Soffa 26 / PASSION, English edition

design | fashion | people | travel | food | science

issue theme

PASSION

SOFFA: JOY FROM THE HEART OF EUROPE Discover the best and the most beautiful from Czechia and the rest of Central Europe: exquisite design, inspirational stories, unknown interiors and hidden gems well worth your visit.

ISSUE THEME: PASSION This time, Soffa explores the importance of passion in our lives – passion for that someone special, a hobby or our work. If you are not sure where your passion lies, there is no better place to discover it than here.

Spring is the perfect time to ignite your inner flame!

SOFFA PARTNERS Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners. Thank you!

Contents

THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO

PASSION

The main theme of this issue, one we explore in our conversation with Petr Ludwig, is the quest for a lifelong passion. We aim to rouse your own spirit and zest, and to this end we introduce several people whose successful initiatives and life’s calling are a source of great inspiration. We begin with three young scientists who have already managed to enrich Czech science with their groundbreaking ideas, and continue with the idiosyncratic chef and butcher Paul Day whose work has made a mark on Czech gastronomy. Design is the guiding passion for the Czech design gallery Deelive, as well as this year’s finalists of Czech Grand Design, to whom we have dedicated our cover. And because we like to challenge stereotypes and touch on delicate issues, together with Tereza Hošková we examine female sexuality and the menstrual cycle. As always, we take a journey to feed our passion for travel – this time visiting Romania and the Faroe Islands. Antique lovers will revel in our story about an ardent collector of historical weapons and enjoy our fashion photoessay, set in one of the largest antique shops in Prague. And for a bit of levity, savour our collages inspired by some of the best original Czech series created in recent times. They are great for relaxing on your favourite sofa!

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Contents

Welcome Between Women (and Men)

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Interview Crusader for Passion

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Travel Romania’s Big Heart

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Collage It’s On

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Trends With All Your Senses

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Design Passion for D!

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Utterly Czech Brief Exposé

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Design Czech Grand Design

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Photoessay I Am Woman!

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Science All Fired Up

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Cars Electric Style

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Décor Beauty in Our Midst

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Travel Pull of the Archipelago

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Fashion Romantic Nostalgia

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Milan Design Week 2018 Luce Solida

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Creative People Meat of the Matter

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Interior Fencer’s Paradise

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Trends Less Is Not Always More

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Architecture On Firm Ground

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Art Exquisite Beauty

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Welcome

1 · Elevator Music is a new collection from Off-White and Byredo, available in May 2018. Hand cream from the collection, $45. www.byredo.eu

BETWEEN WOMEN (AND MEN) Each Soffa issue includes an article that is particularly close to my heart.

The one I am most passionate about this time is a story that explores female sexuality and menstruation and is accompanied by photographs of sex toys and artistic images by the Italian-American artist Anna Volpi.

Although you will not find many topics that remain taboo in this day and age, it seems that women’s bodies and their sexuality are still a bit off limits. And yet these topics are relevant not only to women, but also to everyone around them. That is why, I feel, this story should be read not only by mothers and their daughters, but also their partners and sons.

I am eager to hear your reactions!

What colour do you imagine when you hear the word ‘passion’? I appear to have answered this question subconsciously, because our cover – featuring the finalists of this year’s Czech Grand Design – and my editorial ‘wish list’ are bathed in soft pastels, tones that are perfectly suited for our feminine topic. My selection reflects my passions: I love gold jewellery. I’d rather sleep than eat, but I can’t resist a good cup of coffee and a sinful dessert, and so I simply must have a pastry made by Lukáš Skála with a coffee ground in a stylish coffee mill. I applaud women entrepreneurs and try to support their work by wearing clothes made by female Czech designers. I’m sure you will agree that Zuzana Kubíčková’s lingerie is simply irresistible, especially when paired with a dreamy wedding dress by Sobje.

2 · Iva Burkertová and Tereza Plašilová – the creative duo behind the Sobje label – have launched a new collection of wedding dresses that explore delicacy and tenderness through materials like tulle and lace. Discover Sobje. www.odivi.cz/sobje 3 · Just one of many exquisite pieces from the lingerie collection

by Zuzana Kubíčková. Lace bodysuit, 7,600 Kč. www.zuzanakubickova.com 4 · The New Archeology Ring by Eliška Lhotská is made of goldplated silver, €63. www.eliskalhotska.cz 5 · Featuring a ceramic burr and a handy nut for adjustment, the beautiful Collar manual coffee grinder will also store your ground coffee. Made by Stelton, €85. www.finnishdesignshop.com 6 · The Lukáš Skála confectionary opened in Prague in December 2017. Despite modern appearance, Skála’s desserts from classic ingredients are inspired mostly by traditional recipes. Get your dessert at the shop or order it online, 59 Kč. www.cukrarskala.cz 7 · Immerse yourself in your own world. The Desdemone bed with upholstered headboard is a sanctuary of wellbeing and serenity.

Starting from 118,000 Kč. www.ligne-roset.com

Adéla Kudrnová | editor in chief

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PRAGUE SPRING 73rd International Music Festival

Accademia Bizantina, Bennewitz Quartet, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Klangforum Wien, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists, PKF – Prague Philharmonia, Royal Concertgebouw, Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Warsaw Philharmonic Leif Ove Andsnes, Andrej Borejko, Jana Boušková, Lionel Bringuier, Boris Brovtsyn, Ottavio Dantone, Iván Fischer, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Daniele Gatti, Matthias Goerne, James Judd, Martin Kasík, Katarina Karnéus, Petra Lang, Keith Lockhart, Tomáš Netopil, Julian Rachlin, David Robertson, Jordi Savall, Leonard Slatkin, Olga Šroubková, Daniil Trifonov, Constantin Trinks

www.festival.cz Financial Support

Festival Partners

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Interview

CRUSADER FOR PASSION

text: Adéla Kudrnová

HE IS SOMEONE TO WATCH, SOMEONE WHO WILL ENRICH YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AN AUTHOR, MOTIVATOR, PUBLICIST AND CONSULTANT, PETR LUDWIG BECAME KNOWN FOR HIS BOOK KONEC PROKRASTINACE [END OF PROCRASTINATION], WHICH HAS LONG BEEN A BESTSELLER IN CZECHIA AND IS ABOUT TO BREAK INTO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MARKET. SOFFA SPOKE TO PETR ABOUT ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE TOPICS – LIFELONG PASSION. AS THE AUTHOR HIMSELF SAYS, PEOPLE WITH PASSION ARE VISIONARY. PETR’S PASSION IS TO MAKE CZECHIA BETTER THROUGH INSPIRATION.

