Architect L. E. Hudec: Banská Bystrica - Shanghai
A permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of architect Ladislav Eduard Hudec and his father, builder Juraj Hudec.
Banská Bystrica is the birthplace of the significant and internationally known architect of the 20th century, Ladislav Eduard Hudec (January 8, 1893 - October 26, 1958). His life was rich with events, losses, persistent struggles, as well as successes, and full development of his creative abilities despite challenging conditions.
He was born into the family of a successful builder, Juraj Hudec (April 21, 1858 - December 18, 1920), in Banská Bystrica, whose personality accompanied him throughout his life. The presentation of the father's work - the builder - is an important part of the exhibition.
The young architect awaited a successful future in domestic architectural practice after graduating from the Royal Technical University in Budapest. However, everything changed with the outbreak of World War I, which he experienced fully, including Russian captivity in Siberia. After his escape, his survival instinct miraculously led him to Shanghai, a concession city 11,000 kilometers away from his hometown. His home in Banská Bystrica was lost, and living family members moved to Hungary. In Shanghai, which became his home for 29 years, he left nearly 400 completed projects. The most famous, the Park Hotel, was the first skyscraper in Asia (1931 - 1934). L. E. Hudec secretly left Shanghai in 1947 due to changed social conditions, thereby saving the lives of his entire family. In 1948, he applied for asylum and citizenship in the USA from Europe. He settled in Berkeley but did not design anymore. His name remained unknown for a long time. In China, Czechoslovakia, or Hungary, he was not mentioned for over half a century.
The first Year of Architect Hudec was declared in Shanghai in 2008. Since then, many of his buildings have been reconstructed and marked as protected cultural monuments. His name is becoming known in Slovakia in a similar timeline. In 2010, the premiere of the documentary film by Ladislav Kaboš, "He Changed the Face of Shanghai," took place at the World Expo in Shanghai and subsequently in Slovakia. In Banská Bystrica, a non-profit organization, C.A.L.E.H. n. o. (Center of Architect L. E. Hudec) is being established, along with the first trilingual work, "Following the Footsteps of Architect L. E. Hudec." One of the main goals - the realization of a permanent exhibition in Banská Bystrica - is becoming a reality this year thanks to the collaboration between the non-profit organization C.A.L.E.H. n. o. and the director of the company CONTRAX PLUS, spol. s r. o., Ing. Drahoš Konder.
The mission of the non-profit organization Center of Architect L. E. Hudec (C.A.L.E.H. n. o.) is to present the life story of architect Ladislav Eduard Hudec and his family. Despite the fact that a significant part of the architect's life is connected with Chinese Shanghai, his fate is deeply intertwined and linked with his native Banská Bystrica.
The exhibition project maps the life and professional path of the father, builder Juraj Hudec, and the famous architect L. E. Hudec, as well as the mutual relationship, the influence of the environment, and the connections between Banská Bystrica and Shanghai. It is conceived within a timeline, considering the family, social, and historical events that significantly influenced the family of the builder and the architect. The exhibition also serves as an expression of respect and a repayable debt to the personalities who should not be forgotten.
Title of the exhibition: Architect L. E. Hudec "Banská Bystrica - Shanghai"
Opening of the exhibition: March 28, 2019, at 17:00 at the Center of Architect L. E. Hudec, Skuteckého 22 (Späth's Villa), 974 01 Banská Bystrica
Duration of the exhibition: March 28, 2019 - March 28, 2020
Curators of the exhibition: PhDr. Klára Kubičková, Mgr. Eva Furdíková, Ing. arch. Rastislav Udžan, PhD.
Graphics of the exhibition: Mgr. art. Peter Javorík, ArtD.
Venue: Center of Architect L. E. Hudec, Skuteckého 22 (Späth's Villa), 974 01 Banská Bystrica
Organizers: C.A.L.E.H. n. o., CONTRAX PLUS, spol. s r. o.
