The Day of Architecture in Plzeň will offer tours of unique and otherwise generally inaccessible modern interiors.

On Sunday, October 5th in the afternoon, those interested in contemporary architecture will be able to visit architecturally valuable and inspiring interiors in Plzeň, guided by either their users or the architects themselves. The public will thus have the opportunity to glimpse, for example, into a sensitively reconstructed apartment from the 1960s, a modern athletic stadium in Skvrňany, the Oncology Center of the University Hospital, row houses in Zruč, or the Central Fire Station in Plzeň on Košutka.

The nationwide festival is held on the occasion of World Architecture Day. At the national level, it is sponsored by the civic association Kruh, and this year 55 Czech and Slovak cities are participating, offering a total of 115 guided tours. “We aim to highlight the hidden qualities of cities, the potential of places, and increase overall sensitivity toward our immediate environment,” says the festival founder and architect Marcela Steinbachová.

In Plzeň, the Day of Architecture is organized as part of the Cultivate Space program of Plzeň 2015, o.p.s. This year's edition is titled US AND HOMES: contemporary Plzeň architecture through the eyes of creators and users. “After three years of successful urban walks through Plzeň, we wanted to try something new; we were inspired by the Plzeň architects themselves. Visitors won’t easily get into the interiors of many buildings, and therefore cannot appreciate their quality architectural solutions. Meanwhile, the quality of buildings has a direct impact on our quality of life. This year's tours aim to show visitors how life and work are in architecturally valuable houses, how modern apartments or public buildings can look. Additionally, with direct commentary from their creators,” says Marek Sivák, one of the project coordinators for Plzeň 2015.

Guided tours will take place at all locations on Sunday, October 5th at 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. Visitors can thus view up to three buildings during the afternoon. The Day of Architecture in Plzeň will conclude with a joint discussion with leading Czech architects about why and how to strive for quality architecture. The discussion will take place at the House of Music at 5:30 PM.

Locations open for architecture enthusiasts:
01 / Central Fire Station in Plzeň on Košutka by AVE architecture studio, which is a successful example of the combination of artistic composition and managed technical solutions.
02 / Oncology Center in the University Hospital complex in Plzeň, designed by a collective of authors from the K4 office, who aimed to create the most pleasant environment for patients. The hospital ward is located in a three-story above-ground mass, separated from the outpatient department in the ground and underground parts. The building is interspersed with several atriums and features a terrace for patient relaxation.
03 / New family house in Bručná by RAP architects. This three-story house, partially embedded in the terrain, offers its owners a beautiful view on the outskirts of Plzeň.
04 / Reconstructed apartment in a 1960s house in Plzeň on Slovany, where architects Jiří Zábran and Tereza Nová cleaned and illuminated the layout and furnished the apartment with simple white custom-made furniture that contrasts with retro elements from the time the house was built.
05 / Town Hall in Slovany by AVE studio. The office of the second Plzeň district features a unique element – a corner tower with a clock that highlights a building of exceptional significance. It also houses the mayor's office.
06 / Villa Na Skalce is a new villa built in 2000 on the edge of a villa development by the Radbuza River. It is conceived as two functionally and materially distinct masses – a residential wooden “bridge” (formed by a glued structure and wooden beams) and a reinforced concrete tower. The author is Libor Monhart from the FACT studio.
07 / Guided commentary on the reconstruction of Republic Square including three fountains by architects Ondřej Císler and Jan Soukup.
08 / Restored brewhouse and addition of a large-capacity lift in the Plzeňský Prazdroj complex by DaM studio.
09 / Faculty of Design and Art Ladislav Sutnar at the University of West Bohemia, designed by Jan Štípek senior. This simple prefabricated hall, nicknamed the “Factory of Art”, offers 6000 m² of open spaces for studios, workshops, and seminars, separated only by movable partitions.
10 / Athletic stadium of the city of Plzeň by architect Daniel Němeček with a stand for 850 spectators and a 123-meter-long running tunnel for winter training. The realization won the title of Building of the Year in the Plzeň Region in 2013.
11 / Row houses in Zruč. Brick houses by architects Jiří Zábran and Tereza Nová with wooden cladding are oriented east and west, but the main glazed surfaces face south.
12 / House of Music – discussion at 5:30 PM. The House of Music is an example of an interesting conversion of a historic building into a conservatory and concert hall. The object is not part of the afternoon tours, but at 5:30 PM there will be a special guided tour with architect Pavel Joba, M1 architects, followed by a concluding discussion with Czech architects.

All tours are free of charge; due to limited capacity, prior registration is required.

More information >

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In Plzeň, the Day of Architecture is organized as part of the community program Cultivate Space of Plzeň 2015. The goal of Cultivate Space is to raise general awareness and education in the fields of public space, urbanism, and architecture, engage citizens through an open call, and carry out its own inspiring transformations of public space. Among the most successful projects of Cultivate Space are the revitalization of the former City Swimming Pool, the transformation of the Forgotten Garden, regular lecture series, or the annual open call through which citizens submit hundreds of suggestions for improving public space. From these, a jury selects several of the best, which receive both professional and financial support. Cultivate Space collaborates with dozens of local civic associations, active individuals, and informal initiatives.

The project Day of Architecture was initiated by the civic association Kruh. Kruh has been organizing public events and lectures focused on contemporary developments in architecture since 2001. The aim of the lectures and discussions is to facilitate a dialogue about quality Czech and global architecture and architectural creation for the general public. Kruh has organized more than a hundred lectures by prominent and emerging Czech and foreign architects and theorists of architecture, two film festivals on architecture, and an exhibition titled Profession: Architect. It regularly publishes collections of Texts on Architecture. Since 2011, the Civic Association Kruh has been hosting a nationwide festival called Day of Architecture.