Photo: Michal Šula, Nauzal
Visitors will be able to view the winning design by Apropos Architects, which takes the form of a large spiral using glass, as well as more than 30 other projects.
To Osaka, Japan Expo returns after 55 years. At that time, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approximately 11 million people visited the Czechoslovak pavilion of architect Viktor Rudiš. The jury selected the winner, who designed the pavilion for the next Czech presentation, in March. In August, the Czech Republic submitted an application for a temporary construction permit to the local building authority. The building authority has about six to eight weeks to approve the documents. The supporting structure of the building, which won the competition, will be made of wooden panels, while the facade will be made of art glass.
“As a society, we will live into old age in full force. To strengthen our inner vitality, we also need to be aware of social and cultural values, constantly reminding ourselves and strengthening them. Therefore, a pavilion made of wood and glass, crafted and creatively conceived, filled with Czech art and creativity. In the shape of a dynamic spiral as the most ideal path,” said architect Nikoleta Slováková from the studio Apropos Architects. The design was created in collaboration with Terezá Šváchová and the Lunchmeat studio.
The Prague studio A69 – Architekti, whose origins date back to 1994, took second place. The three partners behind this brand are not only born in the same year, but also have dozens of realizations and hundreds of projects of all sizes and typologies. The design of the Liberec architectural studio Mjölk was placed third in the order. The special prize of the jury went to the design of the studio Plus One Architects for the original concept of the pavilion in the shape of a mushroom.
The open architectural competition was last held before the exhibition in Hanover, which took place in 2000. In addition to Czech architectural studios, bidders from Slovakia, Britain, Germany and Cyprus also submitted bids this year.
The proposals were evaluated by a jury composed of experts from various fields. It was made up of architect and designer Eva Jiřičná, partner of the studio Kengo Kuma and Associates Balázs Bognár, Slovak car designer Jozef Kabaň, chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects Jan Kasl, architect Markéta Smrčková, businessman Martin Wichterle and general commissioner of the Czech participation in Expo 2025 Ondřej Soška. However, other people also participated in the evaluation, there were 13 of them in total.
With the use of the ČTK agency.
