Direct Line Brno-Poznań - report from the lecture evening

Brno can rightfully be proud of its interwar history, during which it doubled its capacity by incorporating adjacent municipalities, and in the spirit of building a new modern state, managed to realize a number of architectural gems that attract tourists from all over the world. It is important to remember this golden age. However, eight decades have passed since then, and modern buildings have become protected monuments. This does not mean that Brno cannot currently boast quality creations. The local school produces several dozen architects every year. Since the Velvet Revolution, the number of graduates has approached one and a half thousand. The generation that started studying only in the new millennium has already managed to establish their own successful practices, as could be witnessed by more than eighty visitors who attended a lecture on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, at 6:00 PM at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań, where representatives from five young architectural offices presented. A quartet of successful graduates and two doctoral candidates from the Faculty of Architecture at VUT in Brno have managed to attract the attention of a wide audience and recognition from expert juries both domestically and internationally with their projects and realizations in a relatively short time. With the project 'Direct Line Brno-Poznań', the FA VUT joins the October Days of Czech Culture in Poznań and the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the partnership between the cities of Brno and Poznań.
After a short introduction, Jan Vojtíšek from the studio AEIOU, founded in 2011 together with Jakub Staník, was the first to speak. The name of the office, created from vowels, signifies a spectrum of offered services (Architecture, Engineering, Interior, Object, and Urbanism). Besides the reconstruction of two family houses and the roof extension of an apartment building, he also presented author's furniture and literary benches for the Mahen Library.
The second speaker was Martin Daněk from the studio ARCHANTI, founded in 2008 together with Martin Doležel, Klára Stachová, and Barbora Ponešová after their successful participation in a competition for stadiums in Opava, followed by renovations of shops and apartments for friends. The audience could peek into the kitchen of the Archants and see up close how projects are created. While some presented perfectly arranged photographs, the Archants displayed amusing snapshots from the implementation process. The results presented from this year's happening by the pond impressed the Polish organizers so much that they invited the Archants to lead a workshop in Poznań next year.
Michal Krištof from CHKAA (Chybik + Kristof Architects & Urban Designers), founded in 2010 with classmate Ondřej Chybík, was a representative of one of the largest architectural offices in Brno and, at the same time, an example of success that happens once in a generation after school. After a series of victories in student competitions and upon returning from foreign universities and large firms, they launched their own careers with no less a commission than the realization of the Czech Republic's national pavilion at the World Expo 2015 in Milan. They continue to collaborate successfully with Koma and are also managing to realize extensive development projects in Prague and Bratislava. It is only a matter of time before other foreign commissions come into play. In the meantime, they are enjoying their time working on the Lahofer winery house.
Next to speak were Tomáš Kozelský and Viktor Odstrčilík, co-founders of one of the youngest Brno studios, KOGAA. Aleksandra Georgescu, the third member of the team, remained at the Brno office located in The Distillery, which serves as a creative platform. KOGAA (Kozelský Odstrčilík Georgescu Associated Architects) took a thorough approach before establishing their own practice: through engineering in a Dutch small town and a Chinese megacity. In their diverse work, they are able to respond to the world of small guerrilla interventions into public space as well as to the demand for large-scale global projects.
The lecture evening concluded with Jan Sedláček from the studio SENAA (SEdláček NAvrátil Architekti), founded in 2012 together with Václav Navrátil. Both architects also brought extensive experiences from Prague and American studios, but as they themselves declare: "Since we come from Haná and Slovácko, we are close to traditional principles and common sense." Their realizations demonstrate a focus on quality materials and craftsmanship.
Brno's architecture enthusiasts will have a similar opportunity to gain an overview of the current work of young Poznań architects in mid-November, when the project 'Direct Line Poznań-Brno' will take place at the social reactor The Distillery on Pekařská Street, where Magda Wypusz, Hugon Kowalski, Jola Starzak, Dawid Strębicki, Adam Wierciński, and others have already confirmed their participation.