Lost Architect Ernst Wiesner

Dramatic story of the footprints of a significant architect with Czechoslovak roots, who influenced world architecture, is presented on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of his birth. Directed by J. Kořínek

The prints of Ernst Wiesner's work can be found in many places in Brno, few authors have stamped so much on the form of the dynamically developing Brno in the early 20th century. The beginnings of the work of the young architect Ernst Wiesner, influenced by Viennese modernism and the teachings of Adolf Loos, were intertwined with the unprecedented expansion of the city of Brno and the emergence of the Czechoslovak Republic due to historical circumstances. The era of great changes was certainly favorable for the establishment of such a radical transformation of architectural style in Brno, which could, for once in history, hold its finger on the pulse of the times. It is no wonder that the works of functionalism are still the pride of Brno's architecture today and Ernst Wiesner’s stylistic purism continues to have many admirers. From generally known facts, it can be inferred that his continuously developing career left little room for personal life. Until nearly fifty, he lived as a bachelor under the roof of his parental home. However, both his successful career and calm family life were turned upside down by the arrival of World War II when he was forced to flee the country due to his Jewish descent. In this drastic escape, however, the awareness of who this architect was got lost, and key documents related to his work were also lost, which were partially rediscovered thanks to film. Where did the traces of the architect who shaped modern Brno go next? What was his relationship with post-war and subsequently communist Czechoslovakia? Questions also arise regarding his work in British Liverpool, where he later found a new home. What were the circumstances of Wiesner's conversion to the Catholic Church and what connection does it have with his last architectural realizations? The documentary showcases these prints in the Czech Republic and around the world. The film also presents Ernst Wiesner through his significant buildings and their current inhabitants, who, together with specialists on his work, reflect on his significance and timelessness.