User:Third Boxcar/sandbox

Dr.Ing.arch Jaroslav Otruba
Photo of Jaroslav Otruba
Born	(1916-11-11)11 November 1916 Olomouc, Austria-Hungary
Died	5 February 2007(2007-02-05) (aged 90) Praha, Czech Republic
Nationality	Czechoslovakian
Occupation	Architect
Spouse	Nadeje
Children	Vitezslava
Awards	1957 International architectural competition for OSN in Geneva, Switzerland – fifth place 1961 Architectural competition for Karlovarske Vridlo, Karlovy Vary – first place 1973 Prague City Award for architectural design of Prague Metro line “C”
Buildings	Health Spa Resort in Karlovy Vary Prostejov Railroad station, 1952 Administrative Building SUDOP, Prague 1974 Karlovarske Vridlo, Karlovy Vary 1975
Projects	Line A (Prague Metro) Prague, Czech Republic
Design	Aluminum tiles for Prague Metro line “A” 1976

Dr. Ing. arch. Jaroslav Otruba(11 November 1916 – 5 February 2007) was a Czech architect, urban planner, designer and artist.

The son of a cabinetmaker, Otruba was born in Olomouc, Moravia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He lived during particularly turbulent periods of Czech Republic’s modern history: at the height of World War I, before the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918; under Nazi occupation, from 1939, until the end of World War II in 1945; and under the rule of an authoritarian Communist government, from 1948 to 1989. In spite of the continuous national and political turmoil, Otruba remained committed to a fundamental belief in democratic ideals. Although he considered it to be a secondary occupation, Otruba utilized art as an outlet for his passions, and a reprieve from the political dangers that surrounded him. He regarded his art to be a superior therapeutic alternative to actually visiting a psychiatrist.

Otruba’s most prolific work, particularly in architecture, was produced during the latter part of the 20th century. As a result, he made a prominent impact on the urban design and planning of Prague, and the rest of Czech Republic – not only by virtue of his own designs, but through his influence on his numerous protégés. He is best known for his contributions toward the creation, design, and development of the Prague Metro system.

Education

After graduating from technical school, he began studying at the University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Prague. His mentors included Prof. Antonin Mendl, under whom Otruba studied Architecture; Prof. Alois Mikuskovic, studying Town Planning and Landscaping; and Prof. Oldrich Blazicek, who directed his courses on Drawing and Painting. The Nazis closed all universities in 1939, delaying Otruba’s graduation until June 1945, which he completed with Honors.

In August 1945, Otruba was hired by the University as an Assistant Professor, a position that permitted him to participate in a vast study of surgical hospital departments for his dissertation. During this period, he helped create the Department of Medical Architecture at the University. In 1953, he received his Doctorate in Architecture. From 1956 to 1959 he finished a second dissertation, on maternity wards; however, this was never accepted.

Career and Legacy

In appreciation of Otruba’s teaching career Jiri Siegel, an architect and engineer who counted himself among Otruba’s many students, wrote that, “[Otruba] was respected for his positive attitude, professional assurance, success and maximum tact” while working with his students, many of whom kept in touch long after their studies were completed. However, because of the pressure for political (read: Communist) conformity among the faculty of the University, Otruba felt compelled to resign his teaching post in 1960. He subsequently took a job at the State Department of Transportation, spending ten years as a leading designer within the department.

Prague Metro

In 1970 Otruba was transferred to Metroproject, a new department tasked with building the massive Prague public transportation system. As the leading architect and designer, he oversaw the creation of the A and C lines of the Prague Metro. Otruba is the designer of the distinctive aluminum tiles that can be found throughout the Metro A line. The tiles, whilst beautifying the stations, additionally symbolize a confluence of eras: evoking the storied history of Czech Republic with a simple metal façade; while simultaneously appearing thoroughly modern, celebrating the revolutionary new means of transportation.

Work from Otruba’s early architectural career includes the design and realization of railroad stations in Prostejov, Redkovice and Pribyslav, from 1947 – 1952. The implementation of his interesting design for a SUDOP administrative building in Zizkov, and a business complex at IPS Prague-Vrsovice, both in 1965.

Competitions

Dr. Otruba participated in many national and international design and architecture competitions. Among the prestigious accolades was a fifth place in an international competition of an OSN complex in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1957. He was the winner of the “Vridelni Kolonady” architectural competition, taking place in Karlovy Vary in 1961; as well as the architectural competition for Frantiskovy Lazne in 1966. In collaboration with architect Sramek, Otruba won first place in an architectural competition to design a dispatcher building at the Main Railroad Station in Prague in 1970.

