Nová Waltrovka Art

The sculpture consists of a portrait and the word "COURAGE" inscribed within a stylized head. It is based on two portraits of individuals who demonstrated great personal and civic courage in their lives. The proposed sculpture relates to the pioneering spirit of the original industrial district. It refers to the future naming of the emerging square, which will bear the name of the humble hero Augustín Bubník. Augustín Bubník spent nearly five years in prison and labor camps. After his release, he returned to sports—between 1966 and 1969, he even led the Finnish national hockey team. Young men and women who had survived the war could finally breathe freely and showcase their talents. However, the brutal political regime of the 1950s cracked down harshly on a group of free-thinking young athletes. They only wanted to test their skills at the Ice Hockey World Championship. This senseless persecution interrupted their careers but did not destroy their friendships. The perseverance with which they faced adversity remains a testament to their belief in human freedom. From it, we can draw COURAGE for our journeys. Augustín Bubník was one of those who, after enduring torture and imprisonment, managed to rise again and return to what he did best—inspiring passion for sport and fair play. Another inspiration behind the COURAGE sculpture is a different example of human bravery. While researching the history of the industrial zone between today’s Jinonice and Radlice neighborhoods, I realized how courageous the first attempts at flight were. A young Prague-born woman, Božena Laglerová, with the support of those close to her, completed flight training and, starting around 1911, flew regularly. She survived a serious injury that left lasting damage to her health, yet she never gave up flying or promoting aviation throughout her relatively short but intense life. These two figures, each from a different background, grew up in pre-war Prague. In my sculpture, they symbolically meet, connected by the word "courage."

Our architectural vision draws upon the history of this site and, through new technologies, brings the original atmosphere of the Walter factory into the present. This structure, echoing the original factory, respects the area’s industrial heritage and becomes a living artifact—connecting the past and present within the newly developed district. Positioned at the beginning of the pedestrian promenade, the structure will subconsciously remind passersby that they are standing on a site rich in history and significance. The design was created using contemporary digital tools, and its realization will employ the principle of additive robotic fabrication. The proposal consists of a concrete monolith 3D-printed using a robotic arm, combined with attached steel components that serve both as structural elements and aesthetic complements. The primary load-bearing concrete monolith is printed to optimize the object’s mass and structural properties. These advantages can be achieved more efficiently than ever, thanks to parametric programming and a six-axis robotic arm. The structure's material is UHPC (Ultra High-Performance Concrete), whose properties allow for wall thicknesses reduced to fractions of a centimeter. The object's footprint is 42 m², with dimensions of 5.6 × 7.5 × 3.5 meters.

The proposal carries the theme of the natural world and the world of progress. The concept connects the proposed object with the urban design of the site—specifically, the long boulevard along which, as a passerby approaches from the Dynamica Waltrovka building, the tree-shaped object is gradually revealed. More precisely, it is a charred tree torso, trimmed or covered in places with shiny metal plates. It brings a sense of intrigue to the location in the form of a mysterious object—familiar in shape and texture—yet containing moments of surprise and reflection on the surrounding environment. A tree silhouette that mirrors the surroundings and the people within it. In plan view, the object takes a triangle shape, defined by three cutting planes. These planes literally slice the tree into a torso with a triangular footprint. One vertex, the most sculptural part, points toward the boulevard, while the opposite side runs parallel to the edge of the plaza—specifically, U Slévárny Street. This cut symbolically marks the end of the boulevard space. The realization concept involves working with an actual tree, which is then charred, 3D scanned, trimmed in certain places, and clad in stainless steel plates that enable mirrored reflection. These reflective surfaces allow the surrounding environment and passersby to be reflected within the sculpture. The combination of wood and metal-organic and inorganic materials—creates a hybrid character, referencing the idea of a cyborg: an organism merged with man-made material. Another inspirational reference lies in classical sculpture—torso fragments of human figures and wooden sculptures shaped by time. The proposal reflects the clash of nature and civilization, industrial development, and using natural materials transformed into other forms. The tree, in its raw form as a source of energy, transforming wood into coal—specifically charcoal fuel—was essential to foundry work. It is also a key symbol of the era of industrialization, to which the ideology of the concept refers. The object contains all the ingredients of an industrial foundry process. The cuts made by metal plates appear, at times, almost brutal. The sculpture also bears a commemorative aspect, paying tribute to eleven Czech hockey players who fell victim to politically fabricated trials in the 1950s, were imprisoned, and later sent to uranium mines. The sharpness and finality of the cuts emphasize and intensify this emotional remembrance.

The newly created sculpture, “Motor of Transformation,” emerges as a monumental metal contribution, powerfully referencing the rich history of the site where aircraft engines were once manufactured. Standing six meters tall, the sculpture emphasizes its physical impressiveness and embodies symbolism tied to the industrial heritage of this specific location. Each metal plate of the sculpture has been meticulously and carefully shaped to form a harmonious whole. This intricate metal totem tells a story of industrial courage and technological advancement. The use of metal evokes strength and resilience, directly alluding to the robustness of the aircraft engines once produced here. Each letter has been positioned to create the impression of rotating around its axis. This principle of rotation is not merely a visual effect—it also conveys the symbolism of movement and energy, evoking the rotation of aircraft engines or propellers. The totem—a historically rich element of art—lends the sculpture aesthetic value and a deeper dimension connected to the spirit of the place and its unique history. At the same time, it becomes a clear focal point for activity in the surrounding space. The composition resonates visually with the concept of an engine while also symbolizing the beginning and end of the word “Transformation,” adding depth and meaning to the entire artwork. MOTORTRANSFORMACE thus becomes not just a static monument, but rather a dynamic expression of transformation and innovation—forces that have shaped the history of this important site in Czech industrial heritage. Every detail and element of the sculpture tells a story of courage, industrial progress, and the extraordinary power of transformation, both historical and contemporary.