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Interview

In a recent video made for DVTV, you spoke about pessimism in Czech society. Are pessimism and long-term passion, about which you often speak, connected in some way? In one study, Czechia was ranked as the second most pessimistic country in the world. As other studies show, pessimism leads to passivity. And passivity makes people disinterested and unable to make a change in their lifestyle or work. So these things are connected. Pessimistic people are passive and their passivity leads to a lack of passion for life. Optimism, on the other hand, encourages people to try new things and this eventually leads to success. Unfortunately, Czechia also ranks low on self-confidence. We undervalue ourselves and aren’t aware of our strengths.

In Czech we say that ‘self-praise stinks’, which is a destructive pattern of thinking, because in reality self-praise ‘stinks’ only when it’s not objective. If someone thinks they’re funny but they’re not, then that’s not good, but a healthy dose of confidence is very good. What’s key is knowing one’s strengths, being positive, optimistic and inquisitive, and following one’s vision. It’s not about excelling at the first thing you try – often you have to keep at it, improve and hone your skills.

To be passionate about something you may have to work at it for ten years or more.

In this regard, how will young Czechs fare in the future? I think that the coming generations will find this a bit easier, as they will travel more and see how things are done elsewhere, and also that we too can be proud of things here at

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home. The more I travel the more I realise that there are many things we do well, and I value them more.

Let’s get back to here and now.

How does one awaken passion in people under the current circumstances? My colleagues and I are working with perhaps the most challenging target group. We started a foundation called Lepší senior [Better Senior], where we are trying to awaken passion among older Czechs. We want to encourage people in their sixties and seventies to think positively, to abandon passivity. So far we’ve had some good results. If there are good role models, more specifically other seniors who can show what’s possible – like a man who started a business at 75 – then you can see progress.

I think it’s really important for older people to feel optimistic.

Your organisation is doing something specific in this area. What do you think the broader society should be doing? Similar things.

Promoting role models – people who will inspire others. There are many great examples, like the Forbes series 30 Under 30. Each field is full of people who are doing very interesting and very good things. It’s important to share their stories in order to inspire others.

Should Forbes start a 60 Over 60 series? Wouldn’t that be great?

Even for me it’s terribly inspiring to see an 80-year-old running a marathon. That’s when you feel like anything is possible. And it’s infectious: inspiring stories move people and we need to get our whole country moving, because most of today’s

Interview

adults grew up under Communism believing that nothing would change. This stagnated way of thinking has joined Post-communism. As proof all you need do is to look at the differences in levels of passivity and depression between eastern and western Germany today. We cannot change the whole of society, but we can support small islands of so-called positive deviance – groups of people who are doing things differently and who in time can encourage systemic change. At the moment Ester Ledecká is a great example in the world of sport – she can become an icon for the next generation.

We can also promote entrepreneurs who are successful in making a name for Czechia on the global market, and support national pride in the spirit of T.G. Masaryk: ‘Patriotism is love of one’s nation, not hatred of others.’

researchers looked at what distinguishes the most successful among us from the rest, they found two key ingredients: passion and perseverance. And when they studied it more deeply, they found that neither passion nor perseverance are inborn traits – they can be developed. Genetics accounts for about 20 per cent of passion and

‘It’s important to be satisfied but never to rest on your laurels.’

What role should media be playing? Mainstream news is delivered mostly through a negative lens, and most popular newspapers focus on bad news. Not much is written about positive things, and this influences our perception of reality.

This is especially true for seniors.

And yet there are many successful projects that people do for no money and that clearly demonstrate passion. Despite all the problems around us, I think we are living in the best of times: unemployment is low and almost anyone can do what they wish: start a business, find new work, develop their passion.

the same for perseverance. So yes, some of it we are born with, but the rest – say 70–80 per cent – can be developed. It’s a matter of working on oneself. And passion has to be discovered. You have to try running, squash and table tennis to discover that you don’t like table tennis or running, but you love squash. Until you try it you won’t know, and sometimes passion waits in the most unexpected of corners. My big passion, for example, is Japan and I can’t explain why it’s not Korea or China. To develop passion, you need to have different interests and try things out – one of your interests will eventually blossom into passion. One nice quote says that passion calls for a lot of discovery, a lot of development, and for lifelong improvement.

Do we all come with passion, but maybe not know it? Or is it something we have to develop? When

It’s a lot of work, isn’t it? Definitely.

You have to persevere in order for passion to emerge. Passion flows

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when you have a healthy desire to do things right, a desire to improve, to get better, to hone your mastery. You can’t be careless about something and then expect passion for it.

What if those around you don’t understand? Can you overdo passion? Our surroundings often put the brakes on passion. Many people do things not because they want to do them, but because they want to please others. People go to university because it’s what their parents want. In order to follow your passion, you have to overcome the expectations placed on you by others and go your own way. That doesn’t mean that you don’t listen to those around you, but you don’t allow them to stifle your dreams. It’s true that sometimes a person becomes obsessed by a passion, and that can be quite scary for those around. But the difference between a workaholic and someone who is passionate

‘A key requirement for success is the ability to overcome failure.’ about something is that the work aholic will be destroyed by it while the passionate person will be energised. It’s very important to clarify this difference to those around us – our partners and our families – so they can respect our drive. When you are engaging with a supportive, synergistic environment, everything is that much easier.

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Isn’t it also true that Czech society is quite envious? Yes. The crux of the problem is so-called fixed thinking – the belief that things won’t change. One characteristic of fixed thinking is that a person feels badly when others are successful. That’s the source of envy. On the other end of the spectrum are people with growth thinking who see success in others as inspiring. It can be said that Communism created in our DNA negative traits like passivity, negativity and envy, and all of these stem from the same source.

How do you prevent losing your passion in this environment? It’s important to meet with people who are on the same wavelength and are also passionate. Shared joy is greater joy, but it’s important that people be genuine about it.

In your talks you often speak about grit, or strength of will… Angela Duckworth, the author of the book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, says that it’s grit – a combination of passion and perseverance – that distinguishes the truly successful people from the rest. She also talks about the concept of so-called fragile perfection, which is the complete opposite of grit. ‘Fragile perfects’ are people who excel when everything is going well, but they fall apart when confronted with failure. Duckworth says that a key element of success is the ability to persevere after failure, in other words, to see failure as part of the learning process. I think that in Czechia we take a very bad view of failure. People don’t admit to their failures, and when someone

Interview

does fail, it’s automatically taken as a negative. I think this very much derives from the way we were educated. As elsewhere in the world, we should appreciate that failure means learning – learning from what didn’t work and persevering.

A person who has grit is able to pick themselves up and keep going in the spirit of the adage: ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’

Are people afraid to cultivate their passion? Definitely, at the beginning there are many worries: fear of the unknown, fear of judgement, but most importantly, fear of failure. You have to find a way of getting over this fear. I especially like this quote from Winston Churchill: ‘Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.’ And that’s where grit becomes important: persevering, standing up and trying again.

