|
 |
| Since President Masaryk decided to rebuild Prague Castle as the centrepiece of a democratic state rather than an imperial residence, it has been a symbol of complex cultural relationships and legendary mysteries. | |||||||||
| Built on a hill above the left bank of the river Vltava, Prague Castle is attractive to modern sensibilities: many artists and writers have been inspired by their experiences of it to explore more general issues of modernity. From 1920 to 1935 architect Jozè Plecnik was involved in the reorganisation and embellishment of the Castle. From the beginning, the connection between city and castle was the main problem to be solved. Plecnick’s design for the Rampant and Paradise gardens, leading from the castle to the city below, links the historical architecture to the demands of modern urban living. Material, texture and detail along the descending sequence of terraces with their peaceful views allow you to ‘promenade’ smoothly down into the city, while the small verandas, pavilions and sculptures along the way catch the eye and encourage you to freeze time for a moment to conjure up an imaginary world of fantasy and delight. It is the most sensitive and vibrant example of the emergence of the avant garde. Much has been written and published about Plecnick’s masterpiece, but an intimate encounter with the ‘genus loci’ is always absolutely overwhelming. Gabrielle Allende Madrid |
|
||||||||
