The First Lady of Czech Architecture

Prof. Ing. arch. Alena Šrámková, whose 90th birthday we are commemorating these days, has been one of the prominent figures of the Czech architectural scene for decades. She is true to herself, does not need to please anyone, and her opinions sometimes provoke controversial reactions (2017). Directed by J. Chytilová

The documentary portrait of this year's jubilant architect Alena Šrámková (*June 20, 1929) captures her life path, inexorably linked to the fates of her projects and realized buildings. She is a laureate of many professional awards, such as Personality of Czech Architecture, Honor of the Czech Chamber of Architects, Medal for Merit, and the Ministry of Culture Award for Contribution in the Field of Architecture. Her work is not subject to changing fashion trends but is based on universally valid principles of architecture. “She emphasizes the moral justification of architectural forms and therefore prefers to value strictness, a lack of style, and timelessness,” wrote leading architectural historian Rostislav Švácha about this extraordinary personality. Among the rich, timeless oeuvre of this leading figure in our post-war architecture, the monumental building of the Faculty of Architecture at Czech Technical University, the underground hall of Prague's Main Train Station, and the administrative building Na Můstku, which is one of the dominant features of Wenceslas Square, stand out.