Is it possible to know one’s passion yet doubt it? I think it’s healthy to question your passion – not doubt it, but question it. Healthy questioning is important for the cultivation of lifelong passion.

How does passion relate to family, work and school? I think that in the future people won’t have just one profession. They’ll have a spectrum of activities and one or more of those will grow into their passion. I feel that schools should focus less on memorisation and more on helping students discover and cultivate their passion. For this to happen, teachers themselves need to be passionate about education and growth thinking. But

parents are the absolute key for the development of growth thinking in children. And so parents have to work on themselves so they can help their children develop healthy confidence. It doesn’t matter how much time a parent spends with a child each day, what’s important is how that time is spent: shorter time lived intensively is much more important than long empty hours.

I think it’s great if a mother is working passionately on a business idea, because in this way she teaches her child about satisfaction and joy, which is much better than if she were to spend long hours with her child but was dissatisfied.

How important is passion for the collective? That’s what I am currently writing about in my new book Smysl v práci a v osobním životě [Purpose in Work and in Personal Life]. The last chapter will be dedicated to the idea that a healthy society should have people of authority who see purpose in working for others. I greatly respect people who have the right values and at the same time the courage to hold public office. I feel that civil society in Czechia is becoming more and more engaged, and that we are beginning to appreciate the importance of working for the collective good. ■

To learn more from Petr Ludwig visit www.petrludwig.com .

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text: Hana Švolbová and Christian Bendel photo: Christian Bendel

ROMANIA’S BIG HEART

FAR MORE THAN THE CLICHÉD HOME OF DRACULA, ROMANIA IS A LAND OF UNBRIDLED NATURE AND WARM-HEARTED PEOPLE. SPURRED BY THE MOTTO ‘DON’T DREAM YOUR LIFE … LIVE YOUR DREAMS’, THE FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER CHRISTIAN BENDEL AND HIS THREE FRIENDS TRAVERSED SIX EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO EXPLORE THE CARPATHIANS AND THE BLACK SEA, DISCOVERING ALONG THE WAY ROMANIA’S BIG HEART.

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LEFT: Marvelling at the starlit sky while camping in a deep forest.

Christian Bendel documented the night sky every night of his stay in Romania.

The largest country in Southeastern Europe, Romania is a veritable traveller’s paradise. Whether you set off to explore on your own or join an organised tour, Romania offers mountains, beaches, lakes and boundless other natural beauty. And it is this pristine beauty that lies beneath the country’s growing popularity as a tourist destination. Romania’s offerings are diverse: wilderness, castles, historic cities, spas and, perhaps most importantly, kind and hospitable people. Romania is a blend of the East and the West, a mixture of Christianity and Islam – in some places it feels as though you are in Western Asia while elsewhere resembles a Bavarian Alpine village.

Most of us know little of the history of Romania, except perhaps for its two most infamous tyrants. The first being Vlad III, also known as Vlad Dracula or – very tellingly – Vlad the Impaler. Thanks to his battles against the Ottoman Empire, Vlad III is considered a national hero in Romania and Bulgaria, but for the rest of the world he became the inspiration for a bloodsucking vampire. The second was the Communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu who was executed after a quick show trial during the 1989 revolution. The ostentatious palaces built during Ceauşescu’s era, together with the colossal Palace of the Parliament known also as the People’s House, are some of the must-sees on a tour of the capital city Bucharest.

From Czechia you can reach Romania by air, road or rail. Currently there is no direct rail link between Prague and Bucharest; at least one transfer is required in Budapest. There is a regular bus service, however, or you can join an organised trip through a travel agency. If you decide to travel across Romania solo and without a car, the country’s vast rail network will make your journey relatively easy. Domestic bus travel, on the other hand, is not recommended – you will have better luck hitch-hiking or using a taxi service. The most ideal option for an independent holiday in Romania is the one that Christian and his friends took – with a car and a tent.

But this too has its drawbacks. Romanian drivers have a bad reputation, and adding to this the non-stop traffic on much of their roads makes for a daunting challenge for the less hardy among us. A driver must be constantly alert and expect the unexpected, including flocks of sheep, drunken cyclists or cars without headlights at night. Regardless of the risks, a car offers great freedom for the intrepid traveller.

It is best to go equipped with a few basic phrases in Romanian or possibly Hungarian. If this is not feasible then you can try English with the younger generation or German and French with the older folk. But as Christian

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RIGHT: A bench in front of every house and a laden horse-drawn cart – typical scenes of the rural Romanian landscape.

learnt, if both sides are willing, you will find a way to understand each other. Like when you want to camp on private land next to a lake and the owner, who happens to sell ćevapčići [a type of skinless sausage], speaks only Romanian. Cue the smiling customers who are more than eager to help with translation.

The ideal time to visit Romania is at the end of summer or early autumn.

In midsummer the heat can be overbearing in the cities or at the beach, and in winter much of the country is covered by a blanket of snow. If you decide to camp, as Christian and his friends did, you will be able to enjoy complete freedom in your discovery of this most hospitable of lands.

A tent will come in handy in the mountains, where there is paucity of accommodation, and also at the Black Sea. And if you are not the camping kind, various accommodation options abound in villages and towns – from cottages to large hotels. Staying with locals has its own special charm, and adventurous Czechs like to explore the area of Banat, where there is a large ethnic Czech community with warm hearts and open doors.

What are Romanians like? In Western Europe they don’t have a great reputation and you often hear that travelling through Romania is like asking to be robbed. But the days of Communism, when Romania experienced severe hunger and ‘nature’ was not the only thing considered to be wild, are fortunately over. Christian and his friends met many warm and friendly people who were delighted to know that someone was enthusiastic about discovering their homeland. They saw farmers who tend to their land with the help of whole families and travel up and down the country with horsedrawn carriages laden with all manner of goods, their faces beaming with smiles. The pace of life is different in Romania. People honour days of rest, and in every village, in front of every dwelling, a bench beckons one to relax after work and at the weekends. That’s when whole villages gather, neighbours share coffee or beer, and everyone tells stories. Their material lives may be poorer than those in the West, but their social connections seem that much richer.

Christian and his friends spent their first night in Romania camping near a bucolic stream. When they looked up at the night sky, it was ablaze with stars. Accustomed to a dim sky at home, Christian photographed the stars every night during his holiday. The key attractions for the four friends were Romania’s wild forests and mountains, and one of the touristy draws

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THIS SPREAD: Christian Bendel camped on private land at the Tarnița Lake. The owner did not speak any English and Christian had no Romanian, so passers-by helped with the arrangements.

Waking up early to have a swim in the lake is priceless.

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THIS SPREAD: The owner’s rowdy dogs lent movement to the otherwise quiet atmosphere around Tarnița Lake.

NEXT SPREAD: Journey to Bâlea Lake along Transfăgărăşan, considered by many to be the most beautiful road in the world. Ascent to the highest peak of the Făgăraş Mountains at 2,500 metres above sea level.

