The honor of ČKA 2010 will be awarded to Viktor Rudiš

The Honor of the Czech Chamber of Architects has been awarded annually since 2000 to a significant figure in the field who has made a notable contribution to the modern history of Czech architecture with their work and moral credibility. This year, a five-member expert jury composed of leading Czech architects and theorists evaluated thirteen nominated personalities. Viktor Rudiš was selected, who has, after all, been nominated for this award several times before.
Viktor Rudiš (*1927) is a graduate of Professor Bedřich Rozehnal at the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of the Technical University in Brno. He worked at the Research Institute of Construction and Architecture in Brno, at the Brno Stavoprojekt, then in the studio of Otakar Oplatka and František Zounka, and after the revolution, he established his own studio.
Among the works that have indelibly marked the history of post-war Czech architecture and urbanism is undoubtedly the Brno housing estate Lesná from 1962–1966 (created in collaboration with František Zounka, Miroslav Dufek, and others). The unique urban concept, architectural solution, connection with nature, and consideration of basic housing needs are still appreciated by both experts and the residents of Lesná today. There has even been discussion about declaring this panel housing estate a cultural monument. Another, perhaps even more significant building, is the unique pavilion of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic for EXPO 70 in Osaka, Japan, which popularized Czechoslovak architecture abroad. It was designed by Viktor Rudiš in collaboration with Aleš Jenček and Vladimír Palla. It successfully harmonized modern architecture with contemporary visual art.
In addition to Lesná and Osaka, he has worked on dozens of other projects and realized several buildings. For example, we can mention the reconstruction and extension of Pavilion G at the Brno Exhibition Center (1995–1996), which he completed with his son Martin Rudiš, as well as the residential buildings A1 and A4 in Litomyšl or the reconstruction of the Museum of Applied Arts in Brno from 1998–2001 (with Ivan Koleček and Zdenka Vydrová).
“As one of the few Brno architects, he never resigned from architecture. He used his position to shape a libertarian workplace where many future architects, mostly members of the later association Obecní dům, met, and which Viktor Rudiš significantly influenced. His lifelong work is practically devoid of any qualitative fluctuations,” states the jury's rationale.