Invitation to the lecture by Josef Pleskot and Jan Šépka at ETH Zurich

Josef Pleskot, Favor to Four Visionaries

Jan Šépka, Between Naivety and Reality

5th November 2014
ETH Zürich, D-arch
Hönggerberg – HIL

Josef Pleskot, Favor to Four Visionaries
If architecture is thought over in the dialogue between a client, who has a vision of a societal crossover, and an architect who can understand these visions, identify with them, and materialize them appropriately, then architecture brings plenty of joy and utility to everyone. I cannot think of anything more beautiful in my profession than these moments of mutual inspiration and final understanding on the way to a common goal. The highest reward is a statement like this: I didn’t know what my vision (idea) looked like, but what has been realized, that’s exactly it.

Josef Pleskot (*1952) From 1973 to 1979 he studied architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague. For three years after his graduation, he was involved in architectural theory and teaching. From 1982 until the revolution in 1989, he worked in the state engineering institute - KPÚ Praha. He was distinctly socially engaged in 1989 and 1990. He has been running his own architectural practice named AP atelier since 1990. During that period, he has realized more than fifty projects for which he received many awards. He occasionally writes and lectures.
www.arch.cz/pleskot



Jan Šépka, Between Naivety and Reality
Jan Šépka belongs to architects who like to dwell in the field of experimental architecture. His work often overlaps into art and tends to be playful. In his lecture, he will present those works that are distinctive for these very features.

Jan Šépka (*1969) He studied at the Faculty of Architecture at CTU (he was also a student of Miroslav Šik) and the School of Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Together with Michal Kuzemenský, he initiated a club named New Czech Work in 1994. In 1998, he co-founded and partnered in the studio HŠH architekti that worked until 2009. After that, he started his own office Šépka architekti. From 2004-2014, he taught at the Faculty of Architecture at CTU in Prague. Since 2014, he has been the Head of the Office of Projects and Competitions at IPR in Prague, and since 2014 he has been conducting Studio A1 at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (VŠUP) in Prague. Many of the projects he participated in have received awards both in the Czech Republic and abroad. The most famous are adaptations of Horní Square in Olomouc, the Olomouc Archdiocesan Museum, Villa in Beroun, Villa Hermína, or a room in the country in Modrava.

Josef Pleskot, Favor to Four Visionaries
If architecture is conceived within the framework of a dialogue between a client with a vision of societal significance and an architect who can comprehend, identify with, and materialize these visions appropriately, it brings much joy and utility to all. I know nothing more beautiful in my field than those moments of mutual influence and final understanding on the path to a common goal. The highest reward is a statement like: I had no idea what my vision (idea) looked like, but what has been realized is exactly it.



Josef Pleskot (*1952) From 1973 to 1979, he studied architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague. For three years after graduation, he was engaged in architectural theory and pedagogy. From 1982 until the November revolution in 1989, he worked in the state project institute - KPÚ Praha. In 1989 and 1990, he was significantly socially engaged. Since 1990, he has operated an architectural practice under his own office named AP atelier. During this time, he has realized more than fifty buildings for which he has received numerous awards. He occasionally publishes and lectures.
www.arch.cz/pleskot



Jan Šépka, Between Naivety and Reality
Jan Šépka belongs to architects who enjoy navigating the realm of experimental architecture. His work often crosses over into the visual arts and leans towards playfulness. In his lecture, he will present those works that are most characteristic of these qualities.

Jan Šépka (*1969) He studied at the Faculty of Architecture at CTU and the School of Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. In 1994, he, together with Michal Kuzemenský, initiated the New Czech Work association. In 1998 he co-founded and was a partner in the HŠH architekti office, which operated until 2009. He then established his own office Šépka architekti. From 2004 to 2014, he served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture at CTU in Prague. Since 2014, he has been the head of the Office of Projects and Competitions at IPR in Prague, and since September 2014 he has led Studio A1 at UMPRUM. Many of the projects he participated in have won awards in the Czech Republic and abroad. Among the most notable are the adaptations of Horní Square in Olomouc, the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc, a villa in Beroun, Villa Hermína, and a room in the landscape in Modrava.

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