SOFFA 19 / GENERATIONS, English edition by SOFFA

SOFFA

design

food

people

travel

VOLUME | 19

life

SOFFA

design

food

people

travel

life

ISSUE THEME: GENERATIONS More than four generations of people walk the planet today. For SOFFA 19 we set out to explore the fascinating lives of generations past, present and future.

Contents

SOFFA ISSUE 19 IS DEDICATED TO

GENERATIONS The Czech writer Karel Čapek once said: ‘The young think they are ushering in a better world, while the old guard thinks the better world is on its way out.’ While Čapek’s words are poignant, in SOFFA 19 we celebrate all generations equally. You will meet many interesvting people of all ages: an Italian baroness who is renovating a Czech chateau with her own hands; founders of several successful Czech companies; an innovative ambassador to Czechia; a Hamburg-based photographer who embarked on a journey to his ancestral home; and an artist who breathes new life into old porcelain. The travel feature is also a cross-generational journey, focusing on the town of Litomyšl and its stunning examples of unity between modern and historical architecture. To celebrate future generations, the fashion story has been curated by young stylists – more specifically, children. The unusual photo gallery presents romantic partners who resemble each other enough to be confused for siblings, and our regular feature on interiors looks at a 1970s cinema and an old English chapel. Last but not least, you must not miss our stories on the future of cities, treasured objects and the ‘utterly’ Czech chlebíček!

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Welcome

HAPPY NINETEENTH! It is hard to believe, but this nineteenth issue is shepherding SOFFA into its fourth year of existence, and the third year of the magazine’s printed form. Perhaps tellingly we chose Generations as the theme for this issue. Is SOFFA still a toddler, a child or a spirited teenager? I ask this while I reflect on the life of the magazine that, for those of us who create it, represents our family, work and all our free time! Following the maxims that age is just a number and that those who remain young at heart have the most fun, I wish for our magazine to always remain visionary, innovative and inspiring. In this spirit we are launching a few new developments in the graphic layout and content of the magazine. In addition to using a smaller font and a longer format for interviews, we will regularly feature something ‘utterly’ Czech to help you appreciate the idiosyncrasies of our little nation. I hope you will enjoy these changes as much as the stories about people, places and actions of various generations – including those that are yet to come. Welcome to our nineteenth issue! Adéla Kudrnová | editor in chief

photo: SOFFA and contributors

Portrait Essay

ONE SOUL, ONE FACE THEY SAY THAT OPPOSITES ATTRACT, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SAYING ‘TWO PEAS IN A POD’? LOOK AT YOUR PARTNER – DO YOU SEE A BIT OF YOURSELF? IF YES, IT WON’T BE BY CHANCE! text & styling: Patrik Florián | make-up: Aleksandra Sidorina | hair: Tomáš Koblása photo: Michaela Karásek Čejková

IS THERE SOMEONE YOU LOVE? DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR SOULMATE? RELATIONSHIPS MAY NOT BE ABOUT HOW WE COMPLETE EACH OTHER, BUT ABOUT WHAT WE SHARE. WHETHER SEEKING A LIFE PARTNER, A FRIEND OR SIMPLY CONGENIAL COMPANY, WE HUMANS ARE PROGRAMMED TO SEARCH FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND US. HOW DOES IT WORK? THE ANSWER LIES IN THE FACE, WHICH TELLS IT ALL.

Are you in a great relationship because you understand each other perfectly, or are your genes responsible for your bliss? ‘Assortative mating’ suggests that we naturally select partners who are similar to us in terms of appearance, character, talents and even DNA. In addition, psychologist Robert Zajonc from the University of Michigan has found that through a lifetime of togetherness our faces begin to resemble each other. With life partners we share not only the most emotional of situations, but also our daily moods. If your partner is a jokester then you probably laugh together day and night and your facial muscles and wrinkles may begin to look similar. ‘Mirroring’ is a well known behaviour phenomenon observed between partners and within groups. We subconsciously imitate body postures, facial expressions and voice intonations of those whom we like or admire. We even change our behaviour or habits – all part of the human adaptation strategy that helps us feel like we belong. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario confirmed this phenomenon in their studies of identical twins, whose partners tend to resemble each other. This mechanism also works inside our bodies. About 25% of our immune system is determined by genetics, and the rest is influenced by our lifestyle. Thus the right partner can also mean a healthier future for your body – the same is of course true in reverse. Partnership. Each is different, each representing a unique inner world that no one on the outside can fully understand. Some couples travel thousands of miles together, while others are happy to walk in the backyard. Some eat from the same plate, while others keep strictly to their own. Some like to tickle each other, wrestle or even shout. Some sing or dance behind closed doors, others sit and chat. One half of a couple can be a manic talker, while the other is happy to listen, and there are couples that talk even on the toilet. One prepares breakfast, the other dinner. One chooses films, the other exhibitions. However unusual our partnership habits may be, we never stop loving. After all, love makes the world go round. ■ We thank the clothing company COS for lending us the clothes for the photo shoot.

ŠÁRKA (62, artist & art school teacher) AND PAVEL (62, doctor) PARTNERS FOR 46 YEARS, MARRIED 40 YEARS Šárka and Pavel Hrouzek live in Dolní Újezd near Litomyšl. Šárka manages her own art school and in her creative work uses a technique that bridges painting and assemblage. She is drawn to geometric abstractions and experiments with aluminium and other metals. Pavel is a general medical practitioner and an avid photographer. Šárka always liked the tall, dark, handsome type, and although Pavel’s hair is no longer dark, his personality is the same – dependable and tolerant. They have matured together, and after all these years they still look forward to seeing each other every day. They love travelling together and exploring art, culture and history.

ALEX (31, creative producer) AND LU (34, artist) PARTNERS FOR 11 YEARS, MARRIED 5 YEARS In addition to painting, Lu Jindrák Skřivánková likes upcycling, designing fashion and making her own porcelain. An enthusiastic athlete, Alex Jindrák makes a living as a creative producer. First glance at the couple and you note the similar height, round glasses and untamed curls. Alex sees in Lu utter perfection complemented with red glasses; Lu loves Alex’s curls, athletic figure, lower lip and teeth. They are both workaholic and choleric personalities full of innovative ideas. Their joint project is the Prague experimental space TEP, which offers a place for sport, an art gallery, a bistro and a meeting space.

JANA (36, translator and teacher of Swedish) AND JONAS (49, travel agency owner) PARTNERS FOR 10 YEARS, MARRIED 7 YEARS Jana is Czech and Jonas is Danish. Although the Thomsens live near Prague, their lifestyle is very Nordic: starting with the look of their home and ending with their love of nature. The north is also what brought Jana and Jonas together. They met when Jana was a student of Swedish language at Charles University and stepped into Jonas’ travel agency Codan, which arranges Prague tours for tourists from Scandinavia. Even after their years together Jonas still loves Jana’s smile and her calm and even-tempered demeanour, and Jana loves Jonas’ kind and forever boyish outlook and humour. They are both eternal optimists who try to avoid conflict.

FILIP (36, music composer) AND ADÉLA (35, photographer, SOFFA team) 8 YEARS ACQUAINTED, PARTNERS FOR 1 YEAR Filip Míšek is a music composer and Adéla Havelková is the photographer behind most SOFFA photographs, and they are to be credited with the idea for this article. We know them well and we feel that their similarities are uncanny. Filip is most seduced by Adéla’s stern glance and nose. He also likes her ability to self-reflect and the adorable way she licks her lips. Adéla loves the furrow on Filip’s brow, his smile and his guitar playing at breakfast. They like people watching, travelling in nature, watching old Czech films and listening to music classics. They also love order and their unique humour, laced with a good dose of sarcasm.

JAKUB (29, architect) AND KATEŘINA (29, photographer) PARTNERS FOR 2.5 YEARS Jakub Jirman and Kateřina Zahradníčková live in Prague. Jakub is an architect and Kateřina a photographer. Jakub loves Kateřina’s dreamy moods, when she gets that look on her face of being in her own world and he observes her from the outside. Kateřina likes that Jakub is tall and a smarty pants. Both like to sleep in and they have one big common passion: following the biathlon. They were introduced by Kateřina’s friend from secondary school who later went to university with Jakub. They saw each other for the first time in a pub and their first real date was a walk around Letohrádek Hvězda in Prague.

ONDRA (25, applied physicist) AND ONDŘEJ (31, biology teacher) PARTNERS FOR 5 YEARS Ondra and Ondřej met at university and on their first date went to the cinema. They love travelling, exploring nature and doing sport. In addition to their many friends, they share an interest in geography, the cosmos and natural sciences. Ondra Harkut (left) is currently studying applied physics and working in Prague as a cyclotron operator. Ondřej Sokola (right) teaches biology in Germany. Although separated by a considerable distance, they are always together in spirit. When they are in the same place, Ondřej is the one who rises early and prepares breakfast while Ondra sleeps. They are attracted to each other’s athletic figure, facial features and smile.

Keepsakes

FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT PEOPLE MAY INHERIT HOMES, LAND OR MONEY, BUT WHAT IS TREASURED MOST ARE INHERITED OBJECTS WITH TOUCHING STORIES. text: Helena Stiessová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Adéla Havelková

ALL YOU NEED DO IS GLANCE, TOUCH OR SMELL, AND YOU ARE IMMEDIATELY ENVELOPED IN A VIVID MEMORY. PRECIOUS OBJECTS WITH DEEP MEANING. IT CAN BE A REMINDER OF AN IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE OR A TRACE OF A LOVED ONE, SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME PART OF YOUR OWN JOURNEY AND WILL BE PASSED ON ONE DAY TO THE NEXT GENERATION. SOME OBJECTS HAVE A MOVING HISTORY AND ARE LIKE A BOOK WITH A DRAMATIC STORYLINE, OTHERS SIMPLY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE AND WARM YOUR HEART. EVEN IF YOU MOVE DOZENS OF TIMES IN YOUR LIFE, THERE ARE THOSE PRECIOUS OBJECTS WITH THEIR INSEPARABLE MEMORIES THAT SIMPLY MUST COME ALONG.

By now you probably have your own precious keepsake in mind, something special that you could never let go. Perhaps a silver pendant from your grandmother, a paper rose from a visit to a fair when you were ten, or a teddy bear from a raffle at your graduation dance. It may even hold your own special secret that no one else knows about. The times may be rare when you open your secret treasure box and caress your special keepsake, allowing it to transport you to the past, yet you always get that comforting feeling that transcends the passage of time. Other objects care little for sentimentality and prefer to be useful – so they can come to life and earn their own imprints and stories. And others still prefer to remain distant, to wink at you from a picture frame or peer down from a cabinet display. The SOFFA team also has its own inherited treasures. In this feature we have decided to open up our secret treasure boxes and share with you the stories of our precious mementos. ■

HELENKA, EDITOR: ‘I inherited the silver sugar bowl from my grandma and grandpa, who lived in Hanspaulka [a Prague neighbourhood] in an apartment full of beautiful antiques, paintings from the nineteenth century and other treasures. On visits to grandma’s and grandpa’s, when I had a chance to stay alone in the living room, I would always sneak sugar cubes from the sugar bowl, as at home we weren’t allowed such treats. At home we always ate a very healthy diet and tea only came with honey. Sugar cubes fascinated me and I thought they were the best lollies in the world!’

ADA, EDITOR IN CHIEF: ‘My ninety year-old grandmother gave me the Art Nouveau mirror a few years ago. I learnt that she’d had it, together with some other things, since the start of the Second World War. As a young woman she was then approached by a Jewish family who asked for her help in hiding their precious possessions before they were sent to a concentration camp. After the war no one came to claim them, but my grandmother continued to fulfil her promise to look after them for another seventy years. Only after seventy years had passed did she conclude that it was time to close the chapter on this sad story. The mirror is in my home and whenever I look at it, I’m reminded of its history.’

