The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague has significantly expanded its floor space and its programme with the renovation of an adjacent office building and a new courtyard extension. The office interiors have retained their specific 70’s atmosphere thanks to a respectful approach to the original details and building materials. They are now rented to a private international college of architecture. The courtyard, on the other hand, is completely transformed by two new concrete volumes, cast in situ and wrapped in sound absorbing upholstery. The smaller is a rehearsal room, the bigger an auditorium for music, film or theatre events. The intergrown forms are unified by a subdued light grey facade color.

V Brně vrcholí diskuse ohledně polohy brněnského železničního uzlu. Variantu nádraží u řeky již schválilo městské a krajské zastupitelstvo, koncem května ji podpořila také Centrální komise ministerstva dopravy. Konečný verdikt vynese vláda. Stále však existuje silná opozice. ERA21 požádala o názor architekta a urbanistu Romana Čerbáka (viz ERA21 #02/2018), na jehož sloupek v nejnovějším čísle #03/2018 reaguje ředitel Kanceláře architekta města Brna Michal Sedláček.

Art in the public space always becomes part of the environment, be it permanent or fleeting. All places go through several physical transformations during their lifetime, they carry the stories and needs of the modern city and they are shaped by the people who live there. All that can affect the meaning of artwork, develop it further, or justify its existence. At the same time, the artwork penetrates the meaning of the site; it has the power to make it important, to interpret, draw attention and inspire action...

The apartment building aims to naturally fit into the street front of Koněvova Street in Prague-Žižkov and blend in smoothly with the surroundings. Its character reflects the now disappearing spirit of the Žižkov development with a loose bohemian atmosphere. It might appear a bit retro, but the aim is for it to be contemporary. The plot size for the project was that of two or three typical old apartment buildings in Žižkov. For this reason, the building is divided into two identical volumes, optically differing in façade colors. The main asset of the site is a close proximity of Vítkov Park to the north and of the new bike path built in the place of the former railway tracks. Therefore, a passageway in the ground floor that connects Koněvova Street with the park plays a key role. It also fronts both parts of the building and shields its entrances from the busy road.

In February 2016, Brno became the first city in Czechia to launch a pilot project called Rapid Re-Housing, which is a fast form of accommodation for families with children in housing need. The first evaluation last autumn showed an extraordinary success rate and the project received a prestigious European award FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless) for providing the best housing solution for homeless people in EU in 2010–2017. We talked with Brno municipal representative Martin Freund about this social model, its implementation, and other plans in the domain of social housing.