Josip Plecnik: An architect of Prague Castle -9788090205154

描述

Joze Plecnik, the Slovenian born architect left a legacy in the city of Prague, even though he was only responsible for two projects, however, they were major projects, and his legacy is priceless. Plecnik studied under the famous architect Otto Wagner from 1894 to 1897 in Secessionist Vienna. After finishing his studies, Plecnik practiced architecture in Vienna for 10 years, having completed famous projects such as the Zacherl House and the Langer House, both combining elements of the Secession with the Modern. Plecnik moved to Prague in 1911 and begin teaching at the Arts and Crafts college, inspiring young Czech artists and architects, who would go on to become involved in the Czech avant-garde Cubist movement. His teachings emphasized both classical principles of architecture as well as folk art traditions, and these influences blended together to inspire future artists. In 1920, Plecnik started working on the medieval Prague Castle, a feat not to be measured, as the castle dominates the city and her surroundings. Tomas Masaryk, the president at the time was seeking someone who could renovate the facilities while keeping the historical aspects sacred and playing on the new founded power seated in the Prague Castle, power, history, and democracy blended together. Masaryk nominated Plecnik chief architect. From 1920 to 1934, Plecnik completed various projects around the famous castle. These projects included renovations of numerous gardens and monumental courtyards with design and installation of sculptures, statues and monuments (such as the Obelisk in the 3rd courtyard of the castle). He also completed numerous new interior spaces including the interesting Plecnik Hall, finished in 1930, which features three levels of abstracted Doric colonnades. It is interesting to note that Plecnik took something Medieval and made it absolutely modern all the while making it pedestrian and visitor friendly, even welcoming. In the neighborhood of Vinohrady sits one of his most outstanding pieces of work, the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, featuring Egyptian and early Christian architectural elements.

The Alteration of Prague Castle
Joze Plecnik took the medieval Prague Castle, which was in need of some tender loving care, and turned it into the public friendly castle it is today. Tomas Masaryk requested the genius of his friend Joze Plecnik, and made him chief architect. Plecnik added unusual yet stately monuments to the repaved courtyards, making the area harmonious for visitors and pedestrians. The defensive walls of the castle were magically turned into the Paradise Garden, entered through the mythical Bull Staircase, a splendid place full of massive urns, climbing ivy, small pyramids, gazebos, and whimsical views. The garden and the courtyards showcase these odd monuments, material objects that did not appear in the Prague Castle until the 1920s, that somehow blend perfectly with the old architectural elements. Under the request of Masaryk, Plecnik also designed a presidential apartment, complete with an oval lift located inside a vaulted cylinder composed of bricks and new staterooms, one unique room with abstract Doric columns, the designs were to reflect and celebrate the new independence and democracy of the first Czechoslovak Republic. Tomas Masaryk famously said it is possible to create a great historical monument of the Castle and its surroundings and I cannot see anyone who would be able to carry out this historical task other than you. Masaryk was correct on all levels, as Joze Plecnick had an extraordinary talent of combining the old and the new in perfect harmony in architecture and landscape design.