Let’s change this…..Kaplicky. A mind of democracy

The late Future Systems former principal director and founder Jan Kaplicky’s, was an international award winner architect, whose work is well known in the architecture scene. Although he is considered a major contributor to the profession, he is not as well known by local architects and most students. As interesting as his work has been, so were his ideas. One book I believe should be in the backpacks of all architecture students and on the book shelves of practicing architects is “Confessions”. This publication allows the reader to enter Kaplicky’s mind, as he expresses his ideas, opinions, source of inspiration, and life as an
architect, professionally and private. Most importantly through his book he challenges architects to dare and explore the unknown no matter how dauntinghe task. His ideas should be consistently studied because he offers a clear calling to young architects, and explains some of the areas we must not shy away from. This book is perfect to preserve the architect’s ideas do to the fact that he is no longer alive. In “Funes, the Memorious” by Jorge Burgos, I feel Funes is too detail in his memories, in a way it is how when most architects first enter the profession and have a specific view on architecture, but over time when they get too caught up with the restrictions they forget the big picture, the one
they made for themselves/ what really matters to them.

Another object of Kaplicky that should be saved hasn’t even been built. Before his death  in 2009 and till this day, his design of a national library in his native Prague, Chez Republic
has been considered one of the most controversial international projects ever. This
building should be pushed for and saved because it has a great meaning for the Eastern European nation. The massage brings great leaps forward for the country after the long decades of communist rule. If this structure is completed it would as Kaplicky’s said “This requires enormous will and strength.” As well as bring more meaning to when Frank Lloyd Wright said “Democracy Builds.” My interpretation from another Borges’s essay “The Library of Babel” is that the universe is our library full of our every memory and ideas, but we can’t seek answers from others. Although I urge people to look into Kaplicky’s work, I say it so that we can learn from him and from other architects, so we may form our own ideas as we fine our way and stick to them. In a way similar to Frank Gehry when he said
“…..you should not look over your shoulder; you should be yourself and find your own way. You will slowly realize you will become the expert in your work and that nobody else is an expert in your work…..”

When I read Matthew Kirschenbaum’s essay “Hamlet.doc? Literature in a Digital Age”,
published in August 2007, the thought of originality came to mind, in other words actual documentation/ primary sources. Although Kirschenbaum’s essay is about literature pieces, Kaplicky’s movie (and video production in general), is a perfect way to show future generations on how things where at a particular time visually. Video documentations are able to eliminate the questions of if there ever was, or like Kirschenbaum put it “What was closest to Shakespeare’s own original (or final) intentions.” This film was shot just before Kaplicky passed away in 2009. The documentary fallowed the Chezh architect in his
professional and personal life as he reveals his architecture beliefs. To conclude my blog, these two documents and one large artifact should at one point enter the life of an architect who’s not familiar with Jan Kaplicky’s work. I suggest “Confessions” be looked at first. I urge you all to take a further look into this, and please let me know what you think. I have the book for those who want to see it. Has any one here herd of Jan Kaplicky?

 

This entry was posted in Student Post. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to Let’s change this…..Kaplicky. A mind of democracy

  1. julie001 says:

    Very interesting, I like how you use an architect and bring it to the mindset of younger architect students. You didn’t just speak of a well known architect but someone that really moved you which made the post way more captivating. I also love how you end your post creating a connection between the author and the reader. It gives the reader a chance to further understand your idea.

Leave a Reply to julie001 Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *