Professors’ Conference at Ziegel Zentrum Süd e.V.

Energy-efficient architecture in Germany and the Czech Republic

»1 The group of professors started off by inspecting the “perpetual building site” of Regensburg Cathedral and enjoyed a stunning view over the entire old town with its winding streets and lanes

»2 The internationally known Carthusian cloister in Novy Dvur, Czechia, was extended and converted by the Pilsen-based architect Jan Soukop, together with John Pawson, London, from a four-sided manor farm

»3 Before the tour through the prize-winning pedestrian tunnel at Prague Castle (Hradcany): Speaker Prof. Pavel Zverina (Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, left) with architect Josef Pleskot. On the right: view of the interior brick shell of the tunnel
Photo on left: Ziegel Zentrum Süd e.V.
Photo on right: Jan Malý

»4 The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Josip Plecnik in Prague, with the tour guided by architect Miroslav Cikan (MCA Atelier)

»5 A brick building site in Litomysl, Czechia, comes under the close scrutiny of the delegates
Photo: Ziegel Zentrum Süd e.V.

»6 Tour of the Castle Brewery in Litomysl, a project designed by architect Josef Pleskot. Tour guided by Litomysl’s former mayor, second from left. Photo: Ziegel Zentrum Süd e.V.

»7 The clinker façade of the new Faculty of Architecture of the CVUT, the Czech Technical University in Prague, designed by the Czech architect firm Šrámková architekti

At this year’s Professors’ Conference at Ziegel Zentrum Süd e.V. (ZZS) speakers and delegates addressed the consequences of the dramatic energy turnaround in Germany for building construction. The conference at Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, Department of Architecture, was combined with a three-day excursion to the Czech Republic, during which the delegates were accompanied and guided by some of the biggest names in Czech architecture. 35 professors from more than 20 universities in the Southern German region were treated to a deep and sometimes very personal insight into the Czech architectural scene.

1 Conference

Waltraud Vogler, Managing Director at ZZS, sees “the way to the utilization of renewable energies for the generation of thermal heat and power, to the reduction of climate-damaging CO₂ emissions and our handling of the world’s resources as the leitmotif for all our actions”, and summarized the theme of the conference, which was held in cooperation with Regensburg University of Applied Sciences.

Architectural designers in Germany are giving increasing thought to the uniform “packaging” of buildings. Lead-in for the one-day event at Regensburg University of Applied Sciences was the...