Kaplicky Internship 2024 was won by AVU graduate Justýna Kaislerová

The jubilee 10th edition of the Kaplicky Internship competition of the Bakala Foundation, which honors students and recent graduates of Czech architectural universities, has its winner. Justýna Kaislerová, a graduate of AVU with a project for the transformation of gas stations into hybrid urban houses, has won the title. Thanks to her victory, Justýna will embark on a three-month paid "dream internship" at the world-famous Studio Libeskind in New York.
In the final, which took place on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the Student Hub of the Bakala Foundation, eight finalists presented their projects before a professional jury from a total of 56 admitted applications. In addition to Czech experts, the jury included the chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects Jan Kasl and Yama Karim, partner at Studio Libeskind. As a designer and architect, he has been involved in the studio's largest projects, including the plans and execution of the Albert Einstein Museum in Jerusalem and the Memory Foundations project, which revitalized the Ground Zero area at the site of the former "twin towers" in New York.
For the third year, the Kaplicky Internship competition is linked to the competitive Exhibition of Diploma Works (known as Diplomek) of the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA). The announcement of the winners of both competitions, which started with a lecture by Yama Karim titled Urban Revitalization: The Art and Impact of Urban Renewal, took place traditionally at the CAMP (Center for Architecture and Urban Planning).
Following the lecture, young architects were awarded. The winner of the jubilee 10th edition of the Kaplicky Internship competition is Justýna Kaislerová. Her project, titled MOL Smíchov – Transformation of gas stations into hybrid urban houses in Productive City, which impressed the jury, dealt with the transformation of a gas station in Prague's Smíchov into hybrid urban houses with an emphasis on block development and public space.
“I am honored by the win and appreciate this opportunity. I am glad this competition is organized because it is a great motivation for all students. Moreover, the atmosphere of the presentations was very pleasant and friendly, the debate was substantive, and I enjoyed it all,” says Justýna Kaislerová.
What made the project exceptional for the jury is explained by Yama Karim: “What decided it for me was how broad and diversified her skills are, as well as the way she thinks. Regarding the project itself, I appreciate that it is an urban idea that can be applied beyond just one project – other cities can easily benefit from it. It reflects a current trend which she touched upon and managed to grasp from a slightly different angle. I was particularly struck by the way she tries to utilize existing spaces – horizontal expansion of urbanism is replaced with vertical approaches. Technical, formal, and presentation skills, along with the ability to infuse a piece of oneself into a project – that is what architecture is all about, and the winner mastered that.”
In addition to the winning project, seven other projects made it to the finals: the project of Patrik M. Berinšter mapped various architectural traditions, while Martina Divišová presented a proposal for a parking garage. Jonáš Klvaň aimed to improve public spaces and greenery in Prague's Žižkov, and Mikuláš Ott focused on greenery in his Grønnu. Spirituality then connected two other projects: Tomáš Verner presented a solution for a prayer room for the Brethren Church on Bohdalecké Hill in Prague, and Šimon Mezovský proposed a mental health center for Prague 5. Matouš Koudelka also focused on Prague's Smíchov with a proposal for the conversion of the Radlická Dairy.
Justýna Kaislerová thus joins nine successful participants of the Kaplicky Internship who, thanks to the competition, secured internships in renowned architectural studios such as Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Heatherwick, Foster + Partners, Eva Jiřičná Architects, and others.