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THIS SPREAD: The mountain lake Capra, photographed during a hike in the Făgăraş Mountains.

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THIS SPREAD: A chance encounter with a shepherd during the descent from the mountains near Lake Vidraru. In the mountains you most often encounter cows and sheep roaming across the path between pastures.

NEXT SPREAD: At the Midia Beach on the Black Sea you can watch fishermen at work and buy their catch directly from the boat.

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THIS SPREAD: The Eastern Carpathians are a fascinating land of abandoned homes shrouded by wild rock faces. Snapshot from travels through the Bicaz Gorge.

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LEFT: The Merry Cemetery in the village of Săpânța is famous for its colourful oak tombstones full of humorous rhymes. Currently they are made by the local artist Dumitru Pop.

along their quest was the Transfăgărăşan Highway, which connects the country’s central region with the south. Its mountain section is by many accounts the most beautiful road in the world and is known locally as the ‘Road to the Sky’, among several other monikers. The highway traverses the rugged Făgăraş Mountains, home of the stunning mountain Balea Lake. The lake is a must-see for the spectacular views, and a planned stay in the Făgăraş Mountains will enrich your visit with scenic mountain hikes and an ascent to the 2,500 metre-tall Moldoveanu, Romania’s highest peak. On the winding mountain trails you are most likely to meet herds of cows or sheep, and with some luck, a weather-beaten shepherd or two.

Amazing experiences also await at the Black Sea and in the Danube Delta, the largest nature reserve in all of Europe. The delta is paradise for lovers of wildlife, especially bird watchers, and it is popular with fishermen and water sports aficionados. The beach-fringed Black Sea can hold its own against any other seaside tourist area: you can dive, relax at the beach or visit the Vama Veche – 2 Mai marine reserve. And if equipped with a tent, you can camp by the sea, marvel at the starlit night sky and then fall asleep to the rhythmic hush of the crashing surf. And then, in the morning, buy fresh fish directly from the fishermen returning from their nightly catch.

There is one more compelling reason to visit Romania. Thanks to the country’s great architectural heritage, which includes medieval castles and monumental Communist-era edifices, and the historical mixing of different cultural influences, Romania is a land resplendent in colour. Everything is awash in a bright palette, from simple villages to the famed painted monasteries of Southern Bukovina, which originate in the 15th and 16th centuries. For a truly colourful experience one must not miss the Merry Cemetery in the village of Săpânța near the Hungarian border. Carved oak tombstones are full of brightly-painted stories from the lives or deaths of the departed, embellished with playful rhymes and humorous epitaphs.

Regardless of where you venture in Romania, you will not be disappointed.

Those who have visited this beautiful land agree that the people living in small villages and solitary mountain hamlets are incredibly warm-hearted and friendly. And if people in the bigger cities are a little more reserved, the pay-off is the stunning architecture and radiant culture that larger settlements display. Travel to Romania and see for yourself, because sometimes it is good to step outside of your comfort zone a little to discover how beautiful and simple life can be. ■

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IT’S IN RECENT YEARS, TELEVISION SERIES HAVE BEEN GAINING IN POPULARITY ACROSS THE GLOBE. SUSPENSE, EXCITEMENT, A WELL-CRAFTED PLOTLINE – THESE ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF THE SOLID PRODUCTIONS THAT HAVE RAISED THE BAR FOR TELEVISION SERIES AND LURED MANY A WELL-KNOWN ACTOR OR DIRECTOR. FINALLY, THE VAPID, NEVER-ENDING DRAMAS OF YESTERYEAR HAVE MET THEIR CHALLENGE IN SUBSTANCE-FILLED SERIES THAT KNOW HOW TO CAPTIVATE AND WHEN TO END. INDEED, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY GOOD PRODUCTIONS OF LATE THAT THEY WARRANT THEIR OWN FESTIVAL, OR SO SAY THE FOLKS IN BRNO. ENTER SERIAL KILLER, THE FIRST FESTIVAL OF TELEVISION AND ONLINE SERIES AND MINISERIES, SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MORAVIAN METROPOLIS FROM 2–5 MAY 2018. AS A PROUD PARTNER OF THE FESTIVAL, SOFFA PRESENTS FOUR SUCCESSFUL CZECH SERIES FROM THE PAST DECADE THAT ASPIRE TO BECOME CULT CLASSICS.

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partner for the article: Serial Killer text: Hana Švolbová collage: Michaela Karásek Čejková

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Okresní přebor [District League] (2010) Written by Jan Prušinovský and Petr Kolečko, Okresní přebor follows the minor league football club TJ Slavoj Houslice over one season and faithfully recreates the world of amateur football with all of its charms and foibles. The series was directed by Prušinovský and Jakub Kohák who, together with most of the key players involved in the series, are intimately connected to football. The cast features many well-known Czech stars, with some roles written specifically for the actors. After years of producing relationship dramas and detective series, TV Nova took a chance on a sport comedy series and scored a goal, so to speak, because Czechs, football and beer are a winning combination.

Pustina [Wasteland] (2016) The dark HBO Europe miniseries holds its own against some of the best international productions. It tells the story of a female mayor of a small border town who is fighting against a mining company. When the mayor’s fourteen-year-old daughter disappears, the seemingly peaceful community begins to unravel and show its true colours. Several plot lines intertwine skilfully to reveal the mystery behind the disappearance. Štěpán Hulík’s screenplay was directed by Ivan Zachariáš and Alice Nellis, herself a prize winning film director, and the main role was played brilliantly by Zuzana Stivínová. Pustina premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and has received international acclaim.

Kosmo [Cosmic] (2016) Kosmo is a sharp political satire written by Tomáš Baldýnský and directed

by Jan Bártek. The series follows project Czech Heaven, which has been tasked with sending the first Czech crew to the Moon. The project has been draining the Ministry of Education and designated EU funding, and progress is behind schedule. How to get the crew to the Moon without having to return funds that have been siphoned away? The series ruthlessly mocks Czech hang-ups and insecurities, but it also takes good potshots at the Americans, Russians, Chinese, Poles and Slovaks. The series was produced by Czech Television, which has made several non-mainstream productions over the past few years. České století [Czech Century] (2013) The Czech Television production České století examines critical moments in modern Czech history from the point of view of history’s key protagonists.

