Petr Franta architekt. Význam souvislostí: architektura paměti
National Heritage Institute, the Methodological Center for Modern Architecture in Brno, together with PETR FRANTA ARCHITEKTI & ASOC., s.r.o., has prepared an exhibition dedicated to the connections between architecture and memory at the MCMA lecture and exhibition building in Brno from February to April 2024. It presents the work of Canadian-Czech architect Petr Franta and focuses on interventions in cultural heritage sites and historical environments.
Few people are likely to be unfamiliar with some of the striking realizations of architect Petr Franta, whether it is the new Terminal 1 at Václav Havel Airport in Prague (1994–2002, with Michal Brix) or the rectorship of CTU and the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics (2012–2017 with Štěpán Šekerka, Petr Sobotka, Jakub Volka, Lucie Laštovičková). The author, known for his sensitive responses to environmental influences and heritage contexts, has gained fame for his interventions in historical settings. These include, for example, the Císařská konírna gallery (2005–2006) and the exposition of the St. Vitus Treasure in the Chapel of the Holy Cross (2011, with Lucie Laštovičková) at Prague Castle, a new visitor route in the Old Town of Prague with the installation of the exhibition “Paths of No Return” in Pinkas Alley, and the restoration of the courtyard of the Pinkas Synagogue (2018, with Lucie Laštovičková, Petr Sobotka, and Štěpán Šekerka), the Spanish Synagogue with a new exhibition (2018, with Lucie Laštovičková, Petr Sobotka, and Štěpán Šekerka), and the synagogue in Polná (1997–2001), the Upper Station in Karlovy Vary with a terminal, the preservation of the historical platform shelter (2010-2019, with Jakub Volka, Štěpán Šekerka, Petr Sobotka), and many more.
The central element of the exhibition is a large model of the architect's latest realization – an extension of the facilities and expansion of the tourist infrastructure of the Mohyla míru memorial on the Pratec hill. A memorial to the fallen in the Battle of Austerlitz was initiated more than 100 years ago by Father Alois Slovák, who engaged the then-renowned architect Josef Fant. Petr Franta adds: “Growing up with Fant’s significant work – the Art Nouveau Main Train Station in Prague – we lived on Vinohradská Street, just steps from the station. My grandfather would take me to Vrchlický Gardens, which at that time was a delightful park with a pond, and tell me about architect Fant and his then Wilson Station, during our walks. That’s why it was a great opportunity for me to study the original drawings of this doyenne of Czech Art Nouveau architecture, to rehabilitate and partially reshape his work. In the original design, there are tiered ‘platforms/lookouts’ for the commemoration of the Battle of the Three Emperors, which had been covered by layers of grass for a hundred years. We felt it was natural to restore Fant’s intention and to connect it with a new visitor route nearby – lookouts surveying the battlefield from eight meters high, surpassing the crowns of the surrounding tall trees.” The roles of curators were taken on by art historian Irena Žantovská Murray and architect and architectural historian Vladimír Šlapeta.
Few people are likely to be unfamiliar with some of the striking realizations of architect Petr Franta, whether it is the new Terminal 1 at Václav Havel Airport in Prague (1994–2002, with Michal Brix) or the rectorship of CTU and the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics, and Cybernetics (2012–2017 with Štěpán Šekerka, Petr Sobotka, Jakub Volka, Lucie Laštovičková). The author, known for his sensitive responses to environmental influences and heritage contexts, has gained fame for his interventions in historical settings. These include, for example, the Císařská konírna gallery (2005–2006) and the exposition of the St. Vitus Treasure in the Chapel of the Holy Cross (2011, with Lucie Laštovičková) at Prague Castle, a new visitor route in the Old Town of Prague with the installation of the exhibition “Paths of No Return” in Pinkas Alley, and the restoration of the courtyard of the Pinkas Synagogue (2018, with Lucie Laštovičková, Petr Sobotka, and Štěpán Šekerka), the Spanish Synagogue with a new exhibition (2018, with Lucie Laštovičková, Petr Sobotka, and Štěpán Šekerka), and the synagogue in Polná (1997–2001), the Upper Station in Karlovy Vary with a terminal, the preservation of the historical platform shelter (2010-2019, with Jakub Volka, Štěpán Šekerka, Petr Sobotka), and many more.
The central element of the exhibition is a large model of the architect's latest realization – an extension of the facilities and expansion of the tourist infrastructure of the Mohyla míru memorial on the Pratec hill. A memorial to the fallen in the Battle of Austerlitz was initiated more than 100 years ago by Father Alois Slovák, who engaged the then-renowned architect Josef Fant. Petr Franta adds: “Growing up with Fant’s significant work – the Art Nouveau Main Train Station in Prague – we lived on Vinohradská Street, just steps from the station. My grandfather would take me to Vrchlický Gardens, which at that time was a delightful park with a pond, and tell me about architect Fant and his then Wilson Station, during our walks. That’s why it was a great opportunity for me to study the original drawings of this doyenne of Czech Art Nouveau architecture, to rehabilitate and partially reshape his work. In the original design, there are tiered ‘platforms/lookouts’ for the commemoration of the Battle of the Three Emperors, which had been covered by layers of grass for a hundred years. We felt it was natural to restore Fant’s intention and to connect it with a new visitor route nearby – lookouts surveying the battlefield from eight meters high, surpassing the crowns of the surrounding tall trees.” The roles of curators were taken on by art historian Irena Žantovská Murray and architect and architectural historian Vladimír Šlapeta.
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