Students of architecture are interested in the fate of industrial buildings

Prague - Original ideas from students have become a significant part of this year's Biennale of Industrial Heritage, which introduces possibilities for new uses and protection of industrial architecture monuments, said Benjamin Fragner from the Research Center for Industrial Heritage at ČVUT, one of the co-organizers of the biennale. Students are organizing conferences and workshops, where they deal with projects like the preservation of the Imperial Brewery in Buštěhrad, as well as the fate of the Prague Žižkov Freight Station.
      "Students are the drivers of industrial heritage this year," said Fragner at a meeting with journalists held in the reconstructed building of the Vršovice Waterworks in Prague's Braník. The opinions and ideas of the emerging generation of experts will be showcased, for example, at a workshop dedicated to the issue of the historical station in Žižkov. Students aim to demonstrate possible uses of this functionalist building, which is at risk of demolition.
      The Ministry of Culture recently instructed heritage conservationists to re-evaluate the heritage protection of the building. According to the developer's plan, the station is to give way to the construction of a new district and roads, which is also included in the city's draft zoning plan. The proposal has sparked a number of controversies.
      Student projects also indicate the future appearance and function of the Vojtěšská Steelworks in Kladno. According to Fragner, young architects are also the initiators of an international conference titled Industrial Heritage - On the Edge..., which will take place in October as part of the biennale at the National Technical Museum in Prague.
      This year's sixth edition of the biennale will culminate in the fall. Throughout the year, both professionals and the general public can visit many lectures, presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and cultural events across the country and engage in discussions with experts, investors, and officials. Discussions will focus on the importance of preserving industrial heritage, sustainable development of settlements and landscapes, as well as new roles and uses for industrial buildings and the roles of public and private institutions.
      In Prague, the biennale will guide visitors to an exhibition at the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery, among others. Many events will take place in the Ostrava region. The public will be presented with a project for the restoration and accessibility of the Lower Vítkovice area, which is co-led by architect Josef Pleskot. In the future, the industrial area will transform into a place for cultural and social gatherings. Pleskot and other experts will speak at a conference in Kladno, where civic associations will hold two dozen events throughout the fall. At a November conference in Kostelec nad Černými lesy, participants will reflect on the troubled fate of historical chimneys.