Kaplický will receive an honorary doctorate from VŠUP

Prague - Architect Jan Kaplický, author of the design for the new building of the National Library in Prague, will receive an honorary doctorate from the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design. Along with him, artist Adriena Šimotová will receive an honorary award for her work. This will be only the third awarding of honorary doctorates in the modern history of the school. CTK was informed of this today by the school spokesperson, Kamila Stehlíková.
    The school has not yet explained why it is awarding honorary doctorates specifically to these two creators. Both studied at the Academy of Art, Architecture and Design - Šimotová in the studio of Josef Kaplický, a painter, sculptor, architect, and father of Jan Kaplický. The previous two honorary doctorates were awarded in 2001 to glass artist Stanislav Libenský and in 2002 to scenographer Josef Svoboda.
    Adriena Šimotová, who celebrated her 81st birthday in August, is one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Czech visual art and is recognized in the European cultural consciousness. Her work is closely related to her life story, reflecting personal experiences, joys, but also tragedies endured.
    Jan Kaplický left for Great Britain in 1968, where he still lives today. He worked with several prominent world architects and in 1979 founded the studio Future Systems, where he developed his own vision of architecture.
    Together with young collaborators, Kaplický is trying to change the traditional conception of architecture, using unusual materials, focusing on ecology, on the use of natural energy and natural light. His team also applies knowledge from space research and the aerospace and shipbuilding industries, where new materials have been developed - strong, lightweight, durable, and without joints. Currently, for example, the studio is working on a project for a new metro station in Naples and a museum for Maserati in Modena.