On Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, Eliška Kaplicky Fuchsová, Helena Koenigsmarková, and Miloš Štěpař symbolically cut the ribbon separating the public from the opportunity to experience the inspiring environment in which architect Jan Kaplický created. The Study Room of Jan Kaplický is an authentic space furnished with unique furniture by Jan Kaplický and a multitude of the architect’s personal items, including those that reminded him of his parents.

The idea for the Study Room came about through the joint efforts of PhDr. Helena Koenigsmarková, the now-retired director of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, and Eliška Kaplický Fuchsová, president of the Kaplicky Centre Foundation, leading to the preservation of the book collection that Jan Kaplický created during his lifetime and the successful operation of his studio Future Systems.
 

After entering into a harmonious agreement with the founder of the PULSE platform, Miloš Štěpař, and representatives of the Museum of Decorative Arts, the idea materialized after six years of preparation. „Friends of Jan Kaplický, architect Jakub Cigler, and the author of the content and graphic concept, Alan Záruba, took care of creating a space that evokes the feeling of ‘He was just here!“ remarked Jozef Lucák, director of the Kaplicky Centre Foundation, on this significant achievement.

In the Study Room, you will find an iconic sofa paraphrasing the concept of comfort and style, where in the middle of it,visitors can admire pieces from the design work of Jan Kaplický and his Future Systems, the first draft of the Champagne Bucket, and the original glass. Right next to it, the architect’s office chair literally sits, overlooking part of his own book collection, inspiring photographs, but mainly the curves of his second wife. The table is further dominated by a red Olivetti typewriter, which the architect used to communicate for part of his life.

A striking futuristic entrance leads to the space, creating the impression of Kubrick’s Odyssey, which adorned the apartment of Deyan Sudjic, the emeritus director of the Design Museum in London. The combination of everything thus starts the so-called “inspiromat,” which transfers the architectural and design genius of the architect to those who also want to be kissed by Jan Kaplický’s muse.

„It is not art to acquire, but to pass on. Providing part of the Jan Kaplický and Future Systems archive for this purpose was a matter of course and a joy. And I am incredibly proud that at the time of the 16th anniversary of the foundation, which Johan and I founded in 2008, I can, without exaggeration, say his famous ‘Fly high!’, because this project, unique in European terms, fulfills this ambition,“ Eliška Kaplický Fuchsová remarked emotionally after today’s opening. 

„I am thrilled that PULSE could become the right partner that helped realize the project that had been maturing in the minds of Eliška Kaplický Fuchsová and the former and new management of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague for several years. The creation of this unique space, which, by the way, is designed to travel the world, is a metaphor for the significance of the Pulse platform. It aims to promote and develop architecture and design on an international scale through all available innovative means.“ Miloš Štěpař, founder of PULSE, commented happily on the opening of the Study Room.

„The idea for the Jan Kaplický Study Room came about in collaboration with the Museum of Decorative Arts several years ago when we were taking over his personal library for processing. Thanks to the quick and successful activity of the Foundation, Pulse, and the museum, we can already imagine how this concentrated lifestyle of Jan Kaplický will look in a permanent installation in the museum in Prague, and I am personally very happy about that.“ stated PhDr. Helena Koenigsmarková, emeritus director of the Museum of Decorative Arts.

The exhibition will welcome its visitors in Vítkovice Gong until the turn of 2024/2025. It will then move to the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, where it will become a permanent exhibition after several functional and content changes.The PULSE OSTRAVA!!! festival is also accompanied by the Drawings exhibition, featuring Kaplický’s drawings, an original table from the Future Systems studio, and a model of the unrealized Rejnok project.