
OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
JAKUB CHVOJKA
Licensed Architect - Landscape Architecture. Since 2005, the individual
practice of an architect, now in the studio CHVOJKA / architect based in
Pilsen Doubravka. Owner of the national award Grand Prix of Architects
2015 for new buildings, finalist of the award of the Club for Old Prague
2016 (2nd place) and author of public area buildings. In 2005 he was
awarded in the international urban planning competition Europan. The
initiator of the formation of the Pilsen group Zealous for support of modern
and contemporary architecture. Long-term work on the border land theme,
landscape with strong potential. From 2016 Member of the Authorizing
Board of the Czech Chamber of Architects.
TOMÁŠ JIRÁNEK
Licensed Architect - Landscape Architecture. Founder of the company
New Visit (r.2000) based in Hradec Králové. In 1997 co-founder of the
Landscape Management Concept of a Compiled Landscape and Urban
Work of the National Stud Farm in Kladruby nad Labem. Individual member
of European Forum for Architecture Policy. Winner of several architectural
competitions. Owner of the national award Grand Prix of the architects
community and author of several other important public area buildings in
the Czech Republic. From 2008 to 2011 he is a member and a vice-chairman
of the Czech Chamber of Architects. Member of the Scientific Council of
the Minister of Culture.
SUSANNE SPURNÁ
Licensed Architect - Landscape Architecture. Member of the German Land-
scape Architects Association (BDLA) and the International Federation of
Landscape Architects (IFLA). Graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the
Technical University of Dresden - diploma thesis: Historical Development
and Potential of the Public Space in Prague, Smíchov. After a professional
practice the designer at the Cigler Marani Architects studio since 2004.
Collaborating on projects The Chodov Park, Radio Free Europe and others.
Since 2007 member of the Landscape Architecture Initiative Group at Czech
Chamber of Architects. From 2015 onwards separate projects, lecture and
publishing activity. Member of the AntiComplex civic association.
MARKÉTA A PETR VELIČKOVI
Licensed Architects - Landscape Architecture. Founders of M&P Architects -
Landscape Architecture (2004) based in Velké Meziříčí. During the 13 years
they have been awarded several times in architectural competitions. Certain
constructions according to their designs have been recognized internationally.
Winners of Grand Prix award of the architect community and nominees for
the Czech Architecture Prize, the European Piranesi Award and the BigMat
international architecture award. Since 2007 they have worked with leading
Czech director Ljuba Wáclavová on documentary films with the theme of
landscape for Czech Television. Authors of the book Alleys of Czech and
Moravian Lands - History and Contemporary Importance, published by the
Dokořán Publishing House. Petr Velička from 2007 to 2010 is a member and
vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Czech Chamber of Architects
and since 2015 a member of its Board of Directors.
In 2007, thanks to coincidence of many circumstances - five landscape
architects met. Our different view of the Czech landscape was mutually
inspiring. In spite of the difference of personalities, in numerous discus-
sions we accomplished similar conclusions. A fundamental step for us all
was the introduction of a unified name of our own profession - landscape
architecture. For only if we know our name, we can fill it meaningfully.
The title was successfully asserted on the ground of the parent organiza-
tion of the Czech Chamber of Architects. Later, we initiated the reissue of
Christiann Norberg Schulze’s book Genius loci - the essential work that links
architecture very closely with the site and explains its meanings. With the
natural evolution of things, constant dialogue over values, we started to
work on the Manifesto of Landscape Architecture. Gradually, we simplified
the thesis and tried to get to the point. During the birth of the manifesto,
the subsequent thoughts - a kind of echo of the manifesto - also crystallized.
A ROUTE IS ARCHITECTURE
A ROAD IS NOT A ROUTE
A TREE IS A BRICK
AN ALLEY IS A CONSTRUCTION
A GARDEN IS A ROOM
A SQUARE IS LANDSCAPE
LANDSCAPE IS NOT NATURE
The Manifesto has matured for seven years. It was clear from the outset
that we need to pass on the outcome to the public as soon as possible,
as Vladimir Kokolja has said years ago: „You will not run away from the
landscape“. It is all around us, it shapes our personalities, it is part of our
history, it is our future.
The landscape, even with the indisputable honoring of all property rights,
is a public domain but very vulnerable, and above all, it is vital to each of us.