MÍŠA, PHOTOGRAPHER: ‘This seemingly unremarkable t-shirt belonged to my mother. During the Communist years she’d bought it in a Tuzex shop, where specialty, imported items were sold, and she was wearing it on the day she met my father. For a long time she had kept it safe in a cupboard as a memory of that special day. After she and my father divorced she wanted to get rid of it, and so I asked if I could keep it. The t-shirt has been with me since then as an artefact and a symbol of that afternoon when my parents met.’

TEREZA, EDITOR: ‘Once on a train I met a mother travelling with her children. They had a beautiful book with the name Christian Morgenstern on the cover, full of amazing, colourful illustrations. My daughters and I fell in love with the book straight away, but I learned that the book was out of print. I looked everywhere for it, but no luck. After a while I’d forgotten about it, but the one who hadn’t forgotten was the antique book dealer Filip Beneš from Pilsen, whom I had approached when searching for the book. He wrote to me some months later to let me know that he had found it. Since then the book travels with us wherever we go, because in addition to its wonderful poems, it also has a story about a kind antique book dealer.’

LENKA, ART DIRECTOR: ‘I received these aquarelles from my grandmother when I was seventeen. I was preparing for my admission exam to art school and was spending the summer at grandma and grandpa’s cottage. My grandmother had been a teacher of maths and art, and so she set to help me prepare. From the attic she brought down old aquarelle paints and real aquarelle paper, and I painted day and night as if my life depended on it! The aquarelles have stayed with me and I have used them faithfully since then – in art school and later at work. They help me put my ideas on paper and every time I open them, I’m enveloped by the scent of that summer with my grandmother.’

Home Tour

IDYLLIC COUNTRY LIVING ‘BUILDINGS ARE LIKE PEOPLE – NOT IMPERVIOUS AND ALIEN, BUT ALIVE, CHANGING WITH TIME, REMEMBERING THE PATHS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TREAD.’ CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER, AMERICAN ARCHITECT AND THEORIST text: Hana Švolbová | styling and photo: Lucie Desmond

ON THE STUNNING SOMERSET PLANES IN SOUTHWESTERN ENGLAND LIES THE TOWN OF BURROWBRIDGE, IN WHICH YOU WILL FIND A CHAPEL THAT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD HAVE COME FROM THE PAGES OF A ROMANTIC NOVEL. HAVING PREVIOUSLY SERVED ECCLESIASTIC PURPOSES, TODAY THE CHAPEL IS A DISTINCTIVE PLACE OF ACCOMMODATION, CHARACTERISED BY ITS OWNER AND RESTORER, SALLY EDWARDS, AS ‘RURAL MINIMALISM’. ITS SIMPLY FURNISHED INTERIOR OFFERS AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY – SANS TELEVISION, MAKING IT AN IDEAL REFUGE FROM TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY-DEPENDENT WORLD. FOR THIS ISSUE, SOFFA SET OUT TO UNCOVER THE VISION THAT LED SALLY TO TRANSFORM A HISTORICAL BUILDING INTO A RESPITE FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF MODERN LIVING.

‘The brick chapel was built in 1863 by the local pastor Thomas Baker,’ explains the owner Sally Edwards, ‘and his memorial plaque has a place of honour in the bedroom, serving as a reminder of the building’s origins.’ The chapel stopped functioning as a religious space in the early 1990s, and in 1997 the building was bought and beautifully restored by the architect Ian Constantides. It was then used as a place for gatherings and talks by speakers from all across Great Britain on themes as varied as Russian wooden churches, European opera houses and modern poetry. After Ian’s death in 2013 the building went on sale and Sally found it by chance. She immediately fell in love with the chapel and its surrounding landscape. Sally Edwards lives in an adjoining building that was once the village school, which implies that she has a passion for converting old buildings into spaces suitable for modern living. ‘We tried to respect the original purpose and history of the chapel, which resulted in an interesting dialogue between how we imagine modern living and how we can preserve the integrity of the original structure. I used to live in a renovated barn, and that experience inspired many of the ideas for the restoration of the chapel.’ Conversions of historical and even ecclesiastical buildings into modern family homes are reasonably common, but what led Sally to convert the chapel into a place of respite for others? ‘I must say I didn’t start out with a clear idea of how the chapel would be used, and in the end the decision was led by the building itself. Religious structures typically serve as a place of refuge, so I wanted to create a comfortable place where both the body and the spirit could rejuvenate, a place that exudes history yet befits modern life.’ ►

The interior breathes simplicity and is grounded in natural materials and earth tones, which perfectly resonate with the colours of the surrounding landscape. Sally describes her style as ‘rural minimalism’. In her view, when there is a strong connection between a building and the surrounding landscape, interior decoration becomes almost redundant. The three cosy spaces that house the bathroom, bedroom and toilet appear as three small installations inspired by monks’ cells and confessional booths. Another source of inspiration were the Somerset planes, open and wild, blanketed by an endless sky, and bedecked with grazing sheep and weeping willows. The interior furnishings grew out of a desire for a sense of freedom and comfort. ‘We intentionally omitted a television set and instead offer a wide range of books. We hope the interior will inspire guests to relax by reading, watching the countryside or simply cooking.’ The theme of this issue of SOFFA is Generations. To us the conversion of a historical building into a refuge from a world full of obtrusive technology is a beautiful example of how generations come together. For Sally this theme resonates strongly. As she herself points out, it is not only about respecting the generations that have come before us, but also considering how the chapel will be embraced by future generations. ‘Perhaps the most telling reminder of the theme of generations is the local cemetery,’ adds Sally, ‘where the names on the tombstones are hundreds of years old, but their descendants still live and work in the area.’ Sally Edwards offers accommodation at the Rural Idyll through her own website as well as through Airbnb. Her ideal guest? ‘The ideal guest will appreciate staying in an unconventional space and will be enchanted by its magic. We tend to get mostly younger guests from London, but we once hosted a Catholic priest who stayed for a week and was refreshingly nonconformist!’ exclaimed Sally. You can book your stay at the restored chapel in Burrowbridge at www.rural-idyll.com. ■

LEFT: Small details make a stay at the Rural Idyll perfectly restful, like a breakfast made from local products. At the Rural Idyll you can recapture the simple pleasures of a slower pace of life, leaving behind everyday clutter and superfluous technology. Enjoy cooking, reading, star-gazing, walking or simply doing nothing. NEXT SPREAD: With wonderful views over the river and towards Moorland, the original choir gallery makes for a cosy library.

Editors' Choice BELOW AND RIGHT: Taiwan-based homeware brand TOAST launched two brand-new copper tea vessels into its WEAVER collection, including a small glass teapot and an oriental tea infuser. www.toastliving.com Folded Steel Shelves by Muuto are practical and aesthetically pleasing. www.muuto.com

NEW COLLECTION EVERYONE IS SURE TO LOVE THIS YEAR’S FIRST COLLECTION: WHETHER YOU PREFER MINIMALISM, BRIGHT COLOURS OR ETHNO STYLE. WHICH PIECE SPEAKS TO YOU? text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: company archives

NEW PRODUCTS: Kukko ja Kana Guest Towel, Marimekko, www.finnishdesignshop.com, € 9.50 | Echassé Vase, Menu, www.designville.cz, 13 050 Kč | Floor Lamp IKEA PS 2017, www.ikea.com, £ 45 | Theo French Press Black, www.stelton.com, € 75 | Panton Chair, www.vitra.com, 7 022 Kč

ABOVE AND LEFT: The new limited collectionJASSA by Piet Hein Eek for IKEA is coming in March. www.ikea.com The new SS 2017 ferm LIVING collection went back in time to unite the contemporary expression of the company with a glimpse of bygone eras. www.fermliving.com

Editors' Choice

AGELESS CLASSICS YOU TOO CAN START A FAMILY TRADITION OF SPECIAL OBJECTS OR CUSTOMS THAT WILL BE PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. A DURABLE WOODEN HORSE OR AN ELEGANT HOURGLASS CAN BECOME YOUR TREASURED FAMILY HEIRLOOMS! text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Adéla Kudrnová & Helena Novotná | photo: company archives

Children’s Chair Petit 014, www.ton.eu, 2 730 Kč | Giraffe Inflatable Toy, www.efatra.com, 299 Kč | Gus Red Slippers, www.baabuk.com, € 69.90 | Hay Medium Time Glass, www.cosstores.com, £ 17 | Pencil case + Coloured Pencils, www.papelote.cz, € 10 | Flavio Horse, www.kutulu.cz, 930 Kč

Interior

RETRO CINEMA SOME PASTIMES BELONG TO A CERTAIN GENERATION, WHILE OTHERS ARE TIMELINESS. WATCHING FILMS FITS BOTH CAMPS. text: Helena Novotná | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

THE FIRST MOVIE THEATRE WELCOMED ITS AUDIENCE IN 1899. MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS LATER WE VISIT THE CINEMA AS EXCITEDLY AS OUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS DID, EVEN THOUGH TODAY YOU CAN DOWNLOAD NEW FILMS A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEIR PREMIERE. IT IS ABOUT THE ACT OF GOING TO THE CINEMA, A SENSORY EXPERIENCE NO HOME THEATRE CAN REPLACE. JOIN US ON A VISIT TO THE CINEMA HALL IN THE CULTURAL CENTRE IN NERATOVICE, AND LET YOURSELF BE TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME.

Designed by the architect Gustav Šindelka and built in two stages in the 1960s and 1970s, the cultural centre in Neratovice fills its cultural function to this day: it hosts concerts, talks, balls and theatre performances, and screens films in its cinema hall. There is little known about the history of this building – in our opinion architecturally exceptional, as all information about its construction was lost during the 100-year flood that swept through Czechia in 2002. While the plans may have been lost forever, the interior of the cinema hall has clearly not changed over the years, having retained many of its original attributes. Perhaps the most striking feature is the wood panelling on the walls, which you would be hard-pressed to find in a modern multiplex. The same goes for the heavy yellow curtains, which announce the beginning and end of each film with their characteristic rustle, lending the act of film projection a certain level of decorum. The Neratovice cinema hall has 408 padded wooden seats, the kind that flip down. One next to the other, looking identical, arranged in neat long rows. ►

Our journey to the past continues outside the cinema hall. The decorative relief on the wall of the cultural centre’s main hall is a period classic that in its day adorned countless metro stations, cultural centres and housing developments across Czechia. The centre also features another period classic – a tile mosaic of varying colours serving as wall covering. A common decorative element of the 1960s and 1970s, the practical wall tiles are more likely to feature in today’s kitchens and bathrooms. The Neratovice cinema hall exudes an undeniably nostalgic atmosphere – welcomed by some, less so by others. Your own response will depend not only on your personal style, but also on the period in which you grew up. Each new multiplex makes small old cinemas more and more appealing to a generation weaned on the idea that you can go to the cinema at practically any hour and you never have to wait more than half an hour for the start of the film. A generation accustomed to three different flavours of popcorn and thirty different types of lollies still appreciates that a seat in an old cinema hall will be more comfortable than a regular multiplex chair, and that the angle of the auditorium will guarantee a splendid view. What’s more, today’s digitisation process has eliminated the crackling sound and the black lines that often accompanied film screening in the past. While it is unlikely that the 9.5 mm film reel will have a mass comeback, small cinema halls have been able to retain their hold on ardent cinema fans. In Neratovice they play the evening’s feature at seven o’clock without fail, and you can buy your ticket right at the door. Sit yourself down, the curtain is about to open. For more information go to www.spoldum.cz. ■

Decor

MATERIAL OBSESSION THE SECRET TO A DISTINCTIVE INTERIOR IS IN THE ART OF COMBINING MATERIALS, COLOURS, TEXTURES AND MOTIFS. BE INSPIRED TO CREATE YOUR IDEAL DECOR! text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling and photo: Andrea Kroupová and Martina Šandová/ andreaamartina.com

INTERIOR DESIGNERS ANDREA KROUPOVÁ AND MARTINA ŠANDOVÁ ARE OBSESSED WITH MATERIALS AND THEIR COMBINATION POSSIBILITIES. FOR THIS ISSUE OF SOFFA THEY HAVE PREPARED FIVE DIFFERENTLY STYLED COMPOSITIONS IN WHICH THEY COMBINE THINGS THAT ARE OLD AND NEW, NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, COLOURFUL AND COLOURLESS. THEY SHOW US THAT IN INTERIOR DESIGN FANTASY KNOWNS NO BOUNDS AND THAT IT IS ALWAYS WISE TO HANG ONTO THINGS – EVEN A RUSTY PIECE OF TIN CAN COME IN HANDY!

