Václav Havel’s Prague
- Where: Václav Havel Library, Ostrovní 13, Prague 110 00
- When: May 26, 2016, 19:00 – 21:00
Ceremonial presentation of Zdeněk Lukeš’s book Praha Václava Havla (Václav Havel’s Prague) (Václav Havel Library, 2016) introducing buildings in the metropolis connected to the life of the playwright, dissident and president. In several chapters it presents, in photographs by Pavel Hroch and other photographers, buildings constructed by his grandfather and father (the Lucerna Palace and buildings at Barrandov), as well as places linked to Havel’s childhood and youth, his years as a playwright and dissident period.
In his time as president, Havel made a marked contribution to Prague Castle becoming more welcoming, while places linked to the latter years of his life are not neglected either. It is a mosaic of structures with all kinds of functions – from favourite pubs, cafés and theatres to dissidents’ apartments, StB stations and prisons to innovations at the Castle. Some 70 buildings and spaces in Prague are arranged chronologically and presented alongside biographical information linked to individual periods of his life, detailed maps and a glossary of architectural terms.
The evening will be hosted by Osamu Okamura, architect and programme director of reSITE, an international festival and conference focused on more liveable cities.