Think tank: Automatic Mills

On Friday June 14, 2013, from 10 AM to 6 PM, the Automatic Mills will host a think tank or an open conference on the future of the Automatic Mills. It will be an interdisciplinary discussion and presentation by invited guests on the topic of conversion and possible uses of industrial buildings, touching on the issues relating to the Pardubice Automatic Mills.



The discussion will touch upon the history of Gočár's mills, but its main goal will be to open topics concerning the future and use of this significant site, as well as to point out potential risks and opportunities in utilizing industrial heritage. The theme will be viewed from various perspectives through invited guests, including architects, historians, city representatives, and the current owner. You will also have the opportunity to participate in the discussion.

Venue
Automatic Mills, Mezi mosty street, Pardubice

Schedule

10.00–12.00  OPENING BLOCK * ISSUES OF INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE AND THE PRESENT
Introduction to the discussion, invited guests will briefly present their professional views on the issue of industrial heritage. What are the values of the industrial heritage of the mills for the city?

12.00–13.00  BREAK * LUNCH

13.00–15.00  1ST AFTERNOON BLOCK * OPPORTUNITIES, POSSIBILITIES, RISKS
What potential do the Automatic Mills have? Can the site be integrated into the city organism, and in what form and extent? What are the economic possibilities for fulfilling the site’s potential? What risks are associated with the use/non-use of the site? Must it be solely a non-profit usage? This afternoon block will aim to answer these questions and will develop themes outlined during the morning discussion.

15.00–15.30  BREAK * COFFEE BREAK

15.30–18.00  2ND AFTERNOON BLOCK * GOALS, SUMMARY
The concluding block will summarize the visions for potential uses and possible scenarios for further development. It should outline near and distant goals for the conversion of the Automatic Mills.

Guests

Pavel Panoch * architectural historian
He studied art history at Palacký University in Olomouc. He has worked for many years in heritage conservation. Since 2006, he has been at the Department of Historical Sciences at the Faculty of Arts, University of Pardubice. His research focuses on modern architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries and the artistic culture of the early modern era.

Benjamin Frágner * architectural historian
He has worked as an editor for professional journals and focuses on the protection and transformation of industrial buildings. Since 2002, he has been the director of the Research Centre for Industrial Heritage at CTU. He leads a full-semester workshop for architecture students focusing on the new use of the Automatic Mills.

Jakub Potůček * architectural historian
He studied at the Faculty of Arts at the Department of Theory and History of Art at Palacký University in Olomouc, completing his thesis on the topic of Architecture and Urbanism of Hradec Králové 1895–1950. He is currently the curator of the SMSU collection at the National Gallery in Prague and is studying internally at the AAAD at the Department of Art History and Aesthetics.

Patrik Hoffman * architect
He co-led the H.R.A. Architects studio with architect Martin Rajniš, and since 2005, he has had his own studio, Hoffman. For the conversion of the Coal Mill in Libčice nad Vltavou, he received a national award for architecture – Grand Prix 2013.

František R. Václavík * initiative Mills for the City!
After graduating from the AVU in Prague in 2000, he worked for several years in heritage conservation. He now deals with building history, history of architecture, and urbanism. He is a member of Offcity association and co-founded the initiative Mills for the City!

Olga Škochová * Pardubice’s cultural underground – mapping Pardubice culture
She co-leads the platform Kvas for strategic planning in culture and creative participation. She is a co-founder of the watchdog initiative zaceskokuklturni.cz, collaborates with the city of Plzeň on the EHMK 2015 campaign, and aids Pardubice in creating a new cultural concept.

Pavel Skřivan * representative of GoodMills Czech Republic, the current owner of the Automatic Mills
Former general director of Unimills a.s. (now GoodMills Czech Republic), representing the current owners of the mills, GoodMills Czech Republic.

Tomáš Ctibor * consultant and developer
Currently the 1st Deputy Director of the Development Department of the Capital City of Prague, he worked for the investment company MEI, where he was responsible for preparing and realizing its development projects. Since 2007, he has also been a member of ULI (Urban Land Institute) and serves as an external educator at the Institute of Urbanism at the Faculty of Architecture, CTU. In 2008, he was accepted as a member of the British "Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors" (RICS) and last year received the title of FRICS (Fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

Representatives of the city of Pardubice
František Brendl * Deputy Mayor

Vladimír Lavrík * architect, Department of the Chief Architect of the City of Pardubice

Lucie Břízová * Department of Culture and Tourism

Moderated by
Ondřej Teplý * architect
Member of Offcity association, co-founder of the initiative Mills for the City! and coordinator for the Automatic Mills appointed by the statutory city of Pardubice.

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