I would love to be by President Pavlo’s side, says architect Josef Pleskot
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk planned to turn the monarchist Castle into a democratic Castle. He couldn’t do it alone. That is why he enlisted the help of the Slovenian architect Jož Plečnik, who had been working in the Czech Republic for some time at that time. In 1920, when Masaryk Plečnik demanded that he modify the premises of Prague Castle, the not always respected tradition of castle architects began to be written. Now Josef Pleskot has stepped on it.
The polling stations were closed for barely a few hours when the future president Petr Pavel answered the question of what he intends to do: “One of the first steps will lead to the physical and informational opening of the Castle. I would like to bring the public to it, not only in the field of culture, but also science. As for architecture, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk had his own Plečnik, and I will be very happy if the architect Pleskot cooperates with me.” said the incoming head of state.
This is colloquially called a thrown gauntlet. “Mr. President kicked the ball, I caught it and pointed it out,” stated Pleskot now for CzechCrunch. He is said to be meeting with the future supreme constitutional official soon. “I respect Mr. very much and I will consider his request as president. If I’m able to, I’ll be happy to be by his side.” he added.
The last castle architect at Prague Castle was Bořek Šípek, who was invited by Václav Havel. Although neither Václav Klaus nor Miloš Zeman occupied this position, a lot of work was done at the Castle. Architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš, who has been working in the residence of the Czech rulers since 1990, says that almost fifty different architects have worked here since then. “A whole series of tasks were accumulated after the totalitarian period, and not everything is done yet,” Lukeš means.
Pleskot himself did not specify the possibilities of the castle’s engagement, he only stated that there is a need to democratize, connect and open up. “Also, always interpreting history, not being afraid of development, just as Masaryk, Plečnik or Havel were not afraid of it. What it could be, let’s wait a little longer for that,” stated Pleskot.
According to Lukeš, there are always possibilities in the president’s residence, also because it is a large area, where something still needs to be opened, to think about what to improve or how to use individual objects. “These are all considerations that could be addressed by a castle architect,” says Lukeš.
The greatest considerations are now directed to the George Monastery, which is in the Castle grounds, but belongs to the church. “We are very interested in what will happen there, because it is an extremely valuable historical site that has undergone many repairs over the centuries. Although it is a different owner, due to where the monastery is, it is subject to the strictest monument regulations.” describes Lukeš.
One of the objects that should be repaired is Zeyer’s fountain in Chotkovy sady, which belongs to the area of the most sought-after Prague monument. It was supposed to be completely reconstructed and illuminated, but it is one of the projects for which there was no funding due to covid.
One greenhouse in Lumbe’s garden is also waiting for repair, as well as buildings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, which are located in the Royal Garden, specifically in and near the Stable Yard. And for example, the so-called Masaryk lookout from Plečnik in Horní Jeléní říkopě should be repaired again. The Royal Garden should also receive repairs, where the asphalt should be replaced with paving or threshing. St. Vitus Cathedral is also still being repaired.
According to Lukeš, it is of course possible to supply the current layer as well. After all, all architectural styles are represented in the Castle today, from proto-Romanesque to hi-tech, which is represented by the orangery by Eva Jiřičná. At the same time, Lukeš adds that there are fewer and fewer opportunities for new buildings. “There is probably only one free plot left where something could still be built,” states the architectural historian.
St. Vitus Cathedral
As far as the history of castle architects is concerned, Jože Plečnik was succeeded by Otto Rottmayer at the Castle. Under Edvard Beneš, the position was held by Pavel Janák, who was one of the most important modern Czech architects. He mainly devoted himself to reconstructions. The era of Jaroslav Fragner, connected in the sixties with the period of Antonín Novotný, was also important. At the time of normalization, the events at Prague Castle were not so famous, according to Lukeš. But after the revolution, this debt began to be corrected.
“I look forward to the fact that if the post of castle architect is filled, we will debate and discuss, for example, how to use individual objects better than today, or what can still be opened and what, on the contrary, cannot.” says Lukeš.