O heritage care II. - New Form in Historical Core

Rostislav Švácha, Josef Pleskot, Benedikt Mohelník OP
Baroque refectory of the Dominican monastery
at St. Giles in Prague, entrance Jilská 7a
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 19:30

The second meeting on the issue of heritage conservation in the baroque refectory of the Dominicans will focus on several specific examples of new architectural initiatives in valuable historical buildings or entire complexes, which will be introduced at the beginning by prof. Rostislav Švácha. Architect Josef Pleskot and theologian Benedikt Mohelník OP will join the subsequent debate. The debaters will attempt to outline the dilemmas, difficulties, and differing opinions that stand against each other, what conflicting principles and ideological backgrounds lie behind sometimes such differing stances.

The General Director of the National Heritage Institute, Naďa Goryczková, recently stated: “The issue of new constructions in historical environments is often presented as a conflict between architects and heritage conservationists. This simplification is unfortunately very misleading and, in a sense, hinders both sides from establishing a meaningful dialogue. The potential conflict does not arise between the new and the old but between the quality and the lack of quality. Architecture is an endless story that cannot be interrupted or even closed.” Given this excellently formulated foundation, almost everyone with at least minimal insight into the subject will agree. However, problems and sometimes irreconcilable ideological clashes emerge precisely during practical application. The background of the debate evening will also include the current widely discussed case surrounding the competition for the restoration of Bečov Castle, including the placement of the rare relic of St. Maurus.

Prof. Rostislav Švácha is a Czech art historian, architectural theorist, educator, among other things the author of the influential book Czech Architecture and Its Severity, and a leading expert on architecture from the 17th to the 21st century. Architect Josef Pleskot, currently known primarily for transforming the Lower Vítkovice area in Ostrava, has had numerous "battles" with Czech heritage conservationists, both won and lost. The provincial of the Czech Dominicans, Benedikt Mohelník OP, is the initiator of the platform Dominican 8 and the main driving force behind the content-related and architectural renewal of the monastery at St. Giles, located in the historical core of Prague. The project is being developed by the AP atelier of Josef Pleskot. The debate will be moderated by Norbert Schmidt, the head of the Center for Theology and Art at Charles University.

The first meeting on the topic entitled Švácha x Pleskot: Heritage Conservation? took place on January 17, 2013, and attracted unprecedented interest from the public. The recording of the meeting, produced by Czech Radio, can be listened to here.

The debate evening is organized by the Center for Theology and Art and the platform Dominican 8.