The author Pavel Kosatík wrote the screenplay for this nine-episode historical drama, with each episode focusing on a specific date falling between 1918 and 1992 and on the key individuals whose decisions influenced the fate of the nation. Led by the director Robert Sedláček, the makers of the series did not seek to evaluate specific historic events, exploring instead the personal stories behind the headlines. A long list of prominent Czech actors portrays key players of modern Czech history, sometimes in unexpected roles. ■

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Trends

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text and styling: Adéla Kudrnová

WITH ALL YOUR SENSES

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TEASE YOUR SENSES WITH THE LATEST TRENDS. YOUR TASTE BUDS WILL DELIGHT WITH FOOD PREPARED IN A STUNNING KITCHEN AND YOUR SKIN WILL FEEL LUSCIOUS UNDER THE CARESSING TOUCH OF NATURAL COSMETICS. INDULGE IN THE SCENT OF SPRING FLOWERS ARRANGED IN A STYLISH VASE, AND LET YOUR EYES TWINKLE WITH DELIGHT AT A DRESS WITH THE ICONIC UNIKKO PATTERN. 1 · UV Protection Base, Naturaglacé, www.naturesway.jp, €26.50 | 2 · Atom Bangle Bag No. 3 Nude, www.atomy-store.com, €140 | 3 · Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones H8i, www.beoplay.com, €399 | 4 · Fruit Plate No. 2, Seletti, www.gessato.com, $53 | 5 · The New Collection of Furniture, www.fredericia.com, price upon request | 6 · Hannah Bould Slim Vase, www.toa.st, €74 | 7 · Vipp Kitchen, www.stockist.cz, price upon request | 8 · Sphaerae Light, www.dechemstudio.com, price upon request | 9 · Riimu Pieni Unikko Dress, www.marimekko.com, €295 | 10 · Diorama Bag, www.dior.com, 85,000 Kč | 11 · Sensitive Body Cream, www.lowengripcarecolor.com, 269 SEK | 12 · Primeros Classic Condom, www.primeroscondom.com, 41 Kč | 13 · Oiva/Mynsteri Plate, www.marimekko.com, €19.50

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Design

text: Kristýna Svobodová styling: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Michaela Karásek Čejková

PASSION FOR D! DEELIVE AND SOFFA HAVE BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND FOR SOME TIME, INSPIRED BY THE NOTION OF ‘CONSIDERED BEAUTY’.

THE DEELIVE BRAND WAS BORN IN 2015 OUT OF A PASSION FOR PURE DESIGN, GUIDED BY A DESIRE TO HELP CZECH DESIGN FIND ITS PLACE ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET. SINCE THEN THE BRAND’S MISSION HAS CRYSTALLISED INTO A VISION OF DESIGN AND LIFE INTERTWINED. DEELIVE IS VITALITY, INNOVATION AND AESTHETICS, THE THREE PILLARS EMBODIED IN THE WORK OF THE DESIGNERS REPRESENTED BY THE BRAND AND IN THE BRAND’S OVERALL IMAGE.

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Design

PREVIOUS PAGE: The Hex candleholders, inspired by the hexagon, command attention without much effort. Bringing beauty into your home may not call for a big budget – often all that is needed is a little cherry on the cake to enliven a room and elevate it above the ordinary. Design by Studio Muck.

RIGHT: The Sequence shelving unit designed by Petr Hák offers a wide range of possibilities. It can be widened as needed, used to create an interior showcase, or set against a backdrop to serve as a blank canvas. It likes to be paired with other design pieces, like the popular Gradient bottles from Markéta Držmíšková or the delicate Balance bowl from Adéla Vodrážková.

Lefkada by Linda Vrňáková, Sequence by Petr Hák, Ondule by Jan Plecháč and Henry Wielgus: three of the many Czech products that enchanted visitors to Frankfurt’s Ambiente 2018 trade fair. Products that secured the position of Deelive, the brand that represents these and other Czech designers, as a prominent player in the field of Czech interior design. Deelive’s success is hard-earned, beginning with the time when a group of young designers expressed a need for help with exporting and representing their products, and in so doing inspired the concept around which Deelive has evolved. Unlike French, Italian or Scandinavian design, until recently Czech design was a blank page for many international clients. This has given Deelive a carte blanche and allowed contemporary Czech design to become known the way Deelive has chosen to present it – as imaginative, spirited and expertly crafted.

The first opportunity to showcase the symbiosis of the individual designers represented by Deelive came with the 2016 Design Shaker exhibition.

There Deelive introduced a collaborative installation that highlighted the brand’s motto: to breathe life into design. Carafes, lights and coffee tables were presented in perfect harmony at the exhibition and inspired visitors to invite design into their lives. Always focused on presenting the best that Czech design has to offer, Deelive’s artistic team has its finger on the pulse of the Czech design scene, and thanks to collaborations with top-quality brands, it is setting the bar for uncompromising quality. Recognising that design is about inspiration, Deelive also serves as a crossroads where individual creators meet and new ideas are born.

Under the high ceilings of the light-filled Deelive gallery on Smetanovo nábřeží [embankment] in Prague, iconic designs are grouped in beautiful compositions with new products that have the potential to become icons

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Design

LEFT: The Bulb glass collection could become the next ‘family jewel’ that future generations will love to inherit. The glasses and carafes are made by hand and honour the Czech glassmaking tradition.

Design by Martin Žampach.

NEXT PAGE: The small multifunctional table Ondule from the design duo Plecháč & Wielgus is an example of how effective simplicity can be. Its clean lines and versatility encourage flexibility – Ondule can be easily moved and creatively used in many places, as a coffee table, a night table, you name it.

in their own right. The showroom invites visitors to admire and touch Czech design in the epicentre of its creation. Deelive’s ambition is to be nothing less than the flagship of Czech design, sailing proudly on Czech waters and on foreign seas. The high bar that Deelive has set itself calls for great precision and patience, but as recent success at international trade fairs has shown, it is moving in the right direction.

Deelive’s appreciation of applied arts and traditional handcrafts is evident in all projects the brand represents. At last year’s Designblok, Deelive created an experiential dining room called Canapé in partnership with Soffa. Bringing together the best of Czech design, Deelive gave life to a space in which aesthetics embraced functionality. A space that embodied the notion that has been fuelling Deelive’s work since the beginning: that uniting talent and creative ideas and approaches, in a space where the visions of individual designers can naturally complement, bears the sweetest of fruit.

Deelive has taken creative steps towards realising big dreams, and Prague has gained a representative showroom for the best of Czech design. We can now delight in anticipation of a time when the next gallery of Czech design opens in another European metropolis. After all, the Deelive concept has already become an inspiration for other countries. The future is full of possibilities, yet Deelive’s mission remains the same: to serve its passion for Czech design. ■

For more information visit www.deelive.cz .