Project supported by: Fund for the Support of the Arts, City of Banská Bystrica, CONTRAX PLUS, spol. s r. o.
Web link >
Banská Bystrica is the birthplace of the significant and internationally known architect of the 20th century, Ladislav Eduard Hudec (January 8, 1893 - October 26, 1958). His life was rich with events, losses, persistent struggles, as well as successes, and full development of his creative abilities despite challenging conditions.
He was born into the family of a successful builder, Juraj Hudec (April 21, 1858 - December 18, 1920), in Banská Bystrica, whose personality accompanied him throughout his life. The presentation of the father's work - the builder - is an important part of the exhibition.
The young architect awaited a successful future in domestic architectural practice after graduating from the Royal Technical University in Budapest. However, everything changed with the outbreak of World War I, which he experienced fully, including Russian captivity in Siberia. After his escape, his survival instinct miraculously led him to Shanghai, a concession city 11,000 kilometers away from his hometown. His home in Banská Bystrica was lost, and living family members moved to Hungary. In Shanghai, which became his home for 29 years, he left nearly 400 completed projects. The most famous, the Park Hotel, was the first skyscraper in Asia (1931 - 1934). L. E. Hudec secretly left Shanghai in 1947 due to changed social conditions, thereby saving the lives of his entire family. In 1948, he applied for asylum and citizenship in the USA from Europe. He settled in Berkeley but did not design anymore. His name remained unknown for a long time. In China, Czechoslovakia, or Hungary, he was not mentioned for over half a century.
The first Year of Architect Hudec was declared in Shanghai in 2008. Since then, many of his buildings have been reconstructed and marked as protected cultural monuments. His name is becoming known in Slovakia in a similar timeline. In 2010, the premiere of the documentary film by Ladislav Kaboš, "He Changed the Face of Shanghai," took place at the World Expo in Shanghai and subsequently in Slovakia. In Banská Bystrica, a non-profit organization, C.A.L.E.H. n. o. (Center of Architect L. E. Hudec) is being established, along with the first trilingual work, "Following the Footsteps of Architect L. E. Hudec." One of the main goals - the realization of a permanent exhibition in Banská Bystrica - is becoming a reality this year thanks to the collaboration between the non-profit organization C.A.L.E.H. n. o. and the director of the company CONTRAX PLUS, spol. s r. o., Ing. Drahoš Konder.
The mission of the non-profit organization Center of Architect L. E. Hudec (C.A.L.E.H. n. o.) is to present the life story of architect Ladislav Eduard Hudec and his family. Despite the fact that a significant part of the architect's life is connected with Chinese Shanghai, his fate is deeply intertwined and linked with his native Banská Bystrica.
The exhibition project maps the life and professional path of the father, builder Juraj Hudec, and the famous architect L. E. Hudec, as well as the mutual relationship, the influence of the environment, and the connections between Banská Bystrica and Shanghai. It is conceived within a timeline, considering the family, social, and historical events that significantly influenced the family of the builder and the architect. The exhibition also serves as an expression of respect and a repayable debt to the personalities who should not be forgotten.
Title of the exhibition: Architect L. E. Hudec "Banská Bystrica - Shanghai"
Opening of the exhibition: March 28, 2019, at 17:00 at the Center of Architect L. E. Hudec, Skuteckého 22 (Späth's Villa), 974 01 Banská Bystrica
Duration of the exhibition: March 28, 2019 - March 28, 2020
Curators of the exhibition: PhDr. Klára Kubičková, Mgr. Eva Furdíková, Ing. arch. Rastislav Udžan, PhD.
Graphics of the exhibition: Mgr. art. Peter Javorík, ArtD.
Venue: Center of Architect L. E. Hudec, Skuteckého 22 (Späth's Villa), 974 01 Banská Bystrica
Organizers: C.A.L.E.H. n. o., CONTRAX PLUS, spol. s r. o.
Project supported by: Fund for the Support of the Arts, City of Banská Bystrica, CONTRAX PLUS, spol. s r. o.
Web link >
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