon in Lipence.
For his work, he has received numerous awards: Grand Prix Award of the Czech Chamber of Architects, European Freiraum Award no2, Bauwelt-Preis – honorable mentions, twice Building of the Year, Nomination for the Prize of the Club for Old Prague, Rudolf Eitelberger Award, twice Piranesi Award – honorable mentions, four Czech nominations for the Mies van der Rohe Award for contemporary architecture, Sustainable Architecture Award in Ferrara – honorable mentions. He is the founder and chairman of the board of the Art-Now foundation to support art and talent and the founder of the association LEA – Laboratory of Experimental Architecture.
Since 2004, he has been active as an educator at FA ČVUT in Prague, where he was appointed associate professor in 2010. Since 2012, he has also led an architectural studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava (VŠVU). For his research work in the field of urbanism titled “/anastomosis/,” he received the Rector’s Award of ČVUT of the third degree for the application of research in practice in 2012. In 2014, he was nominated for the Architect of the Year 2014 award for the realization of the KCEV educational center for the Administration of the Krkonošsko-jesenická Mountains National Park. In 2016, he achieved first place in the competition for the national pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2016, in which students from his studio at FA ČVUT also participated. Since 2012, he has been a member of the Professional Council for postgraduate studies in Architecture, Theory, and Creation at FA ČVUT. He has published works on his pedagogical method and research projects including Anastomosis – the connected city, Diagram 03. He is a co-author of the book Care (Sorge) for Architecture published for the international exhibition of the Czech-Slovak pavilion in Venice and a co-author of the catalog for the international exhibition space house – spatial house.
He has authored numerous exhibitions in the Czech Republic and abroad: space house – spatial house, /anastomosis/, Island of Art, Ad triangulum – triangle, Urbo Kune (Prague, Brno, Liberec, Oslo, Vienna, Paris, London, Bratislava, etc.). He has appeared in several radio and television programs on architecture (Life in Concept, Plan, Minimalist Architects, etc.). He has presented his work as an architect and educator in numerous invited lectures at significant institutions both at home and abroad. Currently, he is designing and realizing the following projects: Center for Contemporary Art in Prague 7, Reconstruction of the OKO cinema in Prague 7, Reconstruction of the water tower in Prague 7, House White Rose in Kašperské Hory, Museum of the Cableway in Pec pod Sněžkou, etc.

With a series of four lectures and discussions, the association Pěstuj prostor aims to support and develop the interest of local professionals and the broader public in contemporary architecture and the built and landscape environment of the city. The cycle is prepared by Plzeň architects Petr Klíma and Šárka Holečková in collaboration with other members of the association Pěstuj prostor and with the support of the city of Plzeň, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, and the Foundation for Czech Architecture.

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