Czech Embassy in Stockholm
The exhibition presents the transformation of a significant footprint of Czech architecture abroad, which was taken on by the forefront of the contemporary Swedish scene. In the 1970s, a team of Czech architects led by Jan Bočan completed the building of the Czechoslovak Embassy in Stockholm. Last year, this unique building, with many original artwork and utility elements, was reconstructed into a new headquarters for the fashion brand Acne Studios. Swedish architect Johannes Norlander built on the original architecture, contrasting it with striking contemporary interior design. Unique photographs of the building before and after the reconstruction can be viewed at the exhibition from June 25, 2022, to September 15, 2022. The curator is Adam Štěch.
This year’s exhibition cycle at the Winternitz Villa is dedicated to the work of architects originally from the Czech Republic who have managed to achieve significant success on the international stage. „Of all the realizations, I chose the Czech Embassy in Stockholm because I consider it one of the best examples of Czech architecture from the second half of the last century that was built abroad. I was also intrigued by the recent transformation of this building into the headquarters of the fashion brand Acne Studios.“ explains the curator of the exhibition, Adam Štěch.
The Czechoslovak Embassy in Stockholm was one of the last embassies completed in the brutalist style. It was created by Jan Bočan, Zdeněk Rothbauer, Jan Šrámek, and Jiří Náhlík. It was designed in 1969 and completed three years later. Conceptually, it artistically builds on the successes of Czechoslovak embassies in Delhi and London.
Architect Jan Bočan is one of the main representatives of Czech brutalism. During his time at Atelier Beta, Bočan achieved realizations of projects such as the Czechoslovak Embassy in London, Hotel Intercontinental in Prague, and finally the Czechoslovak Embassy in Stockholm with his winning designs. Regarding this realization, the architect explains: „We tried to create the atmosphere that Prague and the Czech landscape has within it, with a bit of sadness of the contemporary period. At the same time, we wanted the environment to resonate as an abstract garden, to feel the culture of the nation it represents. Below, in the connecting part of the visa department, there is a metal relief, an abstract shadow that seemingly casts a concrete ceiling.“
Two years ago, this unique building was reconstructed into the headquarters of the fashion brand Acne Studios. Swedish architect Johannes Norlander, in collaboration with the brand's creative director Jonny Johansson, built on the original architecture, contrasting it with striking contemporary design. „The exhibition Czech Embassy in Stockholm: A Gem of Brutalism in the Changes of Time presents the transformation of a significant footprint of Czech architecture in Scandinavia, through unique photographs taken before and after the recent reconstruction.“ represents the exhibition its curator Adam Štěch.
The history and present of the building are juxtaposed through these photographs. While renowned Swedish photographer Åke E:son Lindman takes us back to the time when the original interiors of the embassy were still fully intact, the shots by Rasmus Norlander demonstrate their recent transformation by architect Johannes Norlander for the purposes of the Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios.
The representative architecture of Czechoslovak embassies was financially supported by the state, and thanks to significant resources, the buildings could be realized with high quality, including custom-designed furniture and artworks. A part of the exhibition will also feature complex-shaped chairs made of bent round wood with reed weaving, produced for the embassy interiors by the then state enterprise TON.
Curator: Adam Štěch
Photographs: Åke E:son Lindman and Rasmus Norlander
Graphic design and installation: Matěj Činčera and Jan Kloss
Production: Kristina Cysařová, David Cysař
This year’s exhibition cycle at the Winternitz Villa is dedicated to the work of architects originally from the Czech Republic who have managed to achieve significant success on the international stage. „Of all the realizations, I chose the Czech Embassy in Stockholm because I consider it one of the best examples of Czech architecture from the second half of the last century that was built abroad. I was also intrigued by the recent transformation of this building into the headquarters of the fashion brand Acne Studios.“ explains the curator of the exhibition, Adam Štěch.
The Czechoslovak Embassy in Stockholm was one of the last embassies completed in the brutalist style. It was created by Jan Bočan, Zdeněk Rothbauer, Jan Šrámek, and Jiří Náhlík. It was designed in 1969 and completed three years later. Conceptually, it artistically builds on the successes of Czechoslovak embassies in Delhi and London.
Architect Jan Bočan is one of the main representatives of Czech brutalism. During his time at Atelier Beta, Bočan achieved realizations of projects such as the Czechoslovak Embassy in London, Hotel Intercontinental in Prague, and finally the Czechoslovak Embassy in Stockholm with his winning designs. Regarding this realization, the architect explains: „We tried to create the atmosphere that Prague and the Czech landscape has within it, with a bit of sadness of the contemporary period. At the same time, we wanted the environment to resonate as an abstract garden, to feel the culture of the nation it represents. Below, in the connecting part of the visa department, there is a metal relief, an abstract shadow that seemingly casts a concrete ceiling.“
Two years ago, this unique building was reconstructed into the headquarters of the fashion brand Acne Studios. Swedish architect Johannes Norlander, in collaboration with the brand's creative director Jonny Johansson, built on the original architecture, contrasting it with striking contemporary design. „The exhibition Czech Embassy in Stockholm: A Gem of Brutalism in the Changes of Time presents the transformation of a significant footprint of Czech architecture in Scandinavia, through unique photographs taken before and after the recent reconstruction.“ represents the exhibition its curator Adam Štěch.
The history and present of the building are juxtaposed through these photographs. While renowned Swedish photographer Åke E:son Lindman takes us back to the time when the original interiors of the embassy were still fully intact, the shots by Rasmus Norlander demonstrate their recent transformation by architect Johannes Norlander for the purposes of the Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios.
The representative architecture of Czechoslovak embassies was financially supported by the state, and thanks to significant resources, the buildings could be realized with high quality, including custom-designed furniture and artworks. A part of the exhibition will also feature complex-shaped chairs made of bent round wood with reed weaving, produced for the embassy interiors by the then state enterprise TON.
Curator: Adam Štěch
Photographs: Åke E:son Lindman and Rasmus Norlander
Graphic design and installation: Matěj Činčera and Jan Kloss
Production: Kristina Cysařová, David Cysař
The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.
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