Czech Republic: The Eye Over Prague & Jan Kaplický

Building Centre
Talks and Debates, Screening and Performances
2 July
19:00 - 23:00 Hosted by: Czech Centre

 A film screening followed by a debate chaired by Deyan Sudjic, with Eva Jiricná and other guests

Friday 2 July, 7 pm

The international premiere of a documentary dedicated to the late Czech architect Jan Kaplický, co-founder of London based internationally acclaimed practice Future Systems. The film featuring Brian Clarke, Eva Jiricná, Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, Václav Havel and the team Future Systems tells the story of Kaplický’s last grand design. The project for the National Library in Prague called the Eye over Prague is radical, exciting and far enough ahead of its time to provoke a fair degree of controversy. For Kaplický, a Czech-born émigré, it also represents a triumphant return to his homeland, a vindication of his uncompromisingly forward-looking philosophy and, eventually, a tragically poetic ending to his remarkable career. After winning the international competition chaired by Zaha Hadid, the popular and much supported design met opposition from the Czech government and the local administration and the fierce battle began (Olga Spátová, Czech Republic, 2010, 90′).

A following debate, chaired by Deyan Sudjic with Eva Jiricná and other guests will focus not only on Jan Kaplicky’s work, but also on the process and struggles of architects to have their visionary and bold designs approved and built.

Booking
The event has been moved to larger venue.
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