Renowned American Architect Professor Rafi Segal
STYL ROZHOVOR
62 ǀ POSITIV 4/2023
You have visited the Czech Republic before but
when did you discover our Moravian – Silesian
region (and Ostrava) and on what occasion did you
recently visit Příbor?
My broader interest in the Moravian-Silesian region began
about twenty years ago when as part of my PhD studies at
Princeton University I studied the work of Czech architect
Alfred Neumann (1900 – 1968), who worked in Czechia
during the 20s-30s and following WWII took a leading
role in the Moravian regional urban planning team. In
1948 Neumann and his colleagues were selected as
the Czechoslovak representation to the CIAM meetings
– the most prestigious international conference on
architecture and urban planning - -to present their work on
regional and local development plans for North Moravia.
My interest in Alfred Neumann had a personal and
professional affiliation derived from my long-term work
and collaboration with Zvi Hecker, whom I consider my
mentor. Zvi Hecker had been Alfred Neumann’s student
and later close collaborator for several projects designed
and built in the 1960s. The linage to Neumann, via Hecker,
had been identified in my own thinking and approach to
architecture which drew interest in the Czech Republic
and led to the invitation by the Cabinet of Architecture
to present my work in Czechia, first in Ostrava (in 2014)
and Brno (2015) and later in Poland (2015 – 2016) as well.
This invitation later led to a joint effort and collaboration
with the Cabinet of Architecture in bringing to light
Alfred Neumann’s exceptional work through a series of
exhibitions in Czechia, Poland and Germany that garnered
much international attention and praise.
My recent visit to Příbor was driven by my curiosity in
Freud’s Moravian birthplace, and by my ongoing research
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where
I am researching sustainable development models for
peri-urban towns and settlements - in their potential for
economic growth as they become new destinations for
young families seeking to leave the city.
This trend is common in many parts of Europe, as
young families desire better quality of life for rising
children, a stronger connection with nature and
more affordable housing. The rise of remote working
has made the transition to live outside the dense
cities easier. This research work done at MIT has
practical implementations which have informed my
own practice of urbanism in various projects across
the world.
It is understandable that in more than 30 years after
the “Velvet Revolution” our country has changed and
continues to change. Which recent projects in our
region have interested you?
Indeed, Czechia has a rich tradition of historical
architecture yet a need and desire for change. In
this sense the ability to connect the old and new,
respecting the historical context while applying
innovative and sensitive architectural solutions and
ideas, is one of the most interesting challenges. One
excellent example of such a project that I found, which
was also the subject of enthusiasm across several
international architecture journals such as Domus,
Icon, The Plan, Detail and the web-based Designboom,
is the retrofitting of the historic slaughterhouse in
Ostrava to an art gallery by Robert Konieczny and
his team. It comes as no surprise that this project has
continued to garner one award after another.
In this project we see an innovative solution that both
respects and works with the historic building yet
manages to create something new. Through its rotating
walls and beautiful articulation of space the project re-
invents an inside -outside relationship, extending the
interior of the art gallery outwards to participate in the
urban space and experience of the city.
I am also very much looking forward to the construction
of the Ostrava Concert Hall designed by Steven
Holl, especially given that I was part of the invited
architectural jury that unanimously awarded it first prize
in an international competition.
Now, as implementation of the winning proposal for
the new concert hall in Ostrava is advancing, we are
witnessing an intensifying debate whether such a
financially demanding project is worthwhile to pursue.
And if the city can manage to operate and maintain
such a project or rather better to direct funds instead to
urban infrastructure or healthcare.
Renowned American Architect
Professor Ra Segal
and His Interest in the Czech Republic
We bring you an interesng interview about his work, successes, and especially his perspecve
on architecture.
STYL ROZHOVOR
“
Architecture does not ‘stand-alone’
but is in dialogue with its context.
The architect must work through
obstacles and restricons presented by
the reality on ground. These limitaons
can be used to enhance the work.
”