Tomáš Pospěch documented more than 550 “Šumperk houses” out of nearly 5000 which were built. The first “Šumperk house” was constructed by the planner Josef Vaněk fifty years ago, during autumn in the year 1966. It became the most common type of house in the Czech Republic and reminds us of a time when you couldn’t order an architect or hire a firm and you would have difficulties with obtaining materials, so people were building their houses themselves. The lecture is part of the series “Interventions in Architecture”.

The “Šumperk house” was loved and hated. In rural areas it was considered a successful modernization, by others it was considered kitsch. It met expectations of modern living, but architects distanced themselves from it, and conservationists warned that it spoils the appearance of the Czech villages. Nearly 5000 were built, but few complied with the plan, and in the subsequent years their appearance were changed. So which is the original?

Tomáš Pospěch’s project started with a simple fascination by the series as such, the photographs were 2016 published in a book.

Tomáš Pospěch (1974) is a photographer, art historian and curator. For many years he has been working for The Institute of Creative Photography at Silesian University in Opava. As a visual artist he is engaged in many typically Czech phenomena that often intertwine with reflections on architecture. This was true regarding both his projects “Taken Off, Castles and Châteaux of the Czech Republic” (2002–2005), “Castle Owners” (2003–2007) and his present interpretation of the “Šumperk house” theme.

The aim of the series “Interventions in Architecture” is to make the audience in Berlin acquainted with interesting architectural ensembles, discussions about reconstructions, revitalisations and other invasions in the architectural as well as urban and public space in the Czech Republic. Many Czech towns and places experienced a long historic development, which is reflected in their architectural tradition. Contrary to German towns and cities, especially Berlin, they were not destroyed during the war and so every change today is an intervention in an ensemble, which is several centuries old. The events of the series present a selection of architectural interventions from different places in the Czech Republic as well as from different historical, political and social eras.

The lecture by Tomáš Pospěch will be in English.

---

Admission:

• free

Time & Location:
Monday, 22.05.2017  |  19:00

Tschechisches Zentrum
Wilhelmstraße 44 / Entrance Mohrenstraße
10117 Berlin

Please find more information here.

Tomáš Pospěch documented more than 550 “Šumperk houses” out of nearly 5000 which were built. The first “Šumperk house” was constructed by the planner Josef Vaněk fifty years ago, during autumn in the year 1966. It became the most common type of house in the Czech Republic and reminds us of a time when you couldn’t order an architect or hire a firm and you would have difficulties with obtaining materials, so people were building their houses themselves. The lecture is part of the series “Interventions in Architecture”.

The “Šumperk house” was loved and hated. In rural areas it was considered a successful modernization, by others it was considered kitsch. It met expectations of modern living, but architects distanced themselves from it, and conservationists warned that it spoils the appearance of the Czech villages. Nearly 5000 were built, but few complied with the plan, and in the subsequent years their appearance were changed. So which is the original?

Tomáš Pospěch’s project started with a simple fascination by the series as such, the photographs were 2016 published in a book.

Tomáš Pospěch (1974) is a photographer, art historian and curator. For many years he has been working for The Institute of Creative Photography at Silesian University in Opava. As a visual artist he is engaged in many typically Czech phenomena that often intertwine with reflections on architecture. This was true regarding both his projects “Taken Off, Castles and Châteaux of the Czech Republic” (2002–2005), “Castle Owners” (2003–2007) and his present interpretation of the “Šumperk house” theme.

The aim of the series “Interventions in Architecture” is to make the audience in Berlin acquainted with interesting architectural ensembles, discussions about reconstructions, revitalisations and other invasions in the architectural as well as urban and public space in the Czech Republic. Many Czech towns and places experienced a long historic development, which is reflected in their architectural tradition. Contrary to German towns and cities, especially Berlin, they were not destroyed during the war and so every change today is an intervention in an ensemble, which is several centuries old. The events of the series present a selection of architectural interventions from different places in the Czech Republic as well as from different historical, political and social eras.

The lecture by Tomáš Pospěch will be in English.

Admission free