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Utterly Czech

text: Petra Strnadová styling: Janka Murínová photo: Michaela Karásek Čejková

BRIEF EXPOSÉ MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO HANG AROUND THE HOUSE IN SOMETHING COMFORTABLE – A LOOSE DRESS, BAGGY SLACKS OR THEIR FAVOURITE PAIR OF JEANS. FOR MANY CZECHS, SPENDING THE EVENING AT HOME IN WORK CLOTHES IS UNTHINKABLE AND DISROBING IS THE FIRST ACT OF A HOMECOMING RITUAL. BUT PERHAPS UNLIKE OTHER CULTURES, CZECHS RARELY GET AROUND TO PUTTING ON THAT FAVOURITE DRESS OR JEANS – MANY ARE CONTENT TO SIMPLY REMAIN IN THEIR UNDERWEAR. THE FUN BEGINS, HOWEVER, WHEN WE FORGET OURSELVES AND ENGAGE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD IN NOTHING MORE THAN OUR KNICKERS.

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Utterly Czech

RIGHT: Airing the laundry. Underwear from the Zuzana Kubíčková label.

While waiting for a tram recently in Prague’s Vinohrady district, I happened to look up at an apartment building opposite the tram stop. To my horror I saw an elderly woman in a window bay, one foot perched on the window ledge and the other on what I imagined to be a kitchen chair.

No, she wasn’t about to plunge to her death; she was simply washing her windows. What alarmed me most, however, was not her perilous predicament, but that she was wearing nothing but a flimsy nightgown and a tattered pair of knickers. I know she was wearing old knickers because every time she swayed to the washing rhythm, she flashed them to me and to anyone else on busy Korunni Street who cared to look up. Some might say I should have been minding my own business and not peering into other people’s windows, but truth be told, she really should have given more thought to her choice of underwear.

Take a summer drive in the countryside and you will undoubtedly uncover the Czech passion for wandering about in undies. Men in small country villages unashamedly mow their lawns in briefs while their women labour over flower beds in nothing but mismatched bras and panties. In the city we are a little more discreet and prefer to keep our underthings behind closed doors – like those of the office. I have often observed my commuting colleagues happily disrobe next to their desks and amble off in their delicates, clutching a towel and toiletry bag in search of a washbasin.

While there is nothing wrong with exposing a little flesh to our fellow kin, it would be more enjoyable if one’s choice of undergarment were well considered. There are only so many places to avert your eyes when standing in a neighbour’s doorway wanting to borrow a cup of sugar, confronted by a hairy chest and a pair of ill-fitting boxers. ‘Oh, my father had slippers just like those,’ you might start, diverting your attention from the other protruding bits your father also possessed.

Many Czechs remember the embarrassment of their first boyfriend or girlfriend coming to visit, only to be greeted at the door by their father in his undies. My father wore y-fronts and had an annoying habit of picking his nose when the conversation got interesting. As teenagers we thought this was a rite of passage, a cultural ignominy we must endure, but really it was a sign of what was to come. Now, as an adult, I wouldn’t dream of opening my door in a mismatched panty set, and on window washing days nothing but Zuzana Kubíčková’s elegant underwear will do. After all, if you’re going to flash the neighbourhood, you should do it in style. ■

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must haves 2018/19

Experience the absolute must-haves from the home and gift segments at Tendence. Ensure your success for the autumn/winter season and the coming spring/summer 2019.

All details can be found at: tendence.messefrankfurt.com info@messefrankfurt.cz Tel. +420 233 355 246

International trade fair for consumer goods.

Design

66252-013_TE_allg_Soffa_M1_152_5x216_GB • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • tg: 01.03.2018

DU: 14.03.2018

CZ-GB

text: Adéla Kudrnová illustration: Andrea Šafaříková

CZECH GRAND DESIGN SOFFA IS A PROUD PARTNER OF THE ANNUAL CZECH GRAND DESIGN AWARDS, ORGANISED BY THE ACADEMY OF CZECH DESIGN FOR THE TWELFTH YEAR RUNNING. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES THE ILLUSTRATOR ANDREA ŠAFAŘÍKOVÁ PRESENTS THIS YEAR’S WINNING DESIGNS AS WELL AS THE DESIGNS OF SEVERAL FINALISTS. THE RECIPIENT OF THE GRAND DESIGNER OF THE YEAR AWARD IS THE BELARUSIAN JEWELLER NASTASSIA ALEINIKAVA FOR HER VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT JEWELLERY COLLECTION AND HER STRIKING EYEWEAR COLLECTION#3 UTOPIA. CONGRATULATIONS TO NASTASSIA AND THE OTHER CZECH GRAND DESIGN WINNERS!

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1 · Jan Čapek DESIGNER OF THE YEAR, PET bottles for mineral water (made by Fatra) | 2 · Beldafactory, Z vody [From Water] jewellery collection | 3 · Nastassia Aleinikava GRAND DESIGNER OF THE YEAR, eyewear Collection#3 Utopie [Utopia] | 4 · Master & Master, 2017 product collection | 5 · Huy Pham, Fority cooking pots made from Simax borosilicate glass (made by Kavalierglass)

6 · Geometr DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR, Kontrasty a kontexty [Contrasts and Contexts] original textile collection | 7 · Herrmann & Coufal, Spaghetti coat stand collection | 8 · mmcité1, smartcité street furniture (design David Karásek) | 9 · Tadeáš Podracký, mirror for Loono.cz | 10 · Vessels Design, collection of bowls and jewellery boxes | 11 · Rückl PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, Czech Heaven crystal glass collection (design Rony Plesl)

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Photoessay

text: Tereza Hošková styling: Janka Murínová photo: Adéla Havelková and Anna Volpi

I AM WOMAN! HERE AT SOFFA WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TOPICS THAT HAVE BEEN UNJUSTLY OMITTED FROM COMMON DISCOURSE AND USE OUR PLATFORM TO EXPLORE THEM OPENLY. ONE OF THESE IS THE STRANGELY TABOO SUBJECT OF FEMALE SEXUALITY AND MENSTRUATION. ACCOMPANIED BY PHOTOGRAPHS OF EROTIC AIDS AND CAPTIVATING IMAGES FROM ANNA VOLPI, TEREZA HOŠKOVÁ’S ESSAY SEEKS TO INSPIRE BOTH WOMEN AND MEN.

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Photoessay

With the end of the matriarchal era in Europe some 5,000 years ago, women’s bodies and menstruation lost their sacred status. Prior to this, women were revered during menstruation and the dreams and visions they experienced during this time were seen as guidance by their clans.

At the time of their first menstruation – known as menarche – young girls went through a ritual that helped to transform them into women. The ritual brought together mothers, sisters, aunts and other women to celebrate a young woman’s first blood, to capture it and to return it to the womb of Mother Earth. Archaeological findings from more than 6,000 years ago suggest that the first menstrual calendars were pieces of bone into which women carved marks denoting their menstrual cycles. Sadly, for much of Western civilisation’s written history, menstruation has been viewed as unclean, even described as such in the Bible and other religious texts. It has been linked to shame and humiliation, a symbol of a woman’s dark, uncontrollable power. Consequently, countless generations of women have come to fear a completely natural process. This has brought on a range of problems linked to menstruation: pain, depression, worry of becoming pregnant, shame, rejection of one’s one body, and much more.

