Litomyšl will once again celebrate World Architecture Day

As early as 1996, it was agreed at the assembly of the International Union of Architects that World Architecture Day would be held every year on the first Monday of October. Two years ago, this day was first commemorated by some cities in the Czech Republic thanks to the civic association Kruh. For last year's second edition, Litomyšl proudly joined in, offering enthusiasts of modern architecture and design a three-day marathon of various events under the name ArchiMyšl 2012. Similarly interesting programs have been prepared by the city of Litomyšl in cooperation with many organizations this year as well.  
  
Friday's Kick-off
We will kick off the program on Friday, October 4, at 5 PM with the opening of the exhibition Burian/Křivinka - Architects at the House of Knights. It is worth mentioning that both architects are significantly connected to Litomyšl and have several realizations here. In the evening, we will screen the film Human Scale at the Sokol cinema, which seeks to answer the question that each of us occasionally asks: Are cities for cars or for people? The film presents a so-called humanist approach to urbanism. That is, architecture that does not examine buildings but what is between them - people and their interactions. There will also be an introduction by an architect and a discussion that will follow the screening.         

The Weekend Will Feature Guided Tours
You can embark on a walk through the public urban space with city architect Zdenka Vydrova on Saturday at 11 AM, meeting at the statue of B. Smetana (organized by Kruh o.s.). An excursion to modern architecture buildings in Litomyšl is planned for Saturday afternoon (departure at 1 PM). Participants in the excursion will view the schoolyard of the pedagogical school and stroll along the Loučná River, peek into the city sports hall, visit the White Gallery in Osík, the residential area at U Nemocnice, the New Church, the city swimming pool, the ice rink, the Černá hora sports area, and the pedagogical school dormitory, all with expert commentary from former mayor Miroslav Brýdl and Antonín Dokoupil.
You will also be able to see the castle hill and the regional museum under reconstruction. On Sunday afternoon, Mayor Michal Kortyš and the director of the Regional Museum in Litomyšl, René Klimeš, will guide you several times (at 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM) through the currently under-construction sites. You will not miss a tour of the castle hill buildings that have already been renovated. From 2 PM to 5 PM, they will be introduced by the improvisational theater group Paleťáci.     
For the Saturday excursion and the Sunday tours of the castle hill, registration is required in advance at the information center due to capacity reasons. Detailed information can be found at www.litomysl.cz and on posters.

Beer with the Architects
On Saturday at 4 PM, we will have an opening of the competition architectural designs for the renewal of the Loučná River waterfront in the newly renovated vaulted hall of the castle brewery, and right at 5 PM, we invite you to beer with the architects in the adjacent column hall. The main topic of the discussion, moderated by journalist Petr Volf, will be the revitalization of the castle hill, the competition for the renewal of the Loučná River waterfront, or the Litomyšl Challenge. Saturday evening will feature excellent jazz music. Starting at 7:30 PM, the amber room in the castle riding hall will for the first time ever resonate with music. As part of the Jazz Dialogues project, the piano duo Emil Viklický and Pavla Schönová will perform.
The organizers believe that this event will find its audience again and will be interesting not only for the citizens of Litomyšl but also for young architects, architecture and design students, and other enthusiasts of this form of art from all over the country.   

Ing. Michaela Severová,
Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Litomyšl Municipal Office