Jaroslav Vaculík

Biography
Jaroslav Vaculík was a Czech architect, designer, and artist. He first trained as a bricklayer in Zlín in 1937, then studied at the Higher School of Construction and graduated by passing the school-leaving exam. After school, he worked as a designer at Baťa under František L. Gahura. In 1945, he successfully passed the builder's exam in Prague and enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at ČVUT. After a year of study, he left and began studying at VŠUP in Prague in the studio of Professor Pavel Smetana. In his 4th year, he managed to obtain a state scholarship to study architecture in Paris. Based on a recommendation from František L. Gahura, he began working in Le Corbusier's studio. After returning in 1950, he successfully completed his studies at VŠUP. Subsequently, he worked as a designer and in 1954 founded a cooperative studio, which he merged with Stanislav Tobek's studio two years later. This era ended with their conviction for "embezzlement of national property." While serving his sentence, they likely participated in the project of the Presidential Villa in Vystrkov. Jaroslav Vaculík was conditionally released in 1960. Until 1972, he worked for ČSM and designed several recreational facilities, drawing inspiration from Le Corbusier. Among Vaculík's most notable projects is the construction of the Scouts' school near Lipnice nad Sázavou. From 1972 to 1980, he worked in the Kramář Gallery in Prague. In the 1980s, he focused on extensions of panel buildings, for which he received the World Habitat Awards in 1991.