Have you ever considered how the home in which you grew up has influenced your own style of interior design? Does your current home feature decorative pieces from past generations, or do you give vintage elements a wide berth? Take a look around your home or studio and with the help of various materials you can create mood boards to identify your distinctive style. As shown on the following pages created by Andrea and Martina, the foundation materials of wood and glass can be complemented by fabric off-cuts, colour samples, treasures from the attic or everyday items like a bar of soap. The resulting composition will guide you to identify individual pieces of furniture for your home. ■ Half Moon mirror, www.benandajablanc.com

NATURAL MINIMALISM THE COLLECTION OF NATURAL MATERIALS IN A GREEN-GREY COLOUR PALETTE EXUDES PEACE AND HARMONY. WOOD, STONE AND OTHER NATURAL MATERIALS SPEAK TO US MOST ELOQUENTLY WHEN IN THEIR NATURAL STATE, AS DO PATINATED METALS, HANDMADE TILES OR THE COARSE TEXTURE OF LINEN.

CH24 Wishbone chair, design by Hans J. Wegner, www.carlhansen.com textiles, www.latky.cz | grey leather, Kutil Florenc | tiles, www.vinciprojekt.cz | colour Pantone 414, www.pantone.com

VINOHRADY CLASSIC THE CLASSIC MATERIALS THAT ADORNED PRAGUE APARTMENTS – SUCH AS THOSE FOUND IN THE VINOHRADY NEIGHBOURHOOD – IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ARE ELEGANT AND TIMELESS EVEN TODAY. STUCCO, MARBLE AND PARQUET FLOORING COMBINED WITH CEMENT VENEER AND LIGHT MINIMALISM ARE TODAY SYNONYMS FOR UNOBTRUSIVE POMP COMBINED WITH COMFORT. THEY ARE THE DEFINITE STYLE CHOICE FOR ADMIRERS OF BLENDING HISTORICISM AND MODERNISM.

Desdemone bed, design by N. Nasrallah & C. Horner, www.ligne-roset.com glass brick, www.luxfery.cz | oak wood, www.urbanwood.cz | smoked glass, www.sklenarstviklapka.cz | perforated tin, www.kondor.cz | fur and dark grey velvet, www.latky.cz | moulding profile, www.mamaisoninteriors.cz | patterned tile, marble, stone veneer, all from www.vinciprojekt.cz

INDUSTRIAL BOHEMIAN A CAPTIVATING INTERIOR CAN BE CREATED IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PHRASE ‘PERFECT IMPERFECTION’. IT REQUIRES COMBINING ECLECTIC FURNISHINGS FROM ACROSS DECADES, HONOURING THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE SPACE, AND LETTING THE BEAUTY OF RAW MATERIALS SHINE. DECOR IN SUCH SPACES CALLS FOR BOLD DECORATIVE ELEMENTS THAT CAN SOFTEN THE ATMOSPHERE AND MAKE IT FEEL COSY – STRIKING PRINTS, PATTERNS AND COLOURS ON TEXTILES OR WALLPAPER, OFTEN INSPIRED BY EXOTIC OR MYSTICAL MOTIFS.

Diamond settee, wend-studio.com wire glass and smoked glass, www.sklenarstviklapka.cz | brown leather, Kutil Florenc | dark green velvet and flower print fabric, both from www.latky.cz | steel mesh, www.kondor.cz | aged oak, www.urbanwood.cz | brick veneer, www.stonegallery.cz | cement tile, www.vinciprojekt.cz

MID-CENTURY AESTHETIC COMBINING REFINED MATERIALS LIKE BRASS, WALNUT WOOD, MARBLE OR DECORATIVE GLASS IS A SURE WAY TO DEFINE AN EXPRESSIVE SPACE REMINISCENT OF THE 1950S. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF A MID-CENTURY INTERIOR INCLUDE SCREEN ROOM DIVIDERS, DISTINCTIVE FURNITURE, RICH COLOURS AND WALLPAPER. AND TO TOP IT OFF â&#x20AC;&#x201C; VELVET OF COURSE!

Beetle Lounge chair, Gubi, www.uhelnymlyn.cz glass brick, www.luxfery.cz | glass sphere and brass plate, both antiques | green marble and hexagonal tiles, www.vinciprojekt.cz | walnut wood, www.urbanwood.cz | textured glass, www.sklenarstviklapka.cz | dark blue velvet, www.latky.cz

GENTLEMEN’S ELEGANCE FUNCTIONAL WITH AN ATTENTION TO DETAIL – AN APT DESCRIPTION OF AN INTERIOR SUITABLE FOR A GENTLEMAN. IT IS A SPACE IN WHICH SOPHISTICATION AND URBANE PURITY ARE COUNTERBALANCED WITH THE INDUSTRIAL FEEL OF CONCRETE AND RUSTY METAL, WHERE DECORATIVE ELEMENTS MADE OF CHROME, LEATHER AND DARK WOOD PREVAIL. AND BECAUSE GENTLEMEN ENJOY COLLECTING ART AND ANTIQUE BOOKS, A GENTLEMEN’S STUDY MUST ACCOMMODATE SUCH ITEMS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY INCLUDE A BIT OF EROTICA.

True Colours vases, design by Lex Pott, www.lexpott.nl green marble and stone veneer, www.vinciprojekt.cz | black leather, Kutil Florenc | grey fabric, www.latky.cz | rebar, www.kondor.cz | concrete, AB Parket | mirror reflecting the book Erotica Universalis, www.taschen.com

RETURN TO THE LANDSCAPE

INSPIRED BY OUR SOFFA 18 ISSUE ON THE BAROQUE, WE HAVE STARTED AN INITIATIVE TO HELP RETURN STATUES TO THE LANDSCAPE. MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES ARE WONDERFUL PLACES, BUT THE IMPRESSION A STATUE MAKES IN A PUBLIC SPACE IS INCOMPARABLE. IF YOU KNOW A PLACE WHERE A BAROQUE STATUE USED TO STAND – BE IT AN ALLEY, ROADSIDE, VILLAGE COMMON, BRIDGE OR THE TOP OF A HILL – AND WHERE IT WOULD BE LOVELY TO SEE IT RETURNED, THEN WRITE TO US AT INFO@SOFFAMAG.COM. WE WILL WORK TO FIND A SPONSOR TO HELP THE RENOWNED SCULPTOR JAN HENDRYCH CREATE AND PLACE A BAROQUE REMINISCENCE IN THE GIVEN LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! #SoffaProject

Utterly Czech

A PASSION FOR CHLEBÍČEK THE BELOVED OPEN-FACED SANDWICH GARNISHED WITH THE BEST A COLD KITCHEN CAN OFFER HAS BEEN PART OF CZECH GASTRONOMY FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS. text: Helena Stiessová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Adéla Havelková

THERE IS NO SELF-RESPECTING CZECH CELEBRATION WITHOUT A CHLEBÍČEK. ITS PRAISE HAS BEEN SUNG BY MANY A HUNGRY TOURIST WANDERING THE COBBLED STREETS OF PRAGUE, OR A WEARY BRICKLAYER TAKING A MID-DAY BREAK IN THE DELICATESSEN NEXT DOOR. CREATED AS A QUICK HUNGER FIX, THE CHLEBÍČEK HAS BEEN CREDITED TO JAN PAUKERT SR, WHO BEGAN SERVING IT IN HIS DELICATESSEN ON NÁRODNÍ TŘÍDA IN PRAGUE IN 1916. THE LITTLE TASTY TREAT FIRST ENJOYED LIMELIGHT AS A LUXURY REPAST, BUT THANKS TO ITS VARIABILITY IT SOON TRANSFORMED INTO A FOLK HERO PRESENT IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD AND NEIGHBOURHOOD DELI, AS WELL AS EVERY COMMUNIST PARTY MEETING PRIOR TO 1989. THE ADVENT OF DEMOCRACY EXPOSED THE CZECH KITCHEN TO THE WIDER WORLD, BUT THE GARNISHED CHLEBÍČEK REMAINS OUR SMALL CULINARY FAVOURITE. AND ALTHOUGH SOME HAVE CLAIMED THAT THE CLASSIC CHLEBÍČEK IS NOT FOR CHAMPIONS OF HEALTHY EATING, THE DELIGHTFUL SNACK DESERVES OUR ARDENT DEFENCE. A QUICK HUNGER FIX THAT IS ALSO MEANT TO PLEASE ALL SENSES, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEPENDENT ON A COMBINATION OF TASTEBUD TEASERS THAT ARE NOT MEANT FOR DAILY CONSUMPTION. TODAY YOU CAN FIND A TRULY HEALTHY CHLEBÍČEK IF YOU SHOULD BE INCLINED TO LOOK FOR ONE. HERE AT SOFFA, HOWEVER, WE PREFER THE CLASSIC VERSION!

What are the requisites of a true chlebíček? The key basics are quality ingredients and soft French bread, which must be cut at an angle to achieve the signature look. You spread it with a mayonnaise salad or butter, and layer it with slices of ham, salami and cheese arranged artfully in undulating layers. Between the waves of arranged cold meats you gently insert slices of pickles, capsicum, a half-moon of a boiled egg or perhaps an anchovy, anything your taste buds desire. Yes, a true chlebíček can carry this weight, for somehow it defies the laws of physics. On top of this poetic expression you set a sprig of parsley and the flagship of Czech cuisine is ready to sail! ■

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Business Through the Generations

FAMILY FIRMS RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN FAMILY BUSINESS: A ZEAL FOR WORK AND OPEN COMMUNICATION text: Tereza Škoulová | illustration: Alessandra Genualdo

PIANO BUILDERS RENDL ONE HUNDRED AND SIX YEARS. SCENT OF WOOD, TAUT PIANO STRINGS, THE SOUNDS OF KNOCKING, CREAKING AND TAPPING. LISTENING CAREFULLY WHILE CARESSING THE INSTRUMENT. THE RENDL FAMILY CARES FOR PIANOS THAT REMEMBER THE NINETEENTH CENTURY AND RETURNS THEM TO THEIR FORMER GLORY. AFTER THREE FERDINANDS THE FAMILY BUSINESS IS MOVING TO THE FOURTH GENERATION, THIS TIME REPRESENTED BY A JAN.

