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SOFFA: JOY FROM THE HEART OF EUROPE Discover the best and the most beautiful from the Czech Republic and Central Europe: exquisite design, inspirational stories, unknown interiors and hidden gems well worth your visit. © SOFFA, s.r.o. 2017 I All rights reserved www.soffamag.com | info@soffamag.com cover photo: Lukáš Pelech | Applied Health Centre BALUO, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc
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Welcome | Beauty in Simplicity Interior | Polish Charm People | Hearts Matters Architecture Day | Water, Town and Architecture
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Welcome
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BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY The online issues we publish in the months between printing the SOFFA magazine are a way for us to prepare – especially mentally – for our next print issue. We find ourselves completely immersed in the upcoming theme, and often we literally live it. At the moment we are ‘living’ the theme of the upcoming October issue, which is dedicated to beauty and all that beauty entails. Don’t worry – we have not become slaves to our mirror, nor are we rushing about in search of the latest fashion trend. Quite the contrary, we have turned our thoughts to what beauty really means and are trying to explore the topic holistically and from various angles. I for one find beauty in the most simple of things, or in things that look simple at first glance yet require great effort to create, such as the building facade featured on the cover of this issue. How do you perceive beauty? We want to know, so please write to us! Adéla Kudrnová | editor in chief
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Interior
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POLISH CHARM IN THE WILDA NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE POLISH CITY OF POZNAŃ IS A RENOVATED FLAT FROM THE EARLY 1900S. ITS BEAUTIFULLY PAIRED ORIGINAL AND MODERN ELEMENTS WORK SO WELL TOGETHER, IT IS HARD TO DISTINGUISH ONE FROM THE OTHER. text: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: PION
The early twentieth-century apartment has retained many of its original features, including wooden floors, ornate stucco and moulded door frames. The apartment’s layout was not optimal for its new owners, however, and so they commissioned the interior design studio Mili Mlodzi Ludzie to renovate the 100-square-metre space. From the original floor plan the studio architects created a bedroom, a small office, a bathroom, a storage closet and a large open space housing the kitchen, the dining area and the living room. The transformation was made possible by the addition of new walls painted in modern cobalt blue, an elegant contrast to the flat’s original details. â–
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THIS SPREAD: White, custom-made cabinets of varying heights are found in every room. The cabinets stand on a base made of copper tube.
ABOVE: The cobalt blue on the walls, which separate newly created rooms, works seamlessly with the stucco decor above the doors – painted thoughtlessly by the previous owners.
THIS SPREAD: The new floor plan creates space for a small office and brings an airy feel to the bathroom.
THIS SPREADA: Copper details return to the bedroom – this time in the form of a ladder that serves as a bookshelf and nightstand in one.
People Interiér
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HEART MATTERS AN ENGAGING PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN THAT TEACHES YOUNG CZECHS ABOUT PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE HAS JOINED FORCES WITH TALENTED ARTISTS IN ITS FIGHT FOR A HEALTHY HEART. text: Ondřej Lipár | photo: Loono.cz archive
HEART – THE UNRELENTING GUARDIAN OF THE RHYTHM OF LIFE, PUMPING BLOOD THROUGH THE VESSELS TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY WITHOUT RESTING ONCE DURING AN ENTIRE LIFETIME. IT DOES SO WITH REMARKABLE STAMINA AND CONSIDERABLE STRENGTH AND ELEGANCE. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE PUBLIC HEALTH CAMPAIGN YOUR HEART FOR LIFE HAS BEEN TEACHING YOUNG CZECHS HOW TO LOOK AFTER THEIR HEARTS AND HOW TO RESPOND TO A HEART ATTACK OR A STROKE. THE CAMPAIGN RAISES AWARENESS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS, INCLUDING ART AND DESIGN. THIS YEAR’S DESIGNBLOK WILL FEATURE AN EXHIBITION BY THE SAME NAME.
About two years ago, seemingly from nowhere, Czechs began to talk more openly about breast and testicular cancers, their prevention and the self-examination methods that can lead to early detection. Behind the sudden interest in the topic stands the young medical student Kateřina Vacková and her not-for-profit initiative called Loono, which is made up of other young doctors and medics. Loono’s first campaign, named with the rather straightforward #prsakoule [Boobs and Balls], aims to raise awareness about breast cancer and testicular cancer. It seeks to teach young people, through interactive and easy-to-understand techniques, how to regularly check their breasts and testicles – either themselves or with the help of their partner. The results have been overwhelming: more than 21,000 people have been trained and their knowledge has resulted in 34 early detections. A great incentive for continuing with Loono’s mission. Because cardiovascular disease accounts for nearly half of the deaths in Czechia, the organisation has now turned its attention to the heart and the cardiovascular system. As cardiovascular disease is difficult to detect – it is essentially invisible and doesn’t hurt – Loono has decided to focus on prevention. To spread its message the organisation has partnered with a number of well-known artists and designers, who will present their own takes on the human heart at an upcoming charity exhibition. The exhibition will open at Prague’s Designblok from 26 to 30 October, and afterwards move to DSC Gallery. It will include thematic workshops and presentations, and at its conclusion the artworks will be auctioned and their proceeds used to fund the work of the campaign. For more information visit www.loono.cz ■
WHEN GODDESSES DANCE The illustrator duo Tomski & Polanski have established themselves over the past few years as a creative team with a distinctive poetry and a great feel for working with colours and emotions, yet whose work remains accessible. Today many renowned brands compete for their time and attention, including car makers and alcohol distillers. For Loono’s charity exhibition they have created an illustration called Mermaids. ‘It shows a dance of ripe, voluptuous women symbolising mother goddesses who jointly embody a figure that resembles the structure of the heart,’ explains the duo. ‘The blue women are a representation of unoxidised blood, while the red women symbolise oxidised blood. Their dance is inspired by the embryonic development of the organ, where streams of blood transform magically into a little beating heart.’
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TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN The jewellery made by Janja Prokić is often inspired by natural motifs, which the designer re-conceptualises and transforms into refined forms – at times tiny and at other times quite grand. Janja’s work has been highly prized in the Czech Republic, and in addition to Prague, where the Belgrade native has lived for some time, she has also exhibited in many European capitals. For the Your Heart For Life exhibition the artist has created a necklace that resembles a bisected stylised heart. ‘I enjoyed exploring how one chooses what to reveal about the inner secrets of the heart and to whom,’ muses Janja. ‘The deep recesses of the heart can be a mystery even to us, so we should choose carefully with whom we share them. On one side the heart necklace shows the stylised heart from the outside, while on the other side it offers a view of the inside. It is up to the wearer to decide which side to show, what to reveal and to whom.’
BEAUTIFUL KNOTS Although her work is most often categorised as jewellery, Markéta Kratochvílová considers herself a ‘body architect’. Her handcrafted decorative pieces explore the relationship between the body and the objects that surround it, cover it and also reveal it. The artist creates her large necklaces, masks and shirt-fronts from a wide array of materials, including rope, leather and wooden pebbles, making creations that are subversive yet feminine. The women who wear her art become transformed into living artworks and moving sculptures. The object Markéta has created for the Loono charity exhibition can serve as a small handbag and comes complete with a necklace in the form of a knot – a symbol of the heart. ‘I am someone who values emotion and I consider the heart more a symbol of life and love than an organ of the body,’ reveals Markéta. ‘My relationship with the heart is a sentimental one.’
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REGULAR BEAT The work of the creative duo Roman Vrtiška and Vladimír Žák covers a wide spectrum of projects, and each completed endeavour is a testimony to their talent and ambition. Roman and Vladimír met while studying at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague and later studied together in Helsinki. They have been collaborating ever since, whether in architecture, product design or graphics. Their creative work is minimalist in design and practical, and they like to work with typefaces and textures. For the Your Heart For Life exhibition they have created a machine that resembles a clock, which is comprised of several smaller machines placed inside a corian body that is wrapped around a stylised heart mesh. ‘Once per hour, in what appears to be a fortuitous moment, the individual hands join into a clearly defined shape of a heart,’ explains the talented duo.
FRIEND, GUARDIAN, HERO Many graphic arts fans know Maria Makeeva from her series Alkonost, which was her graduation project at the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design. In creating the series Maria was inspired by Slavic mythology, where Alkonost is a magical creature with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. Many people now associate her name with large format prints of valiant fighters, careening horses and multi-headed dragons. Maria works with several renowned magazines and has collaborated with her fashion designer sister Daria. For the charity exhibition she has created a one-off print that shows a heart with a rich network of blood vessels. ‘The vessels extend from the heart as a halo and give strength to every cell in the human body,’ says Maria about her work. ‘The image is a poignant representation of what the heart is to us and what we can be to others.’
To i
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A le
5 YEARS OF ART AND DESIGN IN KVALITÁŘ GALLERY 6/10—22/11/2017
po–čt 10–18 h pá 10–16 h
Senovážné nám. 17 110 00 Praha 1 Czech Republic Mon–Thu 10 am–6 pm Fri 10 am–4 pm
www.kvalitar.cz
Architecture Day
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WATER, TOWN AND ARCHITECTURE
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL ARCHITECTURE DAY FESTIVAL BEGINS IN A FEW DAYS’ TIME. WE SPOKE TO MARCELA STEINBACHOVÁ, AN ARCHITECT AND ONE OF THE FESTIVAL FOUNDERS, ABOUT THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMME AND ITS HIGHLIGHTS. text: Helena Novotná | photo: Architecture Day archive
ON THE FIRST WEEKEND IN OCTOBER, PEOPLE IN MORE THAN SIXTY PLACES ACROSS CZECHIA WILL COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE ARCHITECTURE. ORGANISED BY THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION KRUH [CIRCLE], THE ARCHITECTURE DAY FESTIVAL WILL INCLUDE LECTURES, WALKS AND VISITS TO DISTINCTIVE BUILDINGS OTHERWISE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. FESTIVAL GOERS WILL ENJOY GUIDED TOURS BY EXPERTS IN ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM. SOFFA SPOKE TO THE ARCHITECT MARCELA STEINBACHOVÁ, ONE OF THE INITIATORS OF THE FESTIVAL AND THE ASSOCIATION KRUH, ABOUT THE FESTIVAL’S HISTORY AND THIS YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS.
This year’s theme is water in the city and the structures connected to water. Did previous festivals have a specific theme? And why water this year? This is the first year with a specific theme, but water has been an important element in past festivals as well. After all, everyone would love to be close to water. Nevertheless, this year’s programme focuses on more than how architecture connects with water.
Do you know what will be most popular on the programme? The biggest demand tends to be in the centre of Prague. We try to plan the walks concurrently, so that visitors have to choose. Another big pull is the person leading the walk or tour. This year’s programme includes two guided trips on steamboats: one with Karolína Vránková and the other with Richard Biegel. Both are engaging speakers and know how to captivate their audiences. The programme offers a wide range of options. Some will draw families with small children, others will be more interesting to students, and there will be events for all ages.
What are you most looking forward to in this year’s water-themed festival? Definitely the ornithological walk along the water’s edge and also the walk along the Botič stream with the architect Jan Šépka. These two will be more informal walks than guided tours, but both offer a beautiful atmosphere and lots of intriguing commentary. Interestingly, these two walks won’t be so much about architecture [she laughs]. I’d also recommend visiting Tábor and Slavonice, where you can go on underground tours. It all depends on whether you prefer to get out into the countryside or stay in the city.
Is there an entry fee to the festival? The trips on the steamboats are two of the few events in the programme with an entry fee – otherwise the festival is free of charge, as we don’t want cost to be a barrier. There is one more special event for which participants must pay, and that’s a flight over Santini’s church in Žďár nad Sázavou, which will also offer ►
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PREVIOUS PAGE: Church of St. Wenceslas in Sazovice, architect: Marek Jan Štěpán, photo: Atelier Štěpán archive ABOVE: Applied Health Centre BALUO, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, project management: atelier-r, s.r.o., architectural design: Miroslav Pospíšil, photo: Lukáš Pelech RIGHT: Rapos Administration Building, Holešov, photo: Studio NEW WORK archive Water HouseHulice, Architecture Studio AND, architects: V. Danda, P. Ullmann, R. Kupka, O. Smolík, J. Kosnar, photo: Vít Švajcr
for which there was an unmet demand. In 2011 we wanted to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Kruh with a few architecture walks, and it turned into a much bigger event.
a tandem jump! But that’s the icing on the cake in this year’s programme. How easy is it to offer access to buildings that are otherwise closed to the public? This year we were able to get access to three villas located below Vyšehrad, something we did not expect. All it takes is one enthusiastic owner or building manager who can get others on board. We are expecting a lot of interest in these three villas. On the other hand, we have been trying for the second year to get access to Barrandov Terraces, but with no luck. So you see, sometimes it is difficult. Hopefully in the future people will take pride in the fact that their house is included in a festival of architecture.
So Architecture Day was born almost accidentally? Exactly. We did not expect or plan for such a large festival. This year the festival will include events in sixty different locations across Czechia and some also in Slovakia. Outside of the festival, what else does your organisation do? We organise an ongoing series of lectures about architecture. Most of our speakers are from abroad and they include architects, historians and architecture theorists.
Do you know how many people will take part in Architecture Day? Our estimate comes mostly from photographs of past years, where we think we had between six to ten thousand visitors. The weather is a big factor, although last year it rained and still a lot of people came.
The architecture festival includes screenings of international films about architecture and urbanism. What shouldn’t we miss this year? Definitely the film REM about the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The screening will kick-start the festival on 20 September. Another interesting film is Big Time, which trails the work and life of the unconventional Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. And also the film The Competition, in which the director tries to look behind the scenes of a competition between five renowned architecture studios.
How did Architecture Day begin? It all began with the civic association Kruh [Circle]. In 2001 a group of us founded Kruh while still at the university, and we started to organise architecture events for the general public. A year later we created a formal association. In reality we didn’t plan to develop Kruh any further, but there was so much interest in its work that it somehow took on a life of its own. I suppose we were offering something
For more information about the Architecture Day festival, including a detailed programme, visit www.denarchitektury.cz. ■
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26. – 30. 10. Designblok
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Prague International Design Festival www.designblok.cz Designblok is supported by following institutions: EUNIC Cluster CR – European Union National Institutes for Culture, Czech Centres, Prague 1 and Prague 7 City Districts, National Museum, Netherlands Embassy in Prague, Embassy of Belgium – Delegation of Wallonia, Embassy of Belgium – Delegation of Flanders, Embassy of Norway in Prague, Lithuanian Embassy in Prague, Embassy of Finland in Prague, Goethe Institute in Prague, Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Prague, Italian Cultural Institute, Hungarian Cultural Institute in Prague, Cervantes Institute in Prague, Polish Institute in Prague, Camões institute in Prague, Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague Official Suppliers: Parfumerie Douglas, Excelent, SPYRON, TONI&GUY, Veuve Clicquot Diploma Selection / Czech Section support: T-Mobile Media Partners: Apetit, Architect+, Art+Antiques, Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy, dolcevita.cz, ELLE Decoration, elle.cz, ERA21, Flash Art, H.O.M.i.E., Marianne Bydlení, Nové proměny bydlení, Radio1, SOFFA Foreign media partners: Atrium, H.O.M.E., Designum, H.O.M.i.E.
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Adéla Kudrnová I editor in chief adela@soffamag.com Lenka Hlaváčová I art director & designer lenka@soffamag.com Yasmin Keshmiri Hejduk I creative editor yasmin@soffamag.com Lina Németh I photographer lina@soffamag.com Adéla Havelková I photographer & grafická designérka adela.h@soffamag.com Michaela Karásek Čejková I photographer michaela@soffamag.com Róbert Kováč I graphic designer robert@soffamag.com Helena Novotná I editor & distribution helena@soffamag.com Patrik Florián I editor & fashion stylist patrik@soffamag.com Aleksandra Sidorina I production manager aleksa@soffamag.com Max Smrčka I production manager max@soffamag.com Terézia Bělčáková I sales manager terezia@soffamag.com Petr Novák I sales mananger petr@soffamag.com
CONTRIBUTORS Ondřej Lipár I text
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