Architecturally Speaking

“THE CHASE”

Architecturally Speaking
Cesky Krumlov // 6.13.2019

Cesky Krumlov is a place designed as though for Disney princesses. The quintessential European small-town, its narrow cobblestone streets and glorious river have put it on the map as a Czech Republic tourist hotspot. Not to mention its adorable houses. The name of the town itself comes from the bend in the river that forms its shape; its layout almost reminds me of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona.

Lunch today consisted of simple sandwiches on the riverside under the shade of umbrellas, a simultaneously modest yet glamorous experience. The bright sun warmed our world to a healthy 75 degrees. We watched as hundreds of kayakers paddled down the river, some bumping into each other and almost flipping over, with the perfect small-town building backdrop. There is easy access to the river from most buildings and restaurants that line it, and the little boy above was taking full advantage of its close proximity.

He chased the several ducks that ventured onto the shore up and down the water’s edge, his parents watching from the deck of the restaurant a few tables away from us. When I asked his dad for permission to make some photos, he gave an enthusiastic yes. As it turns out, several groups of tables had been watching this little boy run back and forth. They laughed good-naturedly as the ducks escaped his reach every time, but that didn’t stop him from trying again. His contagious joy entertained us for the rest of lunch, an afternoon well spent away from the busyness of Prague.

“GOLDEN HOUR AT THE MUSEUM”

Architecturally Speaking
The National Gallery (Národní galerie Praha) // 6.9.2019

Once a year each June, Prague holds a city-wide museum night. There’s no cost of entry, special bus lines transport visitors even to the farthest of museums, and the hours typically end at 1 a.m. All in all, 45 different institutions participate in this public event, and we heard advertisements played over the speakers at every metro stop for days leading up to last night.

My friends and I decided to make the trek to the National Gallery, which was a massive building comprised of a towering atrium defined by the six stories of walkways that encircled it. The sixth floor hosted a black-and-white photography exhibit that centered on a few different photographers’ documenting of the very “foundations” of human society. This immediately caught our attention, and it was incredibly inspiring to see the powerful work photographers are doing out in the field.

All the same, I was just as struck by the art of the building itself. Its soft white walls reflected the deep gold of the setting sun through its large windows during our visit, and the minimalism of features like its thin banisters keep the focus on its open, inviting form. There’s plenty of room for visitors to move through exhibits, though some of the floors lacked art displays altogether. The space only enhanced the visual experience of visiting an art museum, a benefit I hope visitors don’t take for granted.

“BALL GAME HALL”

Architecturally Speaking
Ball Game Hall (Míčovna) // 6.3.2019

Even if I weren’t such a fan of all things architecture, there’s no way to visit the city of Prague without being struck by the buildings rising above the cobblestone streets. Today’s visit to the Royal Gardens only emphasized the power architecture holds over mankind centuries after it is built; the crowds around the Summer Palace and St. Vitus Cathedral were substantial, especially for a Monday morning. I often find myself suppressing the urge to gush about the importance of intentional architecture, and usually just end up taking my built-up energy out on my camera’s shutter. Filling the “Architecturally Speaking” category won’t be a problem.

Thankfully, the crowds hadn’t yet spilled over toward the palace’s surrounding buildings, where we spent most of our time today. One such structure, a Renaissance-style building called Ball Game Hall, sported intricate carvings on its white exterior. The hall served as a recreational facility for the royals staying in the palace nearby during the 16th and 17th centuries, but was later adopted as military storehouse until the 20th century. Because of the damage it incurred over time, it was eventually reconstructed in the 1950s. The woman photographed above spent a good bit of time deciphering the various images engraved on the facade, most of which are classical figures in line with its Renaissance style.

The hall is a perfect example of how effective a marriage between art and architecture can be, especially in terms of a building’s design and overall message. The smooth face of the building, with its even rhythm of arches and embedded columns, is an unassuming white canvas that leaves room for embellishment while still possessing an aesthetic of its own. Yet, because it features such detailed artwork, it evokes emotion that would otherwise remain unaccessed.