It was a woman, the great-grandmother of Jan Rendl, who opened the first family store in 1911. In 1924 Jan’s great-grandfather added to his wife’s enterprise when he bought a house from which they sold Petrof pianos. The first generation only sold pianos – renovation of old instruments came with grandfather Ferdinand, who opened his workshop with a storefront in the centre of Prague after first studying abroad.

and the Prague Philharmonic, and in 1989 he founded his own workshop. After the revolution he had to buy back the equipment of his family company, but he has no regrets. He and his son now work on the same machines that were used by the two previous generations of Rendl piano builders. A piano builder’s trade covers many skill areas. ‘We are doctors of instruments who diagnose a specific problem, and we do so as carpenters, locksmiths and painters all in one. And in a way we are also artists who are trying to return to the instrument its soul,’ says Ferdinand. The profession is changing with times, however – there are fewer quality pianos and fewer people who play them. There are also fewer skilled people in the field, one of the reasons why Rendls want to continue their family tradition. If not in Czechia then perhaps abroad, where they still value the piano building craft. ■

In 1948 history made its mark on the family business, when the Communist government nationalised all private enterprise. Great-grandfather Ferdinand left for the countryside and grandfather became a manager in a state-run piano workshop. His son Ferdinand wanted to study, but owing to his bourgeois background he was not accepted at the university, and so he too learnt the piano trade. During the 1970s he worked for the Academy of the Performing Arts

DISTILLERY ŽUFÁNEK SEVENTEEN YEARS. NEAT ROWS OF FRUIT TREES. COPPER SHINE ON DISTILLING BOILERS. THE INTENSIVE AROMA OF DRIED HERBS AND FRUIT. AND THEN THE RESULT – ARTISANAL BRANDIES THAT WARM NOT ONLY THE THROAT BUT ALSO THE HEART. MARCELA AND JOSEF ŽUFÁNEK BEGAN TO BUILD THEIR DISTILLERY IN 1992 AND FOUNDED THE COMPANY EIGHT YEARS LATER. TODAY THE BUSINESS INCLUDES THEIR THREE SONS: MARTIN, JOSEF AND JAN.

During their seventeen years of existence they have built up a distillery that includes a cellar, a fermentation room, a distilling room, a herbarium, a tasting room and a drying area for fruit and herbs. Most of the fruit used in the distillation process comes from their own orchards. All interior spaces are simply and neatly furnished, drawing attention to the products on display. Martin is the house specialist on recipes and the distillation process – he sees it as his calling. The Žufáneks have earned their good reputation with their artisanal brandies, but they are best known for their exceptional all natural absinthe, which competes in taste with the best of French brands.

balist, and surprises with his ability to distinguish among the tastes and smells of different types of herbs. Herein lies the secret to the success of their family enterprise – doing your very best and being satisfied with your results. Beyond the simple desire to enjoy a job well done, the Žufáneks have no other business or marketing strategy. In fact, they are not even interested in expanding their product line and they don’t employ anyone in the production process – it is only Martin and one of his brothers. ‘You need to have a broad overview, so you can orient yourself among different tastes. Most of all, you can’t be afraid,’ explains Martin. When looking at their website, one is struck by the elegant design of their various product bottles. When quality content meets beautiful form, how can you go wrong? ■

‘You have to enjoy your drink,’ says Martin about his profession, in which he does a lot of tasting and comparing. He is also a chemist, a gardener and a her-

KAVALIERGLASS ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS. THE EXPANSIVE AREA OF IRON WORKS AND GLASSWORKS. FRAGILE GLASS OBJECTS – THE RESULT OF HARD WORK. HOUSEHOLD, INDUSTRY AND LABORATORY GLASS. COLLABORATING WITH DESIGNERS, DISCOVERING NEW TECHNOLOGIES. THE KAVALÍRS REFINE THE QUALITY OF THEIR GLASSMAKING. OTAKAR MOŤKA, THE NEW OWNER, BUILDS ON THEIR FAMILY TRADITION WITH SUCCESS.

The glassmaker František Kavalír and his wife Antonie hired their first iron works in 1830 and seven years later added another. The family business grew under the leadership of their sons Josef and Eduard, who were recognised at an international exhibition in Paris and received a gold medal at a world exhibition in London. They opened two new iron works, began to produce pyrex, initiated collaboration with designer Ladislav Sutnar, and developed two new types of laboratory glass: SIAL and SIMAX.

Kavalierglass. He also founded a creative arm called Kavalier Design, which in collaboration with studio Dechem won the 2014 Czech Grand Design prize for the Laboratory Lights collection. Otakar Moťka continues in the tradition of manufacturers from the period between the two world wars. He enjoys visiting the glassworkers, having a chat and encouraging their ideas. And he is also focused on the future: ‘We cannot survive on tradition alone. We must innovate, search for new products and face our competition,’ says Otakar. He speaks about glassmaking with great affection: ‘It’s a work of art, starting with the glass material and ending with the machines that help in the production process.’ A key to success, in his opinion, is working in a team and planning. In anticipation of the two hundred year anniversary of the glassworks he has introduced Vision 2037, which now guides the direction of Kavalierglass. ■

During the 1980s the glassworks supplied glass for the veneer of two metro stations and the National Theatre’s New Stage building. Interestingly, the company was affected less by Communism than by the ‘wild’ post-communist transition years. After 1989 the glassworks became part of a holding company and in 2008 it succumbed to the global financial crisis. Otakar Moťka bought the company in 2009 and gave it its current name of

COUNTRY LIFE TWENTY-SIX YEARS. GRAINS OF WHEAT SIFTING GENTLY THROUGH SOIL-STAINED HANDS, A STUNNING VIEW OF THE ORCHARD. LIFE INTERTWINED WITH NATURE AND DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE WAY OF LIFE. AN ORGANIC FARM AND BAKERY, SHOPS SELLING HEALTH FOOD AND NATURAL COSMETICS. OTAKAR JIRÁNEK FOUNDED HIS COMPANY SHORTLY AFTER THE REVOLUTION, WAS FIRST IN HIS FIELD, AND CONTINUES TO GROW TO THIS DAY.

Otakar’s story is a great example of resolve that knows no limits. He studied photography but family tradition led the way to health food and a health-focused lifestyle. His grandfather started in the food business and his sister followed in the tradition by selling organic food in France. Otakar first worked with his sister and then in 1991 opened his own health food business in Czechia.

gluten-free and organic bakery, a chain of stores selling health foods and natural cosmetics, several restaurants and an e-shop. They also publish a magazine and promote healthy living in schools and at food festivals. All of Otakar’s children work in the family business, and the whole family lives the philosophy it promotes: being gentle towards the environment, avoiding waste and trying to be as self-sufficient as possible. ‘At home we clean and wash clothes with ecological detergents, try not to be wasteful, and use natural materials wherever possible,’ says Otakar. What does the future hold for the business? ‘To keep our vision alive, we want to focus more on education by organising workshops and courses, and promoting healthy living through our magazine and its recipes.’ ■

The business got off the ground quickly, and with each year came a new outlet. One year after the first store opened they set up a wholesale facility and an organic farm. The next year another store opened and began to sell refreshments, soon followed by a store selling natural cosmetics and the first restaurant. Since 2003 Country Life is based in Nenačovice, where they renovated an old cowshed and built Archa, Czechia’s first passive building. Today they run

ALESSANDRA GENUALDO ALESSANDRA GENUALDO IS AN ITALIAN ILLUSTRATOR AND PAINTER BASED IN EAST LONDON, WHERE SHE LIVES WITH HER DOG KIRA. SHE WORKS MAINLY IN GOUACHE AND COLOURED PENCIL, TAKING INSPIRATION FROM HER SURROUNDINGS, NATURE AND THE FEMALE BODY. ALESSANDRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PICTURES DEPICT THE PLEASURE OF SIMPLE, EVERYDAY MOMENTS; THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HER CHARACTERS AND NATURE; AND THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF SOLITUDE. HER CLIENT LIST RANGES FROM MAGAZINES TO FASHION BRANDS AND ART GALLERIES. SHE IS ALSO AN ILLUSTRATION TUTOR AT THE CHELSEA COLLEGE OF ARTS, PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON.

www.alessandragenualdo.com hello@alessandragenualdo.com @agenualdo

Innovation

THE SWEDISH WAY SWEDEN HAS LONG BEEN A COUNTRY OF INNOVATION. WHAT LIES BEHIND ITS INNOVATIVE SPIRIT? EQUALITY, INDIVIDUALITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL. text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | make-up: Tereza Hrdličková | photo: Adéla Havelková

THEY SAY THAT NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION. WHEN COMPARING GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS, SWEDEN AND OTHER NORDIC COUNTRIES ARE ALMOST ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE TOP. WHAT LIES BEHIND THEIR SUCCESS? IS THEIR PARTICULAR MODEL APPLICABLE TO OTHER NATIONS? TO EXPLORE THE TOPIC OF SWEDISH INVENTIVENESS, WE SPOKE WITH HER EXCELLENCY VIKTORIA LI, THE SWEDISH AMBASSADOR TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC.

While honouring the past, this SOFFA issue about Generations also celebrates innovations that will improve the lives of future generations. Where else to explore the topic of innovation than at the embassy of Sweden, considered to be the land of true engineers? Indeed, this year the Embassy of Sweden in the Czech Republic will promote innovation strategies that relate to the achievement of the sustainable development goals outlined in the United Nations framework known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sweden is in a good position to be leading the promotion of innovation, as the country holds one of the highest numbers of patents in the world. Did you know that Swedes invented matches, the adjustable spanner, the thermometer, the tetra pack, the three-point safety belt in your car, the pacemaker, the ultrasound, Skype and Spotify – the online music service the ambassador herself likes to use? Not surprisingly, we began our interview with inventions … The fact that Swedes are good at inventing, innovating and building companies

is hardly new. What lies behind this phenomenon? I think that Sweden’s natural environment – the harsh, cold climate and its rich natural resources – combined with the country’s growing demand for energy, communication, tools and machines have been strong driving forces behind our inventiveness. It takes more than inventiveness, however, to transform a good idea into a successful business. Swedes are very good at marketing and selling their products and in finding quick solutions to problems that arise. Adaptability, fast problem solving and clever marketing – these are the ingredients of success. Many people see Sweden as some kind of middle ground between socialism and capitalism. In fact, Sweden melds the polar opposites of extreme individualism and strong state involvement, and this model has generated fertile ground for an efficient market economy. Any country that wishes to foster innovation needs to also encourage its people to risk exploring new territory. In turn, the people need to know it is safe to take a risk and that failure is acceptable. ►

In 2017, the Embassy of Sweden in Prague has decided to focus on three of the 2030 Agenda goals: innovation, sustainability and equality. Can you tell us more about your plans for the year? We believe that the achievement of the 17 goals stated in the 2030 Agenda is not only the responsibility of member states, but also the private sector and private individuals. In order for the public to influence future developments, they must be able to communicate with international players and have clear answers to questions like: Who do we want to be? In what kind of society do we wish to live? This year we will explore the two themes of corporate governance and the digital agenda, and host workshops and seminars for representatives of Czech and Swedish companies, including creative industries, government institutions and the general public. Swedish companies like IKEA, SKANSKA, H&M and others have been great innovators in the area of corporate governance and have much to offer in this regard. The ultimate goal is to facilitate open dialogues in a variety of contexts and to explore varied angles under the motto of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;respect for allâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Education and upbringing play an important role in creating an open society that is capable of conceiving, creating and delivering innovation. Children should be encouraged to be inquisitive and to think independently as early as in kindergarten. Last but not least, I think it is important not to dwell in nostalgia. We need to look forward, instead of always looking back. An innovative country must encourage forward thinking from innovative companies, an innovative civil society and innovative citizens. What is the difference between approaches to innovation today and 50 years ago? We live in a world in which ecology and economy are part of the same system. As economic prosperity has grown along with an awareness of the global challenges facing society, many innovations have become focused on delivering holistic, integrated solutions. Earlier innovations like the refrigerator, for example, solved an important problem while creating a new one. Today innovators think more holistically, because a product or a service will be successful only if it solves several problems at once.

