A 2009 survey by the magazine Reflex named Josef Pleskot the most significant Czech architect for the period between 1989 and 2009. His career, spanning decades of professional practice in Prague, encompasses urban planning, exhibition curation, and large-scale administrative projects, reflecting a deep engagement with the evolution of architecture following the fall of the communist regime.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1952 in Písek, Pleskot pursued his architectural training at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague between 1973 and 1979. During his student years, he achieved early recognition by winning the Young Architects Competition in 1975. Following his graduation, he served as a teacher at the university, specifically within the Department of Architectural Theory and Development. His professional development continued through the 1980s at the Krajský projektový ústav, where he worked in the G-16 atelier.
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Pleskot returned to teaching at the Czech Technical University briefly in 1991, the same year he co-founded his own practice, AP Atelier. The firm, currently comprised of twelve colleagues, received its first notable recognition in 1993 with an honorable mention in the Grand Prix competition of the Czech Chamber of Architects for the Megafyt factory in Vrané nad Vltavou. He earned his first Grand Prix win in 1995 for the town hall project in Benešov and joined the Mánes Union of Fine Arts in 1997.
Architectural Scope and Recognition
Pleskot works across a diverse spectrum of projects, ranging from residential villas to large-scale commercial structures and land art. His design for the ČSOB headquarters in Prague, intended for more than 2500 employees, received the 2008 Grand Prix and achieved a gold certificate under the LEED Rating System. In 2004, he received both a Brick Award for the pedestrian tunnel in the Deer Moat at the Prague Castle and a Piranesi Award for the Czech Consulate in Munich. In 2015, he was named an honorary citizen of Litomyšl.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Písek
- Education: Czech Technical University in Prague
- Firm: AP Atelier
- Notable Work: ČSOB Headquarters, Prague
- Key Award: Most significant Czech architect 1989-2009 (Reflex survey)
- Honorary status: Honorary citizen of Litomyšl (2015)
- Citizenship: Czech Republic
Questions readers ask
What is Josef Pleskot's educational background?
He studied at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague from 1973 to 1979.
Which major projects is Josef Pleskot known for?
He is recognized for the administrative building of the ČSOB in Prague and the pedestrian tunnel in the Deer Moat at the Prague Castle.
Achievements
- honorary citizen of Litomyšl
- Trained at Czech Technical University in Prague