If we are to reconnect with our natural selves and rediscover the power of women’s cycles, we must reframe our perception of menstruation.

Not long ago I experienced my own menarche ritual – you can experience it at any age – in a circle of 37 other women. This beautiful experience left an indelible mark on my body and my life. And it got me wondering how different things would be if all mothers could benefit from the wisdom of women who are closely connected to nature and their bodies. How different it would be if our mothers welcomed us with reverence into the sacred circle of women, if they would share their own experiences of the delicate time of transition from a girl to a woman, if they would accept us as their own. How wonderful it would be if they could take us under their wings, guide us into society, and teach us how to look after ourselves.

Imagine a circle of nurturing women who know how to listen to their bodies. Being surrounded by the pleasant reverberations of laughter, song, shared stories and mutual care. Imagine that it is the first day of your menarche. Give yourself the gift of being still and letting go. Which one of us would not want to settle down next to an experienced, wise woman and hear from her that your body is healthy, fertile, beautifully ripe; that it is taking on curves that are divine; and that within it reside sacred places that bring pleasure and create life? That it is important to care for this body with love and reverence and to listen to it, because it is your body’s inherent wisdom that will guide you in the right direction?

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Photoessay

PLEASURE

Photograph: Nude, Untitled, Anna Volpi, order at www.annavolpi.com LEFT: Moon Pearl Erotic Aid, €135 and Nude Dildo Erotic Aid, €120; both www.onnalifestyle.com | Venus Balls Classic Edition, €89 and Musa Edition Vibrator, €388; both www.whoopdedoo.cz

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Photoessay

RETURN TO NATURE

Photograph: Nude, Untitled, Anna Volpi, www.fumogallery.com, from €180 RIGHT: LadyCup Menstrual Cup, 599 Kč, Evanella Erotic Aid, 1,290 Kč, Mediterranean Menstrual Sponges, 369 Kč and Feminine Hygiene Natural Soap, 129 Kč; all www.kalisek.cz

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Photoessay

INTIMACY

Photograph: Nude, Untitled, Anna Volpi, www.fumogallery.com, from €180 LEFT: Venus Balls Noir Heavy Edition, www.whoopdedoo.cz , €97 | LadyPad Organic Cotton/Bamboo Pads, 249 Kč and Elegant Light Menstrual Panties, 690 Kč; both www.kalisek.cz

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Photoessay

If we women allowed ourselves to slow down, to love our bodies the way they are, to accept our cycles as a gift, would we suffer from the common problems linked to menstruation? Hardly! The vast majority of problems connected to the menstrual cycle, be they physical or psychological, would disappear. We have become accustomed to always being on the go, working from morning to night. We take birth control pills, pills to delay menstruation, pills for pain of all kinds. Television advertisements for menstrual pads change red blood into blue liquid, seemingly because the reality of red blood is unpleasant or even immoral! When menstruation is presented as a burden, we lose our ability to connect with our cycle and ourselves.

My adult life changed profoundly when I began to track my monthly body clock. Each day I recorded my feelings, moods, pains, sexual desires and energy levels. I learnt how to recognise the four phases of my cycle, to perceive how I am changing, to feel my body, to rejoice in my femininity, to enjoy life. I began to know with confidence my fertile days, developed a healthy interest in lovemaking, and learnt how to listen to my needs. I released my supressed emotions and started to know intuitively when was a good time to work, clean or create, and when I needed to be with myself and rest. Try the same, perhaps with the chart we have included in this story. Listening to and respecting your body will bring you an incredible feeling of being in touch with yourself, and it may lead to profound changes as well.

We invited the Italian photographer Anna Volpi to collaborate on Tereza’s essay. Anna has a long-term interest in depicting the female body, female nudity and female sexuality. For this collaboration, Anna provided us with a photographic series of female nudes. ‘Thankfully,’ writes Anna, ‘the world is seeing more and more erotic art made by women and focused on women’s pleasure, breaking taboos and creating opportunities for talking about sexual health.’ Don’t miss Anna’s photographic project Flower, which explores menstruation (www.fumogallery.com/boudoir-photography-flower/) or her April exhibition titled Surface at the Dresden gallery Hole of Fame.

Thankfully we now find ourselves in a time where there are shops and studios offering a wide range of feminine hygiene and erotic aids, so we have selected some of the most interesting on offer: from menstrual cups and menstrual sponges to Venus balls and vibrators. You may be surprised how eco-friendly they are, and that’s not all you may learn! ■

For more on this topic go to www.drnorthrup.com, www.zenyzenam.cz, www.lilia.cz, www.kalisek.cz, www.onnalifestyle.com and www.whoopdedoo.cz .

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YOUR MONTHLY CLOCK

Track your monthly clock to discover your body and the various phases of your cycle. You will find that it will be valuable not only for you, but also for your partner, family and your surroundings. The numbers in the outer ring represent the days of your cycle. Every woman’s cycle is different, and its length varies. Into the next ring write the actual calendar day, and into the space within the inner ring record your feelings. Observe the following: · energy level: high, sociable, reserved, low and so on · emotion: calm, even-tempered, irritable, loving, generous and so on · physical state: lethargy, sleep quality, food cravings, physical changes (pimples, water retention) and so on · sexuality: active, passive, loving, sensual, aggressive sex, no sex and so on · external expression: creative, sporty, confident, able to organise, focused, able to problem solve, dressing style and so on

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WIN VENUS BALLS FROM WHOOP.DE.DOO! DESIGNED BY ANNA MAREŠOVÁ IN COLLABORATION WITH WOMEN’S HEALTH SPECIALISTS, THE LIGHT EDITION VENUS BALLS (VALUED AT €89) ARE ESPECIALLY GREAT FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO BUILD UP THEIR PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES. WRITE TO INFO@SOFFAMAG.COM (SUBJECT: #WHOOPDEDOO) TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH STRENGTHENING YOUR PELVIC FLOOR. THE MOST INTERESTING STORY WINS. For complete contest rules go to www.soffamag.com .

To learn more visit www.whoopdedoo.cz .

WIN THE ONNA MOON PEARL EROTIC TOY!

ONNA MAKES EROTIC TOYS FROM SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE AND MARBLE FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO INDULGE, PAMPER AND ENJOY THEIR BODIES. WRITE TO INFO@SOFFAMAG.COM (SUBJECT: #ONNA) AND TELL US WHERE IN YOUR HOME YOU WOULD KEEP YOUR ONNA MOON PEARL (VALUED AT €135).

THE MOST INTERESTING RESPONSE WINS. For complete contest rules go to www.soffamag.com .

To learn about Onna visit www.onnalifestyle.com .

Science

text: Patrik Florián photo: Adéla Havelková and Barbora Bydžovská

ALL FIRED UP PASSION FOR SCIENCE COMES FROM AN INSATIABLE THIRST TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AROUND US. IN OUR SCIENCE FEATURE WE INTRODUCE THREE YOUNG AND HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED SCIENTISTS WHO PROVE DAILY THAT ZEROS AND ONES CAN LEAD TO AMAZING ADVENTURES. THEY TALK TO ROBOTS, SHOOT LASER MEGABEAMS AND CREATE NEW COMPOUNDS THAT LITERALLY LIGHT UP. BUT DON’T WORRY – THEY ARE NORMAL PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME. WHEN NOT IN A LAB, THEY PLAY AMATEUR THEATRE, LISTEN TO HEAVY METAL AND BREW THEIR OWN BEER. LET’S BROADEN OUR HORIZONS!

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Science

TEACHING ROBOTS KATEŘINA VESELOVSKÁ WORKS IN COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS. SHE ANALYSES THE UNSTRUCTURED DATA OF EMOTIONS AND USES HER FINDINGS TO CREATE SOFTWARE AND MANAGE RISK. KATEŘINA IS BY NO MEANS A STEREOTYPICAL SCIENTIST – SHE THINKS THAT SPEAKING TO ROBOTS IS ROMANTIC.

It’s difficult to comprehend the full breadth of your position. What exactly do you do? I work in the Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University, and I also lead a Deloitte team that analyses unstructured data. Part of my work involves forensic analysis during criminal investigations and automated analysis of emotional expression. My second passion is theatre. I regularly write for the magazine Svět a divadlo [World and Theatre] and every Monday I rehearse at Divadlo Kámen [Rock Theatre]. At the moment I’m into improvisation. I’ve always been interested in connecting the humanities with science. You’re not a typical scientist then. I don’t really tick any boxes.

I bring structure and organisation to creative teams and emotion to the math and physics types. When I wanted to take a technical approach to the study of emotions, I was discouraged by many, but then I got a grant, wrote a book, and it all worked out. The two areas work together and the results are beneficial.

How difficult is it to read emotions with a machine, and what is it for? We can’t generalise about people’s emotions; everyone expresses them differently.

Some feel that Italians shout, Americans think that everything is awesome, and Scandinavians award five stars to everything, but in their comments write only ‘It’s OK’. With our work we are learning not only how to analyse user feedback, but also how to detect fake news and suicidal tendencies, and how to fight cyber-bullying. How much do people want to express their emotions?

In our culture I see two extremes. People are often embarrassed about expressing their feelings; being emotional is considered a sign of weakness and vulnerability. And in the virtual space it’s the complete opposite; people’s reactions are often over the top. Anonymity gives emotions a free reign. If robots are able to do this, can people learn how to perceive emotions better? Definitely. My work can also help people who are on the Autistic spectrum or those who have difficulties with perceiving and expressing emotions. We can teach them how to tell whether someone is saying something nice or not so nice. Isn’t it a bit scary to talk to a robot? Like training chatbots to communicate with departed loved ones, as in the Black Mirror miniseries? In a way it sounds romantic. It’s not hard to do, and if it makes someone happy… For example, erotic chats in Asia are highly automated. How do you see the future of communication? Technology is an example of a good servant but a bad master. I personally try to do a regular digital detox somewhere in the middle of the woods. But there’s no need to lose hope in humanity. After all, it is real, authentic communication that makes us who we are!

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Science

EXPERIMENT WITH A SMILE A LONDONER BY BIRTH, MICHAEL LONDESBOROUGH CAME TO THE CZECH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES TO CHASE HIS PASSION FOR INORGANIC CHEMISTRY AND THE UNDERAPPRECIATED ELEMENT BORON. TODAY HE POPULARISES SCIENCE AND HAS EVEN BECOME A CHEMISTRY CELEBRITY! Why did you choose boron as your research subject? Most chemists like to work with carbon. No surprise there – it’s a remarkable element.

Imagine the miracle of transforming a grandfather into a young man.

That is something that only carbon and nature can do thanks to a chemical marvel known as photosynthesis. As a student I felt badly for the other elements, because as a typical Englishman I like to root for the underdog. After carbon, boron can create the most varied compounds when combined with hydrogen – the so-called boranes. But there is no natural photosynthesis for boron, and so we have to create it artificially.

The first time this was done was a hundred years ago by Alfred Stock, our God! One hundred years ago? That’s not that long ago… Exactly. Our field is quite young and exciting. Even now we are creating completely new compounds in our lab. What else can boranes do? Boranes have multi-sided structures, clusters, that predetermine their specific properties. For example, we found that the compound B18H22 is capable of phosphorescence – it absorbs UV radiation and then emits a beautiful purple light. This can be used as laser material to make the first borane laser in cosmos. With other derivations we are changing the wavelength of radiation, that is the colour of light, and exploring various other properties. Where does boron come from? In nature boron is found as the mineral borax and it looks like table salt. The Ancient Egyptians understood its properties and used it for mummification. In time people learnt that when you add a bit of borax to sand in glass manufacturing, the result is stronger glass. Boron is also found in vegetables and it’s extremely important for the health of our bones. Even beer contains boron, which is probably why I love to brew beer with my neighbour. That is beautiful chemistry! You’re not a chemist who spends all his time in a lab.

You lecture about science, collaborate on international projects with the British Council and Czech Radio, have your own programme on Czech Television, and are a member of an advisory council for the popularisation of science. How did it all come about? It was all coincidence, but I love it. At the moment we are preparing Gourmet Lab, where I’ll exchange my lab coat for an apron to study the scientific mysteries behind the best Fish and Chips and other favourite fare. And with the time of love approaching on May 1, you can look forward to Chemistry of Love, where I’ll bind Shakespeare’s sonnets to chemistry and physics.

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Science

LASER WOMAN KATEŘINA FALK IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST GIFTED YOUNG PHYSICISTS. SHE LOOKS TO LASERS AND PLASMA TO HELP HER CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT SIMULATE THE CORES OF BIG PLANETS, STARS AND SUPERNOVAS. WHAT’S HER OPINION ON A LASER SWORD?

You like to explain science in simple and entertaining ways. What are you currently working on? I’m studying plasma, the fourth state of matter. In my case it is a very dense ionised gas – a bit like a molten lead brick.

I create these extreme states of matter by shooting at solid samples with the most powerful lasers on Earth. Then I study them with x-rays, also created by lasers. With such experiments I try to understand processes like the electrical conductivity of plasma, which leads to the formation of a magnetic field around planets. How are your findings used? My research is linked directly to thermonuclear fusion for the generation of clean energy, quite literally the same reactions that power the Sun. I also conduct research on particle acceleration and radiation generation with lasers, which have applications in material science and medicine. Just out of interest, how big are your lasers? Starting with the size of a small basketball court all the way to a large football stadium. Sometimes a small gym suffices