|
|
Like in a beehive. Agglutination and cellular structures in the 20th century European architecture
Hojda, Ondřej ; Lahoda, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Švácha, Rostislav (referee)
This MA thesis takes its topic from the domain of the 20th century architecture and focuses on one of its less known currents. When designing, certain architects during this period have adopted a form that we define as cellular and agglutinative. This is supposed to mark that this architecture is composed of small, repetitive units. These units were then grouped in a freemannered and variable fashion, neglecting the classical rules of symmetry and, on the contrary, drawing the form from the internal logic of the building and its environment namely the climate and terrain. This principle is very ancient, we find it already in Çatal Höyük, the oldest known city ever, and it displays itself in various examples of the "spontaneous" "vernacular" architecture, or "architecture without architects". Nevertheless, this thesis discusses the principle solely as a concept in modern architecture. The author poses questions about the origin of this concept, how it expressed itself and what was its development. The research method is based on analysing particular buildings, then discussing the deeper theoretical and historical background. Gradually, three sorts of answers emerge. The first one lies in a profound interest for archaic cultures shared by certain architects, and also for what is still alive of these cultures,...
|
|
|
Nippon re-discovered. The image of Japan in central European modernism 1920-1940
Čapková, Helena ; Švácha, Rostislav (referee) ; Lahoda, Vojtěch (advisor)
Japanese influence on Europe was particularly strong in the period of japonism, which is widely pinned down and limited to the second half of 19th century. However, this Japanese vogue transformed into a sophisticated knowledge and admiration for Japanese art, philosophy and everyday life by the interwar period. This transformation happened within a framework of international modernity and is a subject of this text. What is the Japanese element in modernism that alludes its latent japaneseness? I argue that it is a symptom of Japanese aesthetics that deeply rooted into common consciousness by the time between the wars. The geographic focus of this paper is on Central Europe and Japan. Japanese art scene has been an active participant of international art debates since the beginning of 20th century. This dynamic situation in Japan played a crucial role in seeking the history and unique face of modernism. Many prominent artists took part in this process including the ones for Central Europe. Therefore, few case studies will be included, such as on Johannes Itten, Bedřich Feuerstein and Bruno Taut.
|
|
|
Architectural photography as the means of promotion of a modern architecture in Czechoslovakia 1918-1948
Holá, Mariana ; Švácha, Rostislav (referee) ; Lahoda, Vojtěch (advisor)
Media had a decisive influence on the live of 20th century society. This impact reached its first peak in the time between the World War I and /I when mass media evolved, thanks to the technology and consumption society development. Their significant part was also photography. At that time it was perceived as a literal copy of reality but some people rather used its ability to alter or change the reality. One of the disciplines which used this relatively new medium for its promotion and popularization was a modern architecture. This thesis deals with forms of architectural photography in Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1948, factors determining these forms but foremost by ways the architectural photography helped promoting modern architecture From its beginnings the history of photography is inseparably connected with capturing architecture. At times when long exposures were necessary architecture was a convenient motionless subject. In the 19th century the architectural photography primarily developed with industrial development which was accompanied by construction of new industrial buildings. Even then these pictures served as the means of progress promotion and their iconography referred to it (structures, factory smokestack, modern means of transport) as well. The inter-war avant-garde grew up from the...
|
|
|
Czechoslovak CIAM Chapter after the Second World War
Hanáčková, Marcela ; Klusáková, Luďa (referee) ; Švácha, Rostislav (advisor)
Swiftly describing Czechoslovak participation in the thirties the stress of this dissertation on the history of the Czechoslovak CIAM chapter after the second war. It describes the success of the Czechoslovak presentation on the congress in Bridgwater (national and regional plannig), the cooperation on the development of the CIAM Grid with Le Corbusier, the missed opportunity to hold the congress in Prague, the impact of centralization on the Czechoslovak CIAM group, the influence of socialist realism on East European countries, the unabled activities on the following three congresses and finaly the renewed participation at the last congress in Dubrovnik. While doing so it concentrates itself on four themes: regional planning, synthesis of the arts, historical centres and habitat which were all discussed at post-war CIAM.
|
|
|
Antonín Tenzer, architect: projects and realizations from years 1929-1945
Pučerová, Klára ; Klimešová, Marie (referee) ; Švácha, Rostislav (advisor)
The objective of this Diploma Thesis is descripture and analysis of the early works of Antonín Tenzer, since the times of his studies (graduated ťrom the College of Applied Arts in 1933) until cstab1ishing a studio together with Richard Podzemný ( 1939). Besides his own realizations, the work also covers engeneering projects on which he prarticipated within the studio of Architect Jaromír Krejcar. Tenzer worked in his studio not only through the period of his collegiate study, but also aťter Krejcar's return from the U.S.S.R. ( Czechoslovak Pavilion for the World Exhibition in Paris, 193 7). An important part of the legacy of the young architect are, besides his rcalizations, especially competition projects which had drawn attention to a group oť young progressive architects oť his generation. First oť those stili ťali within the period ofhis study. The work is based on assembled materials, in accordance with a listing oť the architect himselt: and on its speciťication and enhancement. Furthennore, besides selected literature and contemporary periodicals, interviews, texts oť memories and persona! letters have been employed. Constituting a chronological listing of the work, archive sources. and bibliography. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
|
|
|
Ladislav Žák (1900-1973)
Dvořáková, Dita ; Švácha, Rostislav (advisor) ; Sedlák, Jan (referee) ; Wittlich, Petr (referee)
This thesis investigates the life and work of the architect Ladislav Žák (1900-1973), who also engaged in painting and drawing, furniture design, landscape architecture and architectural theory. His work was rooted in systematic theoretical considerations. In addition to working as an architect, Žak was a high school drawing teacher (1924-1930) and a professor of garden and landscape architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (1946-1973). As a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Žák studied painting with Professor Karel Krattner (1919-1924) and architecture with Professor Josef Gočár (1924-1927). In his early architectural and urban planning studies, as well as his furniture designs, he applied the principles of the new functionalist movement. He then followed the tenets of Le Corbusier's Purism into the 1930s. A characteristic attribute of all of Žak's work was a simultaneous consideration of tradition and a sensibility for current trends. This dichotomy was already present in his earliest theoretical writings.
|
|
|
The swimming pool as an architectural task. Open-air swimming pools in Czech architecture of the 1920s-1940s
Turjanicová, Andrea ; Švácha, Rostislav (referee) ; Lahoda, Vojtěch (advisor)
If the Low exists in the architecture then buildings for water sports seem to stand for a category frankly Deep. Neither for the main stream, nor perhaps for the industrial architecture which occupies considerable interest in recent years. At the same time, open-air swimming pools from the twenties and thirties worth the attention, either in light of the architecture or considering circumstances far more general. Distinctly it is reflected by the district of Prague 's Barrandov. Modern architecture, film, culture of coffee lounges and sport that helped to create an atmosphere of the interwar era were present in the new garden-city. In altered, diversely misshapen form these phenomena kept the importance also in following years of the occupation and the war. It concerns the architecture of old swimming pools, thus the buildings planned to be operated three of four months in a year, mostly low and wooden. This architecture, slightly ephemeral, did not receive even the right name. It could be complemented with a diving tower, a slipway or perhaps a pavilion across. And certainly it was belonged with the water. Good swimming pools were projected almost as a landscape garden and their architectonic solutions were close to the landscape design. Also for this, the attention is focused to opein-air swimming pools...
|
|
|
Ladislav Žák (1900-1973)
Dvořáková, Dita ; Švácha, Rostislav (advisor) ; Sedlák, Jan (referee) ; Wittlich, Petr (referee)
This thesis investigates the life and work of the architect Ladislav Žák (1900-1973), who also engaged in painting and drawing, furniture design, landscape architecture and architectural theory. His work was rooted in systematic theoretical considerations. In addition to working as an architect, Žak was a high school drawing teacher (1924-1930) and a professor of garden and landscape architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (1946-1973). As a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Žák studied painting with Professor Karel Krattner (1919-1924) and architecture with Professor Josef Gočár (1924-1927). In his early architectural and urban planning studies, as well as his furniture designs, he applied the principles of the new functionalist movement. He then followed the tenets of Le Corbusier's Purism into the 1930s. A characteristic attribute of all of Žak's work was a simultaneous consideration of tradition and a sensibility for current trends. This dichotomy was already present in his earliest theoretical writings.
|
|
|
Architecture and feminism in Czechoslovakia in the first half of the 20th century
Guzik, Hubert Kamil ; Švácha, Rostislav (advisor) ; Dulla, Matuš (referee) ; Czumalo, Vladimír (referee)
This thesis examines the relationship between architecture and feminism in the first half of the 20th century in Czechoslovakia. It opens by defining the dynamics of Czechoslovak feminism and architecture with regard to the theory of social movements. This text primarily focuses on the program, objectives and the modus operandi of the liberal branch of feminism, represented mainly by the non-partisan organization Ženská národní rada (Women's National Council). Members of this Council believed they could actively participate in shaping of the government policy on the social standing of women and maintained a close relationship of their organization to the state polity. We view this belief and this relationship as a model valid for a wide range of other women's organizations in that period. We consider these links the most important factor in determining the feminist organizations' relation to the movement of modern architecture.We follow the interaction of architecture and feminism in three chapters. The common denominator is the position of these two movements to modernization processes that were taking place in the nation state, in particular to the advent of the theories of scientific management. This main topic also determines the time frame of the text, beginning with formulating of social ethos in the...
|
|
|
Myth and Reality: The Czech Assistants of Le Corbusier 1924-1937
Hrabová, Martina ; Macek, Petr (advisor) ; Švácha, Rostislav (referee) ; Murray, Irena (referee)
The impetus for this study was the question of whether the information, which has been handed down on Czech architects who worked with Le Corbusier is true or not. Working in the studio of one of the leading architects of the 20th century was a crucial formative experience for dozens of architects while also being an attractive entry in their résumés. The doctoral thesis Myth and Reality: The Czech Assistants of Le Corbusier 1924-1937 is based on vast research of primary sources abroad as well as in the Czech Republic. The thesis critically examines the information known in the literature until now. The study aims to look behind the curtain of the formation of the existing historiography of Czech architectural modernism. It proves that architects themselves often entered history by means of their self- promotion skills. Parts of the thesis consist of a verified and critical list of Czech assistants at Le Corbusier's studio in 35 rue de Sèvres in Paris, detailed analysis of how work was conducted in the studio and an analysis of related sources. The work presents 13 Czech architects who worked in the studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret in the period between the two World Wars. The study follows individual forms of dialogue between young architects and Le Corbusier. In some cases, the research of...
|
guest ::