In relation to the digital agenda, which will be highlighted as one of the two key themes this year, it will be important to explore how nations can assist one another in the spheres of technology and digitisation. Sweden, for example, has

A personal question â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what Swedish invention do you like the best? If I had to name just one, it would definitely be the zipper! Such a little thing, yet it helps to save so much time.

an advanced system of i-governance, while the Czech Republic is great in e-commerce. Gender equality has been a major topic of discussion for years, and while there have been some advances in this area, much remains to be done. How is gender equality viewed in today’s Sweden? We see gender equality as part of the broader concept of ‘equality for all’. Equality begins in the home and in the family. Children in Sweden have the right to grow up with both parents, and women have the right to have children and a career – just as men do. To make this practicable, the state and the society must create supporting conditions. The Swedish model of equality does not work across the board, however, as today we find ourselves addressing the question of equality among different age groups, both in the labour market and in public life. This is something we are going to explore in our workshops and seminars. In your opinion, is there something that unites Czechs and Swedes in their approach to innovation and entrepreneurship? Pragmatism.

You can find more information about the work of the Embassy of Sweden in the Czech Republic at www.swedenabroad. com/cs-CZ/Embassies/Prague/. ■

Czech Grand Design Awards Winners Announcement 21. 3. ČT art Selling Exhibition 30. 3. – 2. 4. Villa Pellé www.czechgranddesign.cz

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Smart City

A CITY TO LOVE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE ABOUT A CITY CAN BE EVEN BETTER WITH NEW IDEAS AND TECHNOLOGIES text: Tereza Škoulová | illustration: Mikhail Bukhavets

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE PHRASE ‘SMART CITY’? THIS RELATIVELY NEW CONCEPT IS DIFFICULT TO DEFINE, IN PART BECAUSE IT INVOLVES MANY FIELDS AND EVERY CITY INTERPRETS IT A BIT DIFFERENTLY. IN SHORT, A SMART CITY IS A PLEASANT, WELL-DESIGNED CITY. IT HAS CLEAN AIR, FRIENDLY PUBLIC SPACES, RICH CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY LIFE, SEAMLESS TRANSPORT AND SAFE STREETS… ALL THANKS TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND IDEAS ADOPTED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BETWEEN THE CITY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THOSE WHO CALL THE CITY THEIR HOME.

SMART IS THE FUTURE The proportion of people living in urban areas is growing and will continue to grow. While today 54% of the global population lives in cities, in 2050 this is projected to be almost 70%. When you consider that the overall population will also increase during this time, from 7.5 billion today to 9.5 billion in 2050, cities are going to experience a real space crunch. Smart solutions respond to the projected resource demands and offer a long-term vision for sustainable city living. This vision requires a change in some of our habits: to take the tram to work instead of driving, to get around the city on a bicycle, to let go of the need to own everything in favour of sharing, and to minimise our use of electricity, water, food and packaging. The city is a complex, built structure that cannot be changed overnight. This makes it difficult for people to imagine radically different streets, squares, parks, etc. Temporary urban interventions like parklets and open streets are powerful ways to present possible future scenarios on a real scale. Zala Velkavrh and Alenka Korenjak, architecture/urban planning studio prostoRož, Ljubljana

SMART ARE THE PEOPLE In order for us to learn new habits, we need strong, inspiring leaders who can help us appreciate the benefits of new ways. These smart leaders – city mayors and their teams – are seeking advice from experts and enthusiasts while working hand in hand with city residents. Collaboration and experience sharing are key operating principles for any smart city. In Sweden they know this well, for it is here that the public has been influencing real estate development in cities for the past fifteen years. Cities elsewhere are also shaped by their residents, who see them through a lens that is different to the lens of an analytical architect. The leaders of smart cities like Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv and Ljubljana all agree that smart cities are about the people.

What is a smart city without smart citizens! They should be involved to co-create solutions and make choices that fit their needs and wishes. Kajsa Ollongren, Vice-Mayor of Amsterdam

SMART IS CREATIVITY Smart cities are also about collaboration with the private sector. Young technology firms and innovative start-ups have many ideas for improving city living. Many work with data, the collection and analysis of which is key for generating smart solutions. Great examples are simple applications that guide city dwellers where to park, how to avoid a traffic jam, or where to responsibly discard their refuse. Smart solutions also include street lighting that reacts to the movement of passers-by, or applications that rank eating establishments according to the level of ambient noise. An example of a smart and creative city is Washington, where they are currently testing pavement material that will generate electricity from pedestrian footsteps. Cities are exciting because they are living things. Despite the best efforts of modernist planners, our cities are still a wonderful, beautiful mess. Cities are alive and they are the sites of some of our most innovative, groundbreaking ideas – petri dishes of creativity. Hila Oren, CEO of the Tel Aviv City Foundation

SMART IS SHARING Smart cities share information with the residents, education institutions and the private sector. They create networks through which they are able to share experiences about pilot initiatives or testimonies of proven solutions. They are open to collaborate with their communities and are interwoven through a publicly available Wi-Fi network. The management of such cities is transparent, as is their information. Smart cities function like interconnected, complex ecosystems, in which one part of the system knows about the other. The idea of sharing also transcends into the so-called sharing economy, which many have already discovered through services like Uber and Airbnb. Ljubljana’s residents have access to the Citizen’s Initiatives portal to which everyone can send opinions, ideas, questions and initiatives – we reply to each and every entry, and if a proposal makes sense and is feasible, then we implement it. We work for and with the residents. Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana

►

SMART IS TECHNOLOGY True smart technologies are nothing more than instruments for making city living easier and more pleasant for its residents. The so-called Internet of Things connects various information networks to provide the tools for improved safety, efficient public transport and accessible housing and healthcare. Smart technologies place no burden on the environment or on taxpayer pockets. However, technologies alone cannot guarantee that a city will be smart. To make the best of what technology offers, a city must engage its people – not only the experts, but also the people who will use the technology – to ensure that it results in a meaningful and sustainable solution for better city living. Vienna does not primarily focus on new technologies and sensors but combines sustainable, innovative and – most of all – social aspects to guarantee and maintain Vienna’s high quality of life. Michael Häupl, Mayor of Vienna

SMART LIGHTING City lighting can account for as much as 40% of the city’s electricity use, so many companies are presently looking at smart lighting solutions to improve electricity savings. With smart lighting the intensity of light can be adjusted according to weather and pedestrian density, and the energy saved this way can power Wi-Fi hotspots in street lamps, air quality sensors or sensors monitoring street safety. A smart lighting system with interconnected lamps that share data across a network is currently being tested in Amsterdam, and even smarter is the fact that this initiative is a collaboration between the city and several companies. Prague’s Žižkov neighbourhood is also presently testing a smart lighting solution provided by Siemens. An excellent overview of various smart lighting solutions can be found on the intelilight.eu website. SMART BEACONS The information ‘beacon’ makes it possible for personalised data to be delivered to your smart phone or tablet based on your current location. The beacon is a small device that sends a radio signal through Bluetooth technology to smart phones in the local area and activates various software applications. Applications – or apps – like LaunchHere can turn on your television set or lights as you near your home. Other apps, like Spaces, act as a ‘marketplace’ of information and a platform for discussion. The BeHere app facilitates fast communication between teachers and their students, and the Mingleton app helps people find their romantic partners on ►

the basis of common interests. At the San Francisco airport, beacons help travellers with vision impairment, and in the Rubens House in Antwerp they provide audio information about various works of art on display. Technology fans can learn more about information beacons on the blog page of www.pointrlabs.com. SMART BUILDINGS City buildings account for as much as 40% of the world’s energy consumption. Given their high energy appetite, building sustainability has become a key challenge for the future. Smart technologies can limit electricity and water waste by using sensors to optimise usage – for example, by turning lights and heating off when offices are empty. When the various elements of a building system are interconnected, energy efficiency can improve dramatically. Smart buildings are about saving on operating costs, improving energy efficiency, maximising capacity and optimising comfort for the people who live and work in them. You can learn about the four smart building trends for 2017 on the www.buildings.com website. If you have been inspired by this article on smart cities and wish to read more, then come to SOFFA’s website www.soffamag.com and explore the online version of this article. You will find links featuring gorgeous images of smart cities, learn why Vienna is one of today’s smartest cities, and discover why technology and creativity are paramount in the design of liveable cities of the future. ■

WA N T E D NE W S O F FA TA L EN T!

SOFFA is an international magazine with a global reach. We are now looking to expand our advertising and business development team with colleagues based in our target markets (London, Berlin, Copenhagen and others) who will look after our international clients and partners. If you live in a creative city and have your finger on its pulse, we want to hear from you. Please email adela@soffamag.com or call on +420 777 62 33 46.

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FOREVER FROM THE SOFFA ARCHIVE WE HAVE CHOSEN THREE PHOTOGRAPHS WE LOVE. THEY REPRESENT THE LEGACIES OF PREVIOUS GENERATIONS AND CELEBRATE OUR TIES TO PLACES, PEOPLE AND THINGS! text: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: Lina Németh

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GOING HOME

HAMBURG-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTIAN BENDEL SEARCHES FOR HIS FAMILYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ANCESTRAL HOME IN THE FORMER SUDETEN REGION. text and photo: Christian Bendel

THE BORDER REGION OF TODAY’S CZECH REPUBLIC WAS HISTORICALLY HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT GERMAN MINORITY. BEFORE WORLD WAR II AS MANY AS NINETY PER CENT OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN SOME BORDER AREAS – KNOWN AS SUDETENLAND – WERE GERMAN. AFTER THE WAR MOST ETHNIC GERMANS WERE EXPELLED FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA AND THEIR PROPERTIES WERE CONFISCATED. AMONG THEM WAS THE FAMILY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTIAN BENDEL, WHO RECENTLY DECIDED TO SEARCH FOR HIS ROOTS.

My grandfather often told me about the old house – how it was the only ‘village shop’ and how it had a small river flowing in the backyard and apple trees growing in the front. He also told me about the gold he had buried in the garden before they fled at the end of World War II. Last year I decided it was finally time to know more about the birthplace of my father and grandfather, and so I embarked on a road trip to the Czech Republic with my two roommates as my faithful companions. The only information I had was a photo of the house from the 1980s and the former name of the village – Jonsbach. Before setting off on my quest I discovered that the village is now called Janská and is near the Czech Switzerland National Park. We left Hamburg one early morning and drove across Germany towards the Czech border. As we crossed the border the navigation system announced that my family’s former home was only an hour away. I was very excited to find myself near the roots of my family, and as we got closer my heartbeat quickened. Christoph drove the car and Marcel clutched the old photograph as we slowly entered the small village. I was looking in all directions when Marcel suddenly called out: ‘Here! Isn’t this the house?’ I wasn’t sure at first, but then I noticed the many details that confirmed this had to be it. I was very nervous as I walked towards the house. ‘I can’t ring the bell today,’ I finally said to my companions, and we drove to a nearby campsite to stay the night. The plan was to return the next morning and ring the bell to see if we could learn anything about my family. We returned after breakfast the next day and soon I found myself standing in front of the door. I was so nervous my hands were shaking, but I had to find the courage. After all, this was why I had come. ‘Ding dong’, the bell rang... ►

THIS SPREAD: An old playground in JanskĂĄ and woods outside our campsite. The Elbe River bordering Germany. Searching for the house: navigation, an old photo and a good deal of faith. My father GĂźnter and his younger brother Herbert.

A small woman opened the door and looked at me cautiously. Speaking in English I told her that I was looking for my family’s birthplace and showed her the picture. She answered in fluent German! I told her my story and learnt that her 84 year-old stepmother was still living in the house – she had moved into it with her family in 1946 after my family was forced to leave. It was strange to hear in someone else’s words about my family’s forced departure, but I was happy for the opportunity to ask my questions. The woman invited me in and told me about the village shop my family had run in the house. It was incredible to suddenly be in the place I had imagined so many times before. The old woman told me her story and her stepdaughter translated. Then her stepson joined us and took an old drawing of the house from a desk drawer. I felt as though in a dream – so many impressions and so much information. Then they said something to each other in Czech, after which the man went down to the basement and returned with a wooden frame. He brushed some dust off the frame and passed it to me. It was a document permitting my family to sell postal products in the shop and it included my great grandfather’s name and a seal from Prague dated 1938. It was incredible that after all these years, when another family had been living in the house for several generations, there was still a record of my own family! I was speechless and completely overwhelmed. I turned to return the frame to them, but they insisted I keep it. It was so much more than I could have expected to find! We spoke a while longer and exchanged addresses and phone numbers. The old woman gave me some walnuts and a warm embrace. I was overjoyed. I had found my grandfather’s home and in it a warm welcome from a kind family that helped me to uncover the missing roots of my own family! ■

CHRISTIAN BENDEL NEVER STOP! KEEP ON MOVING! CHRISTIAN BENDEL IS A SELF-TAUGHT FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO IS ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD. ORIGINALLY FROM WINSEN / LUHE IN THE NORTH OF GERMANY, HE MOVED TO HAMBURG IN 2007. CHRISTIANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IMAGES HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN NUMEROUS EXHIBITIONS AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS. www.christianbendel.com mail@christianbendel.com Christian Bendel Bahrenfelder Steindamm 95 22761 Hamburg/ Germany instagram: @christianbendel

Interview

BARONESS OF OAK HOW TO RENOVATE YOUR CHATEAU AND KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. A CONVERSATION OVER CAKE AND TEA WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY BARONESS LIVING IN AN EXTRAORDINARY CHATEAU. text: Patrik Florián | make-up: Aleksandra Sidorina | photo: Adéla Havelková

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CHATEAU DUB HAS CHANGED OWNERS DOZENS OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS. FROM A SMALL FORTRESS IT GREW INTO A CASTLE, THEN A CHATEAU AND THEN AN AGRICULTURAL TRAINING INSTITUTE. TODAY THE ITALIAN-BORN BARONESS JANA-MARIE DI BATTAGLIA AND HER HUSBAND AND SON ARE TRYING TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE THE CHATEAU SUFFERED DURING COMMUNIST YEARS. THE LADY OF THE HOUSE WILL TURN 73 THIS YEAR, BUT SHE FEELS LIKE 20. WITH AN EVER-PRESENT SMILE ON HER FACE SHE GRACEFULLY JUGGLES A PAINTER’S BRUSH, A GARDENER’S PICK AND A WEDDING ORGANISER’S DIARY. Your family Battaglia de Sopramonte e Ponte alto originates from Venice. How did you find your way to Czechia? I was born in Italy but after my parents’ divorce my mother decided to move to Czechia. We were left with nothing, and grew up quite poor. I have a memory from those days of sitting with the family around a tin of fish, and every one got one little fish, except mine was eaten by the dog. I’ll never forget how much I cried that day. And when I went dancing in my second-hand dresses, I was afraid no one would ask me to dance. But when the music started, boys did ask me to dance, old dress and all. To this day I don’t know what they saw in me. When your husband’s uncle Jiří Broumovský returned from England, he received Chateau Oak in restitution and decided to sell it. Do you remember the day you visited for the first time? This year it will be 19 years. It was love at first sight. Everything was ruined, there was water dripping from the ceilings, yet I saw it all in a different light. It was a magical evening – the chateau was bathed in the pale red of the setting sun,

and two nesting storks greeted us from the tower. We slept that night on an inflatable mattress in one of the bedrooms and I was so cold that I crawled into my husband’s sleeping bag. But the chateau grabbed a hold of me like a first love. After university you taught at a secondary school. What was it like to exchange a classroom for a ballroom and textbooks for tools? I have always been a workaholic, and I prefer the kind of work where I can see results. That’s a bit difficult to achieve at a secondary school. The principle of the school didn’t want to let me go – he wanted to keep me as the geography teacher – but when he came to visit and saw what we are trying to do, he forgave me. You have been working here day and night for 19 years. What continues to motivate you? Sometimes it feels like everything is getting worse and worse, and then comes a day when you reap the benefits of your work, and everything is beautiful. The chateau has four wings, which means four times as much work and money. For example, we have ►

On the subject of weddings, you and the baron are celebrating 51 years of marriage this year. What is your secret? A lot of work, but most importantly, you have to choose the right person. I was lucky in my choice, and after fifty years I’d choose the same man. No one is better!

been repairing the facade in the courtyard for three years now. What we can manage we do ourselves, and what we can’t manage waits for the experts. In the salons we paint the base coat on the walls ourselves, and then invite professional painters who know how to work with neo-Gothic stencils. All our work is based on personal memories, period paintings or the advice of conservationists. After all, we want to keep true to the neo-Gothic style.

What do you like the most about the chateau? The gorgeous garden. Do you know how many roses we have? 560! My husband and I planted them all and it took us three weeks.

So you climb on a ladder and paint? Absolutely! I have special ‘scaffolding’ for this purpose – two tables on top of each other and a chair on top of that.

What do you think about the next generation of aristocrats and the future of their properties? Aristocratic families are finding their way to their lost properties and are returning them to their former glory. In the Battaglia family the next in line is our son. Thankfully he enjoys the work on the chateau enormously.

In the renovated parts of the chateau you hold exhibitions, concerts and even weddings. We renovated the music salon for weddings, and we changed the headmaster’s office into the mirror hall – that is where wedding ceremonies usually end. We gather the wedding party at the small lake and they look up to the balcony, where the married couple releases two doves from a cage decorated with white roses. If the doves set off in the same direction the marriage will be harmonious, if not … Brides tend to be afraid of this test of fate, but they don’t know that our doves belong to the neighbour.

There is so much work ahead, yet you always have a smile on your face. My whole life I have been guided by this motto: ‘I am not so poor, that I couldn’t give the gift of a smile, and no one is so rich that they couldn’t use it.’ The only drawback of this philosophy is that you wrinkle faster. I think there are two types of women: those for beauty and those for work. It’s clear to me which I am, and as Ovid said, ‘Leve fit, quod bene fertur, onus’. [The burden is made light that is borne well].

So next to a painter you are also a wedding planner. I really love the crazy, splendid circus of it all. If you have a wedding, it should be one with a big W.

Chateau Dub near Prachatice is open daily when the owners are present. For more information go to zamekdub.webnode.cz. ■

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Creative People

MAESTRO OF ADORNMENT AN ISSUE ABOUT GENERATIONS WOULD BE LACKING IF IT DIDN’T FEATURE SILVIE LUBĚNOVÁ, ALIAS MAESTROKATASTROF. SEE FOR YOURSELF! text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | illustration: Silvie Luběnová | photo: Adéla Havelková

WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT ITS CREATOR, THE NAME OF THE LABEL ‘MAESTROKATASTROF’ CONJURES A POETIC BLEND OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, HUMOUR AND KINDNESS. THESE WORDS ALSO APTLY DESCRIBE THE ILLUSTRATOR SILVIE LUBĚNOVÁ. IN ADDITION TO HER FREEHAND ILLUSTRATIONS, POSTCARDS AND COLLAGES, SILVIE WORKS WITH OLD AND ANTIQUE PORCELAIN. HER UNUSUAL TECHNIQUE TRANSFORMS OLD PORCELAIN INTO TREASURED OBJECTS TO BE APPRECIATED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.

We visited Silvie in her studio in the Nusle neighbourhood of Prague, where she prepares old photographs, stores old porcelain from antique shops, and most of all, generates ideas for her decoration motifs. Here is also where her decorated porcelain comes to life – you can order your custom-made plate, terrine, sugar bowl or an entire dinner set as a gift for a wedding, a birthday or quite appropriately, a funeral. The idea to give old porcelain a new lease on life came to Silvie after she completed her studies at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design. As a trained illustrator she quickly realised how difficult it would be to make a living from selling illustrations, and because she had experience in ceramics from her secondary level studies, she decided to transfer her illustration skills to a more utilitarian medium. Her training as an illustrator explains her approach to porcelain decoration, which is evident in the way she treats every piece like a painter’s canvas. Her first collection was born in 2008 under the label maestrokatastrof. Why this name? It was inspired by her university thesis, which featured 13 large-format illustrations on the theme of ‘who, when and why needs an illustration in the first place’. Silvie, alias Maestro, spins fantastic stories on porcelain, stories about places, people and situations. She scours flea markets in search of porcelain pieces that are interesting in shape, decoration or finish, and the greater the available space for new decoration the better. To the original piece Silvie adds her own illustration, painting or collage, using colours made specifically for porcelain, as well as transfers made ► LEFT: Perhaps you also inherited a dinner set from your grandmother that you do not use because it seems démodé, yet you keep it for sentimental reasons. Take it to Silvie with your family photographs and she will magically create the most original and timeless dinner set you can imagine.

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through a screen-printing process. Once applied, the transfers are left to dry and then the porcelain is fired again. Silvie speaks of the transfers as if they were her treasures – the most expensive cutouts in the whole wide world. And if you are wondering whether you can eat from maestrokatastrof porcelain, the answer is a definite yes! Silvie has already created custom-made porcelain and ceramic sets for Prague’s Bistro 8 and Mlýn Dänemark in Kutná Hora. Making dinner sets for restaurants and cafés is great fun, and Silvie would like to do more of it. Her inspiration comes from many sources, her family included. She is interested in relationships and seemingly ordinary family scenes, such as a portrait of a grandmother with her grandchild or a father with his son, scenes that are full of imaginary stories, situations and conversations. Silvie also loves fables and allegories of all kind that feature animals and objects endowed with human characteristics. Given her interests it is not surprising that one of her favourite pastimes is collecting beautiful cups from cafes and restaurants the world over. To learn more go to www.maestrokatastrof.com. ■

PREVIOUS SPREAD AND RIGHT: Through screen printing Silvie creates transfers from old photographs or pictures which form the basis for new decoration. She also adds her own illustrations as well as touches of colour. The latest maestrokatastrof collection is called From the cottage to the big city (plate with green edging on the top right). Made from a type of ceramic known as majolica, the limited series was created in collaboration with Karel Hanák. The collection explores the theme of migration and the fact that our family roots, stories and traditions are deeply encoded in our DNA, accompanying us wherever we go.

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WORKSHOP WITH MAESTROKATASTROF DINNER SET WITH A STORY 18 March 2017

SIGN UP FOR A WORKSHOP WITH MAESTROKATASTROF AND USE YOUR PHOTOS TO DECORATE AN OLD PLATE OR A SERVING PLATTER IN A WAY THAT TELLS YOUR PERSONAL TALE. DURING THE WORKSHOP WE WILL DECORATE A COMPLETE DINNER SET WITH STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO, ALTHOUGH UNKNOWN TO EACH OTHER, WILL SHARE A PLACE AT THE SAME DINNER TABLE. THE COMPLETE SET WILL BE FEATURED IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF SOFFA. Book your place by 26 February 2017 at SHOP.SOFFAMAG.COM, where you will find instructions about what to send in advance as well as the required materials. www.shop.soffamag.com

Do It Yourself

WHOSE? PORTRAITS HOW’S IT GOING, BROTHER? HEY SISTER, WHERE ARE YOU HEADING?

text: Adéla Kudrnová | illustration: Silvie Luběnová/ maestrokatastrof.com

DO YOU LOOK WITH FASCINATION AT THE FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOUR ANCESTORS? ARE YOU A FAN OF TAKING SELFIES, THE MORE THE BETTER? FOR THIS ISSUE WE WORKED WITH SILVIE LUBĚNOVÁ ON MOVING THE FAMILY PORTRAIT TO A MORE HUMOROUS LEVEL BY ENDOWING IT WITH A TOUCH OF CREATIVE WIT. SILVIE HAS PREPARED TWO GORGEOUS ‘PERIOD’ ILLUSTRATIONS THAT YOU CAN CUT OUT AND COMPLETE WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOUR CHOICE. WHEN FRAMED, THEY MAKE LOVELY GIFTS FOR OTHER GENERATIONS IN YOUR FAMILY.

DIFFICULTY: very easy TIME: 15 minutes + time for sourcing photographs and frames WHAT YOU NEED: illustration photo frame for 13 × 18 cm photograph scissors tape

Cut the illustration out of the magazine, and then cut out the opening for the head. Select the photograph you would like to use. If the head on your photograph is too large or small for the opening, go to your local photo or copy centre, where they can adjust the size. Black and white photos work really well here. Attach the photograph to the back of the illustration with tape. Insert the finished illustration into a 13 x 18 cm frame, which you can find at IKEA or a hobby shop. You can gift the Whose? Portraits to your friends or family, or keep them for yourself. It’s very easy! ■

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Travel

THE LITOMYŠL MIRACLE HOW A RENAISSANCE TOWN BECAME THE CENTRE OF MODERN CZECH ARCHITECTURE text: Helena Novotná | styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková, František Renza, Boys Play Nice

LITOMYŠL, IN THE EAST OF CZECHIA, IS WHERE THE FIRST PRINTED SOFFA ISSUE WAS BORN. SINCE THEN WE HAVE BECOME FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS OF THE H.R.G. PRINTING HOUSE, AND EVERY TWO MONTHS WE MAKE THE JOURNEY TO LITOMYŠL. NOT UNTIL OUR LAST ISSUE, HOWEVER, WHEN WE FEATURED THE LOCAL BAROQUE CHURCH AND ITS HARMONIOUS BLEND OF HISTORICAL AND MODERN ARCHITECTURE, HAD WE SPENT MORE THAN A COUPLE OF HOURS IN THIS GEM OF A TOWN. IN THIS ISSUE WE EXPLORE THE NOTABLE PROJECTS THAT HAVE MADE LITOMYŠL THE CENTRE OF MODERN CZECH ARCHITECTURE.

When speaking of today’s Litomyšl, people often use the word ‘miracle’. Calling it a miracle is misleading, however, as it takes credit away from those whose enthusiasm and perseverance have contributed to the town’s transformation. After all, it was human effort, not supernatural forces, that created a gem from a town previously known only for its Renaissance chateau. Indeed, it was the restoration of this very chateau that was the impetus for Litomyšl’s second ‘Renaissance’. The chateau was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Aostalli and built in the sixteenth century by Vratislav of Pernštejn. Restoration on the sgraffito – the stunning decoration on the external facade – began in 1974 and continued for more than ten years. The work was entrusted to prominent Czech artists like Olbram Zoubek, Václav Boštík, Stanislav Podhrázský and Zdeněk Palcr, who for political reasons were unable to create their own work during those years. They found their new home in Litomyšl and in time drew other artists to the town. This meeting of creative spirits led to a group exhibition in 1989 at the City Gallery on Smetanovo náměstí [square]. One of the visitors to the exhibition was Miroslav Brýdl, an admirer of modern architecture and the future town mayor. Brýdl was elected as mayor the very next year and became the key initiator behind the town’s transformation. His goal seemed simple – to make Litomyšl into a pleasant place to live. From the very beginning this meant a clear focus on public space and on ensuring that any new development would serve the needs of the town’s residents. Brýdl also appointed Zdeňka Vydrová to the newly established post of city architect. Most importantly, he ► RIGHT | LIBRARY OF THE FACULTY OF RESTORATION The new library for future restorers of historical objects is flooded with pleasant daylight. It also offers an inspirational view of the chateau brewery, carefully restored by Josef Pleskot.

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ABOVE | COWORKING CARRIAGE HOUSE After restoration the chateau carriage house now houses cafĂŠs, a coworking space and the office of the chateau manager. In the places where carriages used to stand, both in the interior and the exterior, one finds furniture and other objects made of fibreglass.

created a vision for Litomyšl which subsequent leaders have been happy to embrace and fulfil. Had it not been for this continuity of vision, the most complex of the town’s recent projects – the revival of the chateau hillside precinct – would not have been possible. In only six years the town managed to renovate eleven separate sites, which opened up for everyone parts of the town that had previously been visited only by tourists. Dilapidated buildings were restored and found new functions, and formerly desolate courtyards became great examples of modern public space. The first building that greets visitors as they ascend the chateau hillside precinct is the Regional Museum, which is located on the site of a former Piarist Gymnasium [secondary school]. The building was renovated between 2012 and 2014 by the architect Josef Pleskot and his team, but the project ran into difficulties when it uncovered remnants of older buildings and cellars underneath. The architectural team incorporated the archaeological findings into the museum collection by encasing them in a protective structure made of reinforced concrete, and ‘inserted’ this structure into the original Baroque building. The museum entrance was transformed into a striking geometric steel and glass feature that draws the attention of all who pass and offers a stunning view over the town. The Piarist order that built the Church of the Discovery of the Holly Cross, which received attention in the last printed issue of SOFFA, also built a Baroque college on the chateau precinct. Designed with a typical square floor plan and a cloister garth, the college building went through a complex renovation that also involved archeological findings. Today the building houses the studios of the Faculty of Restoration from the University of Pardubice and offers student accommodation. In the past the college was connected to other residential buildings, but once those were demolished, an empty space remained. In 2015 the architectural studio Burian–Křivinka transformed the empty space into a two-storey building partially submerged into the ground. The building connects seamlessly to the surrounding area and its dimensions fully respect the neighbouring Baroque college. Nevertheless, it is a modern structure with a minimalist facade dominated by two wide bands of floor to ceiling windows. The lower ground is a multifunctional space and houses the town’s ceremonial hall and the auditorium of the Faculty of Restoration. The upper level houses the Faculty’s library. ► LEFT | CHATEAU BREWERY In the restoration of the chateau brewery Josef Pleskot was guided by several principles. One was to avoid trying to unify historical elements with modern interventions, instead aiming for the right balance between the old and the new. An example of this is the steel and glass structure of the atrium.

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THIS SPREAD | CITY SWIMMING POOL Connecting seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, the swimming pool hall is also environmentally friendly. The earth that was removed in the construction of the swimming pool was later used as natural insulation.

ABOVE | CLOISTER GARDENS The prominent Czech sculptor Olbram Zoubek found his second home in Litomyšl. The cloister gardens are adorned with his ‘group sculptures’ as well as individual expressive figures.

Another building that found a new lease on life during the revival of the chateau precinct was the chateau brewery, located just a stone’s throw away from the library. It is here that the world-famous composer Bedřich Smetana was born – in a building that prior to the restoration had been derelict for years and had even once served as a wood shed. The restoration was again led by the architect Josef Pleskot, who has been involved in Litomyšl’s Renaissance from the very beginning and has significantly influenced how the town presents today. The original Renaissance structure, which owing to a fire had undergone a Baroque reconstruction, still exudes its industrial character – exposed metal structures and wooden beams tell the tale of the building’s brewing past. Today the former brewery is used by the YMCA as its European Training Centre. It is also Litomyšl’s cultural and information hub with exhibitions, concerts and even accommodation options. The ‘Litomyšl miracle’ is not only about the revival of the chateau hillside precinct. In 1997 the town announced an open competition for the revival of the then dilapidated cloister gardens located behind the Piarist college. The winning design by Zdeňek Sendler did not attempt to restore the historical gardens, but used the open space as a green carpet for walking, running and picnicking. Ornamentation was commissioned to the sculptor Olbram Zoubek, Litomyšl’s honorary resident and one of the artists who had restored the sgraffito on the Renaissance chateau. According to Miroslav Brýdl, it was through the garden restoration project that the public embraced the notion that contemporary architecture belongs in the town’s historical centre. Below the chateau hillside on the bank of the river Loučná awaits another example of the town’s focus on public space. Where regular flooding required that the riverbank be reinforced with stone walls, the town added spacious wooden stairs and a wooden platform to provide residents with easy access to the waterway. Once again the work of the architectural studio of Josef Pleskot, this clever addition to the flood protection system created a serene public space, a small public square floating above the river Loučná. Water is also the theme of the next example of stunning modern architecture in Litomyšl. The local swimming pool, designed by the architectural studio DRNH and ► LEFT | PORTMONEUM The paintings that cover the walls of the Portmoneum appear chaotic at first glance. The themes depicted on the walls and furniture are ruled by a complex iconography stemming from Josef Váchal’s life. They include traditional Christian elements as well as esoteric themes from Eastern religions.

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LEFT | COPPER BAR The Copper Bar lives up to its name – the contrast between copper slabs and grey-black tones makes for an elegant interior. Located in the centre of town on Smetanovo náměstí [square], the bar was opened in 2016 under the archway of a house from the early 1900s.

LEFT AND ABOVE | NEW CHURCH The New Church rises gently in three planes and culminates in an optical glass cross made by the artist VĂĄclav Cigler. The sophisticated and minimalist interior dĂŠcor is the work of the sculptor and painter Karel Malich.

THIS SPREAD AND NEXT PAGE | WHITE GALLERY The distinctive gallery and unique depository – named aptly the White Gallery – was built by the son of the artist Ludmila Jandová. Appearing like an apparition in the little village of Osík near Litomyšl, the gallery is currently exhibiting the work of Daniel Pešta, including the outdoor installation Gravitation Zero II.

built seven years ago, is an architectural feast for the eye. The zinc roof of the stunning pool hall transitions seamlessly into the surrounding grass area and appears to be the work of nature. In 2010 the architect Zdeňek Fránek skilfully placed the Church of the Brethren’s new house of prayer onto a gentle slope next to a busy road. In doing so he defied the traditional construct of a church as a vertical structure with an obligatory tower and religious ornamentation. Made of reinforced concrete and glass, the aptly named New Church epitomises new Litomyšl not only in its physical features, but also in its openness towards the people – in addition to serving as a place of religious service, it is also a meeting place for various civic groups and associations. Just a few kilometres southwest of Litomyšl, surrounded by nature, stands the White Gallery. Another splendid example of modern architecture, the building looks like a summer-house inspired by the Villa Tugendhat. The gallery serves as an exhibition space for artists from the 1950s onwards and houses the complete works of the Czech painter and graphic artist Ludmila Jandová. For this second purpose the building was uniquely designed to provide an ideal climactic environment for the preservation of art on paper. Last but not least, the Portmoneum. It is not a contemporary building, nor does it belong to Litomyšl’s second Renaissance, but its uniqueness makes it a ‘must see’. In 1920 the amateur book printer and Litomyšl native Josef Portman invited the painter Josef Váchal to his home and offered up two rooms to serve as the painter’s canvas. The result is mystical and highly dramatic! Váchal, who was misunderstood in his time, covered the entire two rooms – including the furniture and ceiling – with vivid and complexly themed paintings. The Portmoneum was struck by lighting in the mid 1960s and the resulting fire almost engulfed Váchal’s mystical gesamkunstwerk. It was saved by another book lover, the Czech publisher Ladislav Horáček, who restored the paintings and transformed the Portmoneum into the Josef Váchal Museum. Considering the pace at which Litomyšl is changing, we could dedicate another feature to this modern historical town in a year or two and find plentiful material. There is always room for improvement, and Litomyšl’s leaders do not rest on their laurels. It is an exceptional town, however, and its residents are rightfully proud of the place they call home. For more information about Litomyšl go to www.litomysl.cz, www.esclitomysl.cz, www.zamecke-navrsi.cz and www.smetanovalitomysl.cz. ■

