Michal Mráz's profile

Master's Thesis / School of Architecture in Prague

State of the profession

The originally elite discipline of architecture is in identity crisis. It has the ambition to solve the problems of the world but it is not asked to do it. Architecture is not a field furiously advancing to the future. It is rather catching up with technological advancement of other fields. The process of moving towards uncertainty should be seen as an opportunity to reconsider the role of an architect in society.
If architects want to have any say in affecting the building processes and a physical appearance of the built environment and avoid marginalization as a profession they have to give up on being treated as individual heroes. Rather they need to be ready to adopt the role of mediators, collaborators, and catalysts of processes leading to better built environment. The image of linear hierarchy with architect’s client at the top, followed by architect himself, followed by civil engineer and concluded by construction company should be overcome. Architect of the near future is part of a team. A generalist type of education architects get may predetermine them to take on certain roles within this new reality such as team leaders but not necessarily.
In fact, the shift towards the scheme mentioned above is already taking place. The major problem is that none of the changes are reflected in education. This shift should not be seen as clearing of architects' former positions. It should rather be seen as late but inevitable adaptation to ongoing changes.


The new school of thought - the new school of architecture

The new school of architecture does not try to rethink the whole architectural education. It is rather complementary to the current system of education of architects. It addresses the gap between architectural education’s insiders (students, lecturers, researchers) and outsiders (professional architects, fresh graduates, general public, professional public, public organizations, political representatives, other age groups, etc.) who may as well be interested in and contribute to a debate on architecture. The binary distinction between the two causes misunderstanding on both sides. It should not be a question of being or not being a part of architectural education system. Rather it should be a question of the intensity of interaction with it.
This division could be overcome by introducing a sort of buffer zone, which is flexible and robust enough to contain various activities related to architecture. First of all this place serves as a discussion platform. It could include some of the spaces such as offices for non-profit or for-profit organizations to certain extent related to architecture, cost-effective offices for recent graduates; several housing units for students or temporary school visitors, rentable working spaces and workshops, exhibition spaces, etc. This needs to be addressed with concrete architectural solution. It should function as a low-barrier, easy plug-in interface.


The case of Prague

The newly established school of architecture in Prague manifests against cultural exploitation of the heritage of the past centuries and stands for creating new values. It is manifestation for progressivity in dealing with heritage as exploration of new ways for doing so is its main agenda. Wroking with existing building register is considered as one of the desirable directions of Prague of the beginning of the 20th century. There is no need to cut deeper into empty space surrounding the city. There are things yet to be built - Prague is not a complete city.

Architect of today is a master of reinterpretation of existing. Vocabulary used in relation to city’s built environment should include at most words such as: reinterpret, inhabit, reconnect, inject, evolve, squat, add new quality, take care, reveal, adapt, fit in, squeeze in, add layer, remove layer, intervene with surgical precision, explore, uncover, demolish, dig in, refine, make available, initiate, guide through. That is why the new school of architecture appropriates one of the available empty properties. The task for an architect is to create a film setting for real life actors. To create an ideal narrative for each designed space - scenes to be inhabited by real people.
Thesis book - theoretical background of the project presented bellow
The site
Abandoned buildings of Prague; former medieval walls; UNESCO-protected area and the chosen site for the new school of architecture
Position of the building within a block
The building
Relation of the building to the surroundings
Catalogue of spaces
The "pallace" typology of the building examined in longitudinal section
The proposal
Atmospheres - the student's view v. the visitor's view
Former souterrain auditorium appropriated as a workshop/exhibition space
Souterrain cantilevered terrace
Ground floor passage with new staircase and new supply entrance to the souterrain workshop
The new staircase on the ground floor
Mezzanin; threshold between the school of architecture (studio) and publicly accesible café/bar
Mezzanin with café/bar and lounge where visitors and students mix; new elevator in the background
"Bar U Stýblů" in the mezzanin
Gallery space on the 1st floor - preparation of the exhibition by students
Gallery space on the 1st floor - objects exhibited were constructed by students in the souterrain workshop and trasported by elevator
Café bellow roof
Staircase to the rooftop
Rooftop observation deck
         3rd souterrain                                                          2nd souterrain                                                            1st souterrain
     Ground floor                                                           Mezzanin                                                             1st floor
                        Typical floor                                                       Floor bellow roof
Rooftop observation deck
Master's Thesis / School of Architecture in Prague
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Master's Thesis / School of Architecture in Prague

Master's thesis project in the studio of Peter Staub&Georgia Papathanasiou at the University of Liechtenstein made as a Master's thesis project i Read More

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