Studio Hlaváček – Čeněk cooperates with the University of Liechtenstein

Students of the Studio Hlaváček - Čeněk are working on the project of the fire station in Vaduz. Liechtenstein does not have professional firefighters, since 1975 only fire volunteers have provided fire protection and technical assistance in the event of disasters. Neverthless, the fire station is not only a utilitarian building, it has an important role in connecting the community in the village.

Czech students' projects will serve as a basis for discussion in the framework of the preparation of the architectural competition, which will result in the construction of a new fire station. Its construction, with an investment of 25 million francs, was approved by local citizens in a public vote.

The theme of the studio led by Hugo Dworzak and Bianca Böckle at the University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz is “Bridge +”, a bridge not only as a real object physically spanning an obstacle, but also as a mental connection of two places. The studio addresses two locations with different contexts - Dorbnirner Ache and Charles Bridge.

Hugo Dworzak has been working at the University of Liechtenstein since 2000 and in 2012–2016 he was in charge of the Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Development. He is, like Dalibor Hlaváček and Martin Čeněk, a practicing architect, his credo is “stay virginal - as much as possible”.

The aim of the cooperation is to connect the two countries that share a common history, to offer students of both schools to get to know each other, get to know different ways of architectural education, get to know other places, conditions and cultures. The program included excursions in Vorarlberg and Bohemia, joint presentations of both studios and the participation of professors as external critics at the partner school.

Given the current situation, an excursion of Czech students in Liechtenstein has taken place so far. The school under the Swiss Alps was visited by more than 20 students of the Studio Hlaváček - Čeněk, and spent one week at the University of Vaduz. They met with fellow students and university representatives, visited the site and other fire stations in Austria and Liechtenstein. Their stay was concluded by a workshop at the University of Vaduz.