Year	Project
1940	Competition for design of renovation of Charles Square, Prague (collaboration with Ing.arch.VC. Ivan Vacek) – 2nd place
1945	Competition for apartment house in Záluží u Mostu (Litvínov) (collaboration with Ing.arch. B. Bubla) – 2nd place
1946	Design of hotel in Záluží u Mostu
	Design for Community Center in Záluží u Mostu
1947	Competition for town hall in Košice – honorable mention award
	Design of memorial for victims of occupation of Březnice (sculpture by O.Kozák). Memorial erected 1947
	Design for railroad station and hotel in Prostějov. Construction completed 1952
	Design for two apartment houses for railroad employees in Prostějov. Construction completed 1952
	Design of Department of National health in Březnice (collaboration with Ing.arch. V. Šedivý and Ing.arch. J.Krásný)
1948	Competition for Dukla memorial (collaboration with sculptor O.Kozák) – honorable mention award
	Competition for memorial of Kaunicových Dormitories in Brno (collaboration with sculptor O.Kozák) – honorable mention award
	Design of dispatcher building for railroad station in Řečkovice u Brna. Construction completed 1952
1949	Design of dispatcher building for railroad station in Tišnov, near Brno
	Design of three dispatcher buildings between Havlíčkuv Brod. Brno Construction completed in Přibyslav
	Design of dispatcher building and landscape design in Ostrava. Partial completion 1950-1952
	Architectural competition for National Opera and Ballet Theater in Brno – 3rd place in general competition
	Architectural competition for National Ballet Theater in Brno – 2nd place in finalist competition
1956	International competition for UNESCO Plaza in Geneva – 5th place
	Architectural competition for Physical Education Center (ČKD) in Praha 8 (collaboration with Prof. Ing,arch. F. Čermák and Ing.arch J.Paroubek) – 2nd place in final competition
1957	Architectural competition for the University of Agriculture in Prague, Suchdol-Lysolaje – honorable mention
	International architectural competition for Toronto City Hall, Ontario, Canada
	International architectural competition for war memorial in Auschwitz, Poland (collaboration with Naděje Otrubová)
1959	Architectural competition for Metropolitan Children’s Faculty Hospital in Motol, Prague (collaboration with Naděje Otrubová) – honorable mention
	Architectural competition for the complex and urban landscaping design for health spa resort in Karlovy Vary - 2nd place (highest award). Construction of thermal spring colonnade completed in 1975)
1961	Architectural competition for the complex and urban landscaping design for health spa resort in Karlovy Vary (selected architects only) – 1st place
1962	International architectural competition for the complex and urban landscaping design for the main railroad station in Sofia, Bulgaria (urban design by Prof.Dr.Ing.arch. J.Krise)
1965	International architectural competition for Eurokursal in San Sebastian, Spain
	Design for Engineering and Industrial complex in Prague, Vršovice - Construction completed 1967
	Architectural competition for the complex and urban landscaping design for health spa resort in Františkovy Lázně – 1st place
	Architectural competition for the complex and urban landscaping design for city center and main railroad station in Prague – 3rd place
1968	Design for headquarters for Ministry of Highways in Prague, Vinohradská. Construction completed 1974
	Design for Headquarters of Ministry of Transportation (SUDOP) in Žižkov, Prague. Construction completed in 1974
	First architectural study and concept design for Prague Metro
1970	Selective architectural competition for design of Central Railroad station in Prague. Joint recipient of 1st prize with Ing. arch. J.Šrámek
1970 – 1974	Leading architect with Metroprojekt, Design and completion of line “C” of Prague Metro
	Award of excellence of the National Council of the capital city of Prague for the year 1973
1972 – 1976	Leading architect with Metroprojekt Design and completion of line “A” of Prague Metro
1982	Patent and copyright for attachment of aluminum tiles in Prague Metro line “A” approved

The Artist

Otruba’s secondary (and often preferable) profession was the time he spent with his paintbrushes and canvas. His painting evolved in different styles. The art draws from the days of heavy political pressure in the early 1950s. Otruba’s early paintings reflect abstract configurations of communication, antennas and various objects from outer space. As he became further immersed in the world of architecture, Otruba’s paintings often portrayed architectural objects, such as Gothic cathedrals and imaginary abstract cities. After his trip to USA, his paintings consist of countless variations of skyscrapers and cities full of color, often in congruence with his earlier European cities, and historical styles.

In the 1990s he experiented with abstract painting with more concentration on implementation of lines and colors, movement of lines and circles, sometimes interpreting a city within a dramatic storm. In 2000 he started to paint different cities and small towns from old maps. In 2001 an illness prevented him from continuing with his passion to paint.

Otruba did not want to exhibit his dream world, or get paid for his art; thus, it has been impossible for his art to be fully appreciated by the public. He had only one exhibition at Motol Hospital in 1983. His paintings are in the private collections of his friends in Europe, USA and Australia. After his death in 2007 his wife sold one of his painting in an art auction with Gallery Kodl in 2009.

Karlovy Vary health spa resort

Karlovy Vary health spa resort