"With the architecture industry's current push toward adaptive reuse - the clever, sustainable repurposing, and reinvigoration of existing structures - comes a renewed and expanded focus on preservation. It isn't just the obvious crop of highly ornate "pretty" buildings, representing certain "favorable" styles, garnering attention anymore. And while certain presidential administrations might deem it an untenable style, brutalism is now also garnering the attention it deserves."
"Take Prague's centrally located Fairmont Golden hotel, now deftly reimagined with deep respect for what some might deem an anachronistic eye-sore in what is ostensibly a well-maintained Romanesque Disney World. Erected in 1974 by notable architect Karel Filsak, the originally named Inter-Continental Praha is defined by its monolithic yet textured facade, rising nine stories, not to mention its overhung top level. An early American investment within the Soviet-controlled Eastern Block, the hotel incorporates many artistic and design-led elements celebrating Czechia's long-established prowess in these areas."
Adaptive reuse has spurred renewed attention to preservation, widening interest beyond ornate historic styles to include brutalist buildings. Brutalism provokes mixed reactions: some view it as unsightly and experimental, while others value its inventiveness and optimistic take on modernism. Prague's Fairmont Golden hotel, originally the Inter-Continental Praha, was erected in 1974 by architect Karel Filsak and features a monolithic, textured facade, nine stories, and an overhung top level. The hotel reflects early American investment in the Soviet-era Eastern Block and incorporates artistic, design-led elements celebrating Czechia. A recent comprehensive revitalization emphasized respect for Filsak's gesamtkunstwerk approach and transformed the hotel into a social and cultural hub. The project was led by entrepreneurs Pavel Baudiš, Eduard Kučera, and Oldřich Šlemr and focused on making imaginative new uses of carefully identified original features.
Read at Design Milk
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]