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STUDIO AMONG TREES ON THE EDGE OF PRAGUE, SURROUNDED BY TALL PINES, STANDS A WOODEN HOUSE THAT LOOKS AS IF IT HAS GROWN WITH THE REST OF THE TREES. THE BUILDING, WHICH SERVES AS A STUDIO, IS THE WORK OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM DOMESI, WHICH SPECIALISES IN TIMBER CONSTRUCTION.

www.domesi.cz

Innovation

MADE IN LITOMYŠL LITOMYŠL INSPIRES NOT ONLY ARCHITECTS BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK THERE. MEET ‘MADE IN LITOMYŠL’ – AN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR TOWN. text: Helena Novotná | photo: Adéla Havelková and company archives

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THE TERM ‘RENAISSANCE’ IS AN APT DESCRIPTION NOT ONLY FOR LITOMYŠL’S RECENT ARCHITECTURAL BOON, BUT ALSO FOR ITS PEOPLE – CREATIVE, ORIGINAL AND ENGAGED WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR HOME TOWN. THE ASSOCIATION ‘MADE IN LITOMYŠL’ HAS MORE THAN THIRTY MEMBERS, FROM ARTISTS TO SMALL ENTREPRENEURS AND LARGE FIRMS. THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO UNDERTAKE INSPIRING PROJECTS AND TO PROMOTE THE TOWN AND THEIR PRODUCTS, CAREFULLY INFUSED WITH LITOMYŠL’S GENIUS LOCI. LET’S MEET THREE OF THEM.

Fine paper, handcraft, beautiful design – it is no surprise that our first stop was the office of the company young_block. Each diary created here is handmade by Jiří Vogel and his wife Petra, the co-founders of the brand. The thought and wit that go into each custom-made notebook are evident in the limited edition notebooks they created for SOFFA, which are available as a gift to those who order a SOFFA annual subscription. Paper continued as our companion on our next visit to an important member of the Made in Litomyšl association – the printing house H.R.G., where the SOFFA magazine gets its material form. The printing industry has a 500-year-old tradition in Litomyšl and H.R.G. builds on this legacy very successfully. The printing house is equipped with the latest technology, and its modern approach extends to the way it considers the environment throughout the printing process. We left our visit to the Chocco Café till the very end, so we could truly savour the reward of one of their dreamy chocolate pralines. Each day they make over five hundred pralines on site from high quality chocolate, five hundred reasons for a return visit to Litomyšl! If you are planning to visit Litomyšl, we recommend you go between 27 and 30 April 2017, when you can experience the annual Lázně ducha [Spiritual Spa] event. Guaranteed to rejuvenate both your body and soul, Lázně ducha will also help you understand why Litomyšl and its people are truly exceptional. For more information visit www.madeinlitomysl.cz, www.lazneducha.cz, www.hrg.cz, www.youngblock.cz and www.ceskepralinky.cz. ■

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Fashion

CHILD'S PLAY!

THEY MAY BE YOUNG BUT THESE MINI STYLISTS HAVE A VERY CLEAR VISION OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE WEARING. text: Yasmin Keshmiri Hejduk | styling: Adam Vincent Ivančic, Malvina Borkovcová, Antonie Gloserová and Alžběta Gloserová, Patrik Florián/ SOFFA | make-up: Aleksandra Sidorina | hair: Tomáš Koblása | models: Aneta Ch. and Natalia K./ Scouteen | photo: Adéla Havelková

LEFT: styling: Antonie dress and sweatshirt, LA FORMELA

PLAYING DRESS UP IS AS NATURAL TO CHILDREN AS GETTING MESSY. THE EXCITEMENT OF OPENING A CLOSET TO FIND COLOURFUL GARMENTS AND INDULGING A FANTASY IS AN OPPORTUNITY MOST CHILDREN CHERISH. WE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THAT EXCITEMENT, AND SO WE INVITED FOUR TALENTED STYLISTS TO COME AND PLAY.

Fashion is exciting, inspiring, creative and most of all fun. To get away from the winter restraints of uniform black, strict lines and the season’s ‘necessities’, we embraced the idea that ‘everything is possible’ and added an unexpected factor to our fashion story, children. Excited by the possibilities, we offered our mini stylists a treasure chest of designer garments with which to unleash their imagination. They took to the task like fish to water, oohing and aahing, their eyes speedily scanning the racks, pulling off garments and combining them with excitement and verve. Their confidence of style was surprising. No hesitation in their choice, only certainty in their ‘flawless’ combinations. Yellow jumper, mustard dress, yellow trainers, yellow bag – overkill? Not by their standards. What adults would never put together, these young stylists thrilled to see combined. They orchestrated looks that embodied their personalities, illustrating what they like and dislike in a way that worked naturally. On the following pages we present their uncompromising, multicoloured fan fair – to them fun and play, to us mere adults – fashion! ■

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ADAM | 8 years old Adam’s instinctual approach to fashion impressed us, especially when he named his pinstripe PJ jumpsuit as one of his favourite outfits. A practical young man, he often finds safety pins on his sleeves and a Labello stick and gloves in his pockets. Most fitting to his demeanour are his colours of choice: orange and mandarin. MALVINA | 12 years old Fashion for this budding young stylist is about dressing up, even if her colour palette leans towards grey, black and white. Malvina likes listening to calming instrumental music and loves to watch romantic films with her friends. ALŽBĚTA AND ANTONIE | 6 ½ and 4 years old The sisters are close in age but quite different in their approach to fashion. Antonie loves fairies, jumping about and wearing her favourite grey dress with gold wings. Alžběta likes to combine turquoise, pink, white and grey and usually hides pebbles, paper and chestnuts in her pockets.

LEFT: styling: Adam dress, Dior | sweatshirt, CHATTY

RIGHT: styling: Adam top, Black Pin, La Gallery Novesta | trousers, LA FORMELA | coat, ODIVI, Signature store & cafe

THIS SPREAD: styling: Adam top, Black Pin, La Gallery Novesta | trousers, LA FORMELA | coat, ODIVI, Signature store & cafe

THIS SPREAD: styling: Adam bralette, PAON, Signature store & cafe | skirt and leather jacket, BALLY | shoes, Dior

LEFT: styling: Alžběta jacket, Hermès | t-shirt, Dolce&Gabbana

RIGHT: styling: Malvina jumpsuit and vest, Lukas Lindner Atelier | belt, LA FORMELA

‘MUMMY AND DADDY DRESS ME BUT I ALWAYS PUT A LOLLIPOP OR A TINY DOLL IN MY POCKET.’ ANTONIE

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RIGHT: styling: Malvina skirt, LA FORMELA | dress, Klara Nademlynska | sweatshirt, Jakub Polanka, La Gallery Novesta | shoes, Converse Play Comme des Garรงons, Space

WIN A PAIR OF STYLISH SLIPPERS FROM BAABUK!

Win a pair of ladies’ or gents’ slippers from the Swiss company BAABUK. Write to us at info@soffamag.com (subject: BAABUK) and tell us how far from your home you have gone in your slippers. The two most witty responses win! For complete contest rules go to www.soffamag.com

More at www.baabuk.com

Hej, jsi ? r e j fra Pop-up store – thirty sustainable brands selling fashion and cosmetics made with care and respect SUSTAINABLE FASHION DAY 18 - 19 March 2017 Vnitroblock www.sustainablefashionday.cz

ROCK IT TOGETHER! Rocking chair for two and other products from the IKEA PS 2017 Collection in stores or check www.IKEA.cz

SOFFA & Hermès

SILK LEGACY AN EIGHTY YEAR-OLD FRENCH TRADITION, MASTERS OF CRAFT, 450,000 METRES OF SILK THREAD, 75,000 SHADES OF COLOUR AND AN ENDLESS TALE OF INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY. text: Patrik Florián | photo: Hermès archive

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EXACTLY EIGHTY YEARS AGO THE FIRST HERMÈS SILK CARRÉ [SCARF] WAS CREATED BY ROBERT DUMAS. FROM THE FIRST DESIGN THAT FEATURED WOMEN PLAYING A POPULAR PERIOD GAME, THE SCARF HAS FEATURED MANY MOTIFS – FROM HORSES, BIRDS AND LARGE CATS TO FLOWERS, FAMOUS FACES AND STRUCTURES OF ALL KINDS. TODAY THE CARRÉ STORY CONTINUES IN THE HANDS OF PIERRE-ALEXIS DUMAS, ROBERT’S GRANDSON. EVERY SIX MONTHS HE AND HUNDREDS OF ARTISANS AND ARTISTS WEAVE AN ENTIRELY NEW SILK TALE IN VARIED MOTIFS AND RESPLENDENT COLOURS.

Where does the tale begin? On a mulberry tree where one silk worm moth lays about 300 eggs that transform into cocoons and yield some 450,000 metres of silk fibre. Once the silk has been harvested, it has to be spun, woven and treated, while a team of artists and designers works on the latest design. The computer joined the design process just a few years ago, but it is still the artist’s hand that is most important. When the design is complete, production moves to the printing house. The screen printing technique is one of the most well kept secrets of the Hermès workshops. Each colour has its own screen, and since the average scarf contains some 30 to 40 colours, the process of creating the printing screens alone can take up to 2,000 hours. ‘Colour is life!’, says Bali Barret, the Creative Director in the Hermès silk division. ‘It is through colour that we set a carré to music. Bad colours don’t exist, only bad combinations.’ And although colour abounds in Hermès workshops, every drop counts, so much

so that in 2002 Hermès earned the First Prize for Economic and Clean Technology at the Pollutec Fair in Lyon. After printing comes the hand-sewing process and then final treatment, which ensures longevity. It takes 24 months to produce one scarf and the entire process takes place in the French city of Lyon. The standard size of 90 by 90 cm is sometimes replaced by limited editions in different silks and other materials. Thanks to its elegance and innovative design, the iconic Hermès carré has been a fashion icon for many generations. Kamel Hamadou, who has been part of the silk printing department for more than 30 years, ascribes its success to the company’s passion for tradition and innovation. ‘It’s a process of constant searching, creativity and improvement. The first scarf was printed on wood blocks and contained only thirteen colours. Today we create an entirely new collection every six months and every time I’m thrilled and amazed.’ ■

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EDITORIAL STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

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 & graphic designer adela.h@soffamag.com Helena Novotná I editor & distribution manager helena@soffamag.com Patrik Florián I editor & fashion stylist patrik@soffamag.com Aleksandra Sidorina I production manager & make-up artist aleksa@soffamag.com Max Smrčka I production manager max@soffamag.com Terézia Bělčáková I sales manager terezia@soffamag.com Naďa Fidrmucová I sales manager nada@soffamag.com

Ingrid Martonova I English translation Peter Stannard I English revision & proofreading

Registration: MK ČR E 21947, ISSN 2336-5943 Volume 19 published on 13 February 2017

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HIGHLIGHT: Partners or Siblings? ILLUSTRATION: Czech Family Companies INTERVIEW: Baroness of Oak INTERIOR: Retro Cinema TRAVEL: The LitomyÅ¡l Miracle FASHION: Styled by Young Fashionistas

ISSUE THEME: GENERATIONS More than four generations of people walk the planet today. For SOFFA 19 we set out to explore the fascinating lives of generations past, present and future.

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