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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Restoration of the Tomáš Baťa Memorial in Zlin, Czech Republic by Petr Všetečka / TRANSAT architektiAugust 1st, 2019 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Petr Všetečka / TRANSAT architekti The building by František Lýdie Gahura, opened one year after the death of Tomáš Baťa, is the most valuable monument of the Zlín constructivism and the highlight of the so-called “Baťa architecture” phenomenon. At the first glance the idea for the monument is simple: an empty prism placed on a visible spot above the town, on the central axis of the ascending park space, made up of several modules of the Zlín 6.15 x 6.15 m frame and clad only with cathedral glass. Inside, only the ill-fated Junkers F 13 aircraft in which Tomáš Baťa died in 1932.  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice
 Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice Gahura reduced the monument to three basic materials of Zlín architecture – concrete, steel and glass that were supposed to, together with the building’s composition, express the unique attributes of Tomáš Baťa: generosity, clarity, aspiration, optimism, simplicity, honesty and truth. The execution of the standardised frame as a single column hall and a three-aisled space at the same time, variable height of the space and dispersed natural light brought the stripped-down Zlín constructivism closer to sacral buildings of the ancient and medieval times, without using any historical shapes. This was enhanced by the consistent vertical concept of the building. Gahura explained it by the fact that the purpose of the building is ideological and with this verticality, weightlessness, and simplicity of the one-directional sectioning, the monument expresses specific traits of Baťa’s character. In the 50’s it was rebuilt to be a concert hall and gallery and with it the monument lost its architectural qualities. The name of Tomáš Baťa was erased from memory.  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice The comprehensive renewal of the original state of the monument, in preparation for 18 years, aimed again toward simplicity and reduction of all dispensable equipment that is usual in today’s buildings. All of the operational, technical and service elements and spaces are located separately from the monument. The core meaning of the building consists in the visitor’s experience of the space and light, in slowing down and contemplation. Due to the fact that the structure is an internationally acclaimed monument of modern architecture, the project had high aspirations in terms of quality of the renewal. For many of the building elements a restoration approach was chosen, common with the most valued historic buildings.  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice Given the monument’s place in the structure of Zlín, the building is also a light-landmark of the town. The possibility of using the building for reverential and social events or exhibitions will always be limited with regard to the ideological and architectural essence of the monument and the austere conditions of its interior environment. The dominant of the interior is a new model of the Junkers F 13 aircraft.  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma / BoysPlayNice  Image Courtesy © Petr Všetečka / TRANSAT architekti  Image Courtesy © Petr Všetečka / TRANSAT architekti  Image Courtesy © Petr Všetečka / TRANSAT architekti
Tags: Czech Republic, Zlín |
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