Biennial focuses on Czech old industrial architecture

Prague, Jan 8 (CTK) - The first Czech events within the 6th International Biennial of Industrial Design, focusing on old industrial architecture, will take place next week though the biennial is to culminate only in autumn, Jiri Hlinka, from the media agency representing the biennial has told CTK.
In Kostelec nad Cernymi lesy, central Bohemia, a series of lectures on pulled-down old architecture will start on January 14.
Kladno, central Bohemia, will host an exhibition of student designs dealing with local defunct ironworks.
Another guidebook highlighting Czech old industrial architecture is being prepared, Hlinka said.
The motto of this year's biennial is The architecture of conversions - balancing between conservation, creative intervention and destruction.
This is also the name of the conference to take place in Prague in October.
"We want to present selected examples of conversions and a new, often unusual use of industrial heritage in the Czech Republic, and to point to the trends elsewhere in Europe," said Benjamin Fragner, from the industrial research centre at the Czech Technical University (CVUT).
The Biennial of Industrial Design will include tens of exhibitions, theatre performances, conferences and discussion events enabling meetings of investors with building owners, of architects with heritage conservationists and of university teachers with administrative officials.
More and more often, industrial complexes have been given the status of national cultural heritage, such as the old sewage water treatment plant in Prague-Bubenec.
At present, the Culture Ministry is deciding on whether a part of the Prague-Zizkov goods rail station will be declared a piece of national cultural heritage. The idea has been opposed by the complex's owner, the Czech Railways company, and by local politicians and developers who want to build a residence quarter on the site.

http://praguemonitor.com/2011/01/10/biennial-focuses-czech-old-industrial-architecture

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