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October 7th, 2008
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Diamond in the rough

Alena Šrámková is a driving force in Czech architecture

May 21st, 2008 issue

By Chris McMorrow

JAN PŘEROVSKÝ/THE PRAGUE POST
On display: The Jaroslav Fragner Gallery in Prague 1 recently closed an exhibition of Alena Šrámková's architectural achievements (above and right).
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JAN PŘEROVSKÝ/THE PRAGUE POST
JAN PŘEROVSKÝ/The Prague Post Šrámková's designs are know for their simplicity and uncompromising visual elements.
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Šrámková architekti, s.r.o.

Na Šafránce 25
Prague 10
Tel.: 271 730 312
Web: www.alenasramkova.cz

FOR THE POST
Known for her strict ethos of simplicity in design, Alena Šrámková has long been regarded as the country’s “first woman of architecture.” She was awarded the prestigious CKA prize by the Czech Chamber of Architects for her life’s work last month, which many believe has been a long time coming. The coveted prize is normally bestowed upon architects who have retired, but, at 79, Šrámková’s vigorous approach to both her life and work shows no sign of letting up anytime soon.
An exceptional student in all subjects, Šrámková skipped a number of grades and ended up applying for university in 1947 when she was just 16. Asked if her choice of study reflected an existing interest in architecture, she gives a short laugh before revealing the deciding factor in her career had little to do with childhood ambitions: The queue for registering with the architecture faculty had simply been a good deal shorter than that for statistics.
“If I had gone into something completely different, such as the medical field, I would have been successful. I’m naturally driven and enthusiastic about what I’m doing,” she notes.
Following her graduation from the Technical University in Bratislava in 1952, Šrámková completed three years of praxis before applying to the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. One of three students accepted out of 80 hopefuls, her singular vision and keen ability was clearly apparent already. From this time on, her devotion to the undiluted form and unwavering confidence in the face of criticism saw her through decades of difficulty in her home country.
Laboring under the communist regime, Šrámková quickly grew accustomed to her projects not moving past the planning stage. With socialist institutions being the only options for architects, her submissions were rarely taken seriously by the male directors.
“Maybe they thought all women were like their wives who stayed at home. I have to say that many of my projects were not made, and it was difficult to come to terms with it,” she says.
Luckily, a strong background in sports eased the frustration.
“I know how to lose,” she says. “I like competition and working with people who can cope with being criticized.”
She founded her own studio in 1992. Today, it comprises up to five employees at a time, all of who can handle her especially strong opinions.
Arguably one of her best-known project in recent years, the Můstek Administrative Building, which houses the New Yorker retail store, has been widely praised as a highlight of Czech postmodernism.
As one who eschews these “isms,” it holds a special significance for Šrámková for different reasons — the reconstruction was a collaborative effort with her architect husband, Jan Šrámek.
“We did it together, it was our joined work, and he was dying at the time. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to see the realization,” Šrámková says.
The renovation plans for this famous building at the base of Wenceslas Square came to fruition only after a 10-year period ending in 1983. Šrámková has never shied away from editing herself — she’s not afraid to scrap entire ideas in pursuit of a final, perfect product.
A private residence in Dolní Jirčany, central Bohemia, is a good example of her tireless quest for the ideal architectural solution as well as her passion for houses with pure and uncompromising visual elements. A head-on view of the exterior is a solid rectangle with four similarly shaped windows spanning the length of the structure. Inside the home, more windows give loft dwellers an almost interrupted view of the landscape outside, seemingly merging the two environments.
The client, Tomáš Körbl, happily describes a good working relationship.
“We worked on it together for a long time — like two years,” he says. “It all started when I approached Alena with my idea of the design, and then there were other designs. So we consulted regularly and for a long time. So [the house] is a [result] of a big discussion-debate of the two of us. And I am absolutely satisfied. It is great for living.”
Another project that illustrates this meshing of building and nature is the Tower for a Scientist in Košík. In line with her belief that structures must exist as a natural part their setting, the three-story house addition for study and socializing features a spruce exterior and sits snugly among the forest trees.
“Buildings should respect the environment they’re in,” Šrámková asserts.
The reconstruction of the capital city’s main railway station, for instance, was primarily her husband’s pet project, and Šrámková has vowed to make sure the revamping stays true to its original 1970s plan and is not morphed into one more commercial mall that does not reflect the time period in which it was created. Clearly, she possesses the same confidence, determination and vitality that has made her such a monumental influence since the inception of her career so long ago.
Looking ahead, one of Šrámková’s current projects is her winning bid for the construction of the new Faculty of Architecture building at her own alma mater. A lecturer at the Czech Technical University of Prague since 1991, she favorably compares the school’s current faculty and facilities with those of her own student days.
“There are better teachers now. Time is no longer frozen and information is no longer scarce,” she says.
In regard to her students, Šrámková finds them “smart and very eager to learn new things. They have learned to look for ideas all around the world.”
Looking back at a long and prolific career, Šrámková has mixed feelings. “It feels to me that my work has changed a lot, but when I look at each piece, it seems to have a very similar style.”
— Naďa Černá contributed to this report.
 
Chris McMorrow can be reached at realestate@praguepost.com


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[13:17 24/05/2008] : What a great, inspiring story. I look forward to reading more.
Isaac Nylund
Munich, Germany
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