Jan Kaplický

Infobox Architect


caption =
name = Jan Kaplický
nationality = British
birth_date = birth date and age|1937|4|18|df=yes
birth_place = Prague, Czechoslovakia
practice_name = Future Systems
significant_buildings = Media Centre, Lord's Cricket Ground, London (1999)
Selfridges Building, the Bull Ring, Birmingham (2003)
significant_projects=Maserati Museum, Modena, Italy (commission awarded 2004; completion due 2009)
National Library of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic (commission awarded 2007)
awards = Stirling Prize (1999); World Architecture Awards (2001), Royal Institute of British Architects Award for Architecture (2004)

Jan Kaplický (pronounced|ˈjan ˈkaplɪtskiː, "") (born 18 April 1937) is a world-renowned British architect of Czech origin. He is the leading architect behind Future Systems, one of the most innovative design offices in the world. He is perhaps best known for the futuristic Selfridges Building in Birmingham, England, and the remarkable Media Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. In February 2007 he won the international architectural competition for the new building of the National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague.

Kaplický was the subject of a Czech documentary entitled "Profil" ("Profile") (2004). [cite web|title=Profil – Jan Kaplický|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/program/detail.php?idp=1155731454|publisher=Česká Televize|date=2005-03-14|accessdate=2007-04-01 In Czech. See also imdb title|0409188|Profil.]

Childhood and early life

Kaplický was born on 18 April 1937 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and grew up in a suburb of Prague called Ořechovka. As a child, his godfather sent him copies of "Life" magazine from the United States, which was to have a major influence on his later work. He was fascinated by the technology he saw in it, such as airplanes and modern architecture.

Between 1956 and 1962 he studied at the College of Applied Arts and Architecture in Prague, receiving a Diploma in Architecture. He worked in private practice in Czechoslovakia between 1964 and 1968.

In the wake of the Prague Spring, the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, he escaped to London in September 1968 carrying only US$100 and a few pairs of socks.cite news|last=Woodman|first=Ellis|title=The Library has Landed|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/03/31/bajan131.xml|publisher=The Daily Telegraph (Review)|date=2007-03-31]

Professional life

In England, Kaplický first worked for Denys Lasdun and Partners (1969–1971), then obtained employment with the office of Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers (1971–1973), with whom he developed the competition-winning design for the Centre Georges Pompidou (constructed 1971–1977) in Paris. When the practice relocated to Paris, he was unable to follow as at that time he still did not have a British passport. After a short spell at Spencer and Webster, Associates (1974–1975), he joined Foster Associates, now Foster and Partners (1979–1983).

In 1979, Kaplický set up his own architectural practice called Future Systems with David Nixon.The 1979 date is given in cite news|last=Paggetti|first=Maria|title=The Shape of Things to Come : Architect Jan Kaplicky on Europe's New Keenness for Exciting Solutions to Building Designs|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_48/b3961414.htm?chan=search|publisher=BusinessWeek|date=2005-11-28 A date of 1982 is mentioned in the "Daily Telegraph" article.] Amanda Levete joined as a partner in 1989. Although Kaplický was a finalist for the Prince Philip Prize for designer of the year in 1991, for the first 15 years of its existence Future Systems received few commissions, and it was not until 1994 that the company was commissioned to build the new media centre at Lord's Cricket Ground which eventually won the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize – considered the most prestigious architecture award in the UK – in 1999 and the World Architecture Awards in 2001.

Future Systems' next major project, the iconic Selfridges Building in the Bull Ring in Birmingham, won seven awards, including the RIBA Award for Architecture 2004.

In 2007, Kaplický won the design competition for the new Czech National Library building. This will be his first building in his home country, and he has said the project is the most important event in his life. [cite web|author=Lenka Petaková|title=National Library to have new building by Jan Kaplicky|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/article/88974|publisher=Radio Prague|date=2007-03-05|accessdate=2008-08-11] However, the design for the building, resembling a green and purple blob and already nicknamed by locals "the Octopus", has been heavily criticized. President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus was overheard saying he would be willing to prevent the building going ahead with his own body; his spokesman later clarified it was an off-hand remark that had not been meant to be taken seriously. [cite web|author=Rob Cameron|title=Row continues over Kaplicky's "Octopus" design for National Library|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/article/91141|publisher=Radio Prague|date=2007-05-09|accessdate=2008-08-11] Pavel Bém, the Civic Democrat Lord Mayor of Prague, supported the design when it was selected but has since become hostile to it. He has said that the City Council of Prague, which is dominated by the Civil Democratic Party, will not allow the Octopus to be built as it would ruin the Prague's panorama. [cite web|author=Rob Cameron|title='Octopus' skewered on political harpoon as Kaplicky, Bem square up for TV clash|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/article/96587|publisher=Radio Prague|date=2007-10-18|accessdate=2008-08-11]

Apart from his design work, Kaplický has been active in the education of architects. He taught from 1982 to 1988 at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, the oldest independent architectural school in the UK, and in 1992 at the School of Architecture in Bordeaux and at the Design Workshop of the Technische Universität Berlin. He was also an external examiner for the Architectural Association between 1995 and 1998, and in 2000 was an assessor for the Domus Awards of the B.B.J. Competition in Milan.

He was made an Honourable Fellow of RIBA in 2000. [http://www.profile.cz Official website of the documentary "Profil" (2004)] .]

Major architectural projects

Personal life

Kaplický and Amanda Levete were a couple for 15 years and have a son. They have since separated but have continued their professional association, saying that the separation has strengthened their working relationship. [cite news|last=Fairs|first=Marcus|title=Future Systems Uncovered|url=http://www.icon-magazine.co.uk/issues/april/future.htm|publisher=Icon|date=April 2003]

Quotations

*"The world is full of beautiful things, and you have to be observant as an architect – if not, you are in trouble. Creativity is everywhere. ... The initial idea for a job comes to me literally just like that sometimes, and if that first idea is good then you are on the right track. It's not a sign of creativity to have 65 ideas for one problem, that's just a waste of energy. I also don't think you need to go anywhere particular to be creative; people just use that as an excuse. But I do think a lot of creativity depends on your relationships with other people, your personal relationships, your partner or whatever. Your personal happiness or unhappiness comes out in your work, it's a reflection of your emotional state and you can't separate the two."cite news|last=Mikhail|first=Kate|title=Jan Kaplicky : 65, Architect Best Known for the Media Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,796542,00.html|publisher=The Observer (Magazine)|date=2002-09-22]
*"I think perhaps my favourite creation is the Media Centre. It is something which was revolutionary in many areas – a real technical achievement – but above all, the people operating inside it have said: 'We love it,' and that's great."
*"Where is it written that buildings have to be boxes? People aren't boxes."

ee also

*Amanda Levete
*Architect
*Architecture
*Future Systems
*List of architects
*List of architecture firms
*List of architecture prizes

Notes

References

*cite news|last=Mikhail|first=Kate|title=Jan Kaplicky : 65, Architect Best Known for the Media Centre at Lord's Cricket Ground|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,796542,00.html|publisher=The Observer (Magazine)|date=2002-09-22
*cite news|last=Fairs|first=Marcus|title=Future Systems Uncovered|url=http://www.icon-magazine.co.uk/issues/april/future.htm|publisher=Icon|date=April 2003
* [http://www.profile.cz Official website of the documentary "Profil" (2004)]
*cite news|last=Paggetti|first=Maria|title=The Shape of Things to Come : Architect Jan Kaplicky on Europe's New Keenness for Exciting Solutions to Building Designs|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_48/b3961414.htm?chan=search|publisher=BusinessWeek|date=2005-11-28
*cite news|last=Woodman|first=Ellis|title=The Library has Landed|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/03/31/bajan131.xml|publisher=The Daily Telegraph (Review)|date=2007-03-31

Further reading

Articles

*cite web|title=Kaplicky Brings His Vision of the Future to Detroit|url=http://www.glfea.org/html/id-post-modernism.htm|publisher=Great Lakes Fabricators & Erectors Association|date=2000-03-16|accessdate=2007-04-01
*cite news|last=Cohen|first=Edie|title=Marni à la Mode : Future Systems Creates a Model for Marni's Retail Presence, Starting with a Shop in London|url=http://www.interiordesign.net/id_article/CA73043/id|publisher=Interior Design|date=2001-04-01
*cite web|last=Welsh|first=Susan|title=For Future Generations (Selfridges Building, Birmingham)|url=http://www.interiordesign.net/id_article/CA293811/id?stt=001|publisher=Interior Design|date=2003-04-01|accessdate=2007-04-01
*cite web|last=Relph-Knight|first=Lynda|title=Future Perfect|url=http://www.designindabamag.com/2004/4th/future_perfect.htm|publisher=Design Indaba|date=4th quarter 2004|accessdate=2007-04-01
*cite web|title=Profil – Jan Kaplický|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/program/detail.php?idp=1155731454|publisher=Česká Televize|date=2005-03-14|accessdate=2007-04-01 In Czech.
*cite web|last=Willoughby|first=Ian|title=World Renowned Czech Architect Jan Kaplicky Subject of New Documentary|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/article/61042|publisher=Radio Praha|date=2004-12-07|accessdate=2007-04-01
*cite web|last=Willoughby|first=Ian|title=Jan Kaplicky – A Czech Architect Turning "Future Systems" into Reality|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/article/61302|publisher=Radio Praha|date=2004-12-14|accessdate=2007-04-01
*cite news|last=Lacayo|first=Richard|title=Thinking Way Out of the Box|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1594123,00.html|publisher=Time|date=2007-02-27
*cite web|last=ČTK|title=Jan Kaplicky's British Studio to Build new Czech National Library|url=http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=239590|publisher=České Noviny|date=2007-03-02|accessdate=2007-04-01
*cite news|last=Alda|first=Kristina|title=Bold National Library Design Wins Praise, Raises Eyebrows|url=http://blueverticalstudio.com/go/?p=2995|publisher=Prague Daily Monitor|date=2007-03-05
*cite news|last=Balínová|first=Hela|coauthors=Kimberly Ashton|title=National Library Design Draws Ire : Kaplický's 'Octopus' Building is Part of a Community Strategy|url=http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/03/14/national-library-design-draws-ire.php|publisher=The Prague Post|date=2007-03-14

Books

*cite book|last=Pawley|first=Martin|title=Future Systems : The Story of Tomorrow|location=London|publisher=Phaidon|year=1993|isbn=0714827673 (pbk.)
*cite book|last=Kaplický|first=Jan|title=For Inspiration Only|location=Chichester|publisher=Academy Editions|year=1996|isbn=1854904787 (pbk.)
*cite book|last=Pawley|first=Martin|title=Hauer-King House : Future Systems|location=London|publisher=Phaidon|year=1997|isbn=0714836303 (pbk.)
*cite book|last=Kaplický|first=Jan|title=More for Inspiration Only|location=Chichester|publisher=Academy Editions|year=1999|isbn=0471987700
*cite book|last=Field|first=Marcus|title=Future Systems|location=London|publisher=Phaidon|year=1999|isbn=0714838314
*cite book|last=Future Systems|title=Unique Building (Lord's Media Centre)|location=Chichester|publisher=Wiley Academy|year=2001|isbn=0471985120 (pbk.)
*cite book|last=Kaplický|first=Jan|title=Confessions|location=Chichester|publisher=Wiley-Academy|year=2002|isbn=0471495417 (pbk.)
*cite book|last=Tichá|first=Jana|coauthors=Jan Kaplický, Ivan Margolius (eds.)|title=Future Systems|location=Prague|publisher=Zlatý řez|year=2002|isbn=8090156266
*cite book|last=Kaplický |first=Jan|coauthors=Ivan Margolius|title=Česká Inspirace - Czech Inspiration|location=Prague|publisher=Fraktály Publishers|year=2005|isbn=8086627098
*cite book|last=Sudjic|first=Deyan|title=Future Systems|location=London|publisher=Phaidon|year=2006|isbn=0714844691

External links

* [http://www.future-systems.com Official website of Future Systems]
* [http://www.profile.cz Official website of the documentary "Profil" (2004)]
*imdb title|0409188|Profil
* [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?mkey=mw81983 Portrait of Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete (21 June 2004)] at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Persondata
NAME = Kaplický, Jan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = British architect
DATE OF BIRTH = 18 April 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH = Prague, Czechoslovakia
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =