30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution at FA CTU

Part of the celebrations, which will take place on Monday, November 11, 2019, will be the presentation of medals, the launch of the book "30 Years of Freedom. Conversations About Society and Architecture", and a moderated debate featuring prominent Czech architects connected with the faculty. The event aims to convey to current students, who were born after 1989, the era and the state of architecture and society at that time. It is the generational experience and dialogue between generations that produce the relationships upon which the outcomes of democracy stand or fall.
"The thirtieth anniversary is an opportunity to emphasize the values for which people demonstrated back then and to evaluate the post-November path of Czech society and architecture," says the Vice Dean for External Relations Jan Jakub Tesař. Just like five and ten years ago, the faculty is hosting a public debate this time as well. In addition, this year the ideas, opinions, and memories of architects from several generations are being published in book form.
In the book "30 Years of Freedom", published by the Faculty of Architecture CTU and Karel Kerlický – KANT Publishing, Mirko Baum, Tomáš Hradečný, Ladislav Lábus, Miroslav Masák, Michaela Mrázová, Tomáš Šenberger, and Zdeněk Zavřel answer questions from Jiří Horský and Petr Volf. It is a unique testimony that we read as one large dramatic story. The book also includes essays by Oldřich Ševčík and Vladimír Šlapeta, in which these renowned authors reflect on the legacy of November for the present from their respective perspectives.
"The publication presents an impressive, compelling testimony from a generation of architects associated with November 1989 and can also serve as a challenge to think profoundly about the substantial: about the lack of freedom before November 1989, about the technological backwardness of construction during the period of 'real socialism,' about the historical context, about the transformation of values, living and professional conditions, about the opening of perspectives after November 1989," describes historian and architectural theorist Oldřich Ševčík in the introductory essay.
The debate will thematically relate to the book, and nearly thirty significant Czech female and male architects, led by Dean Ladislav Lábus, have promised to participate. Former advisor to President Havel, architect Miroslav Masák, Mirko Baum, and the well-known popularizer of Czechoslovak post-war architecture Vladimir 518 will also be present. Among the debaters who currently work at the Faculty of Architecture as instructors or heads of studios will be Tomáš Hradečný, David Tichý, and Ondřej Beneš. Student representatives, such as Vojtěch Rudorfer, head of the faculty’s Architecture Student Society, will not be missing either. Adam Gebrian will moderate.

Program on 11.11.2019 at FA CTU in Prague:
17:00–17:30 - Gallery of the Faculty of Civil Engineering CTU – guided tour of the photographic exhibition regarding the November events
17:30–18:00 - ceremonial unveiling of the statue based on John Hejduk's sketches
18:00–18:45 - ceremonial opening in the hall of the Faculty of Architecture CTU, launch of the book 30 Years of Freedom, presentation of FA CTU medals
18:45–19:00 - Prokop Tomášek – guitar solo
19:00–21:00 - debate on the November events and their legacy to the present day (moderated by Adam Gebrian)
21:00–22:00 - concert by Vladimir 518 & Sifon (LIVE)
23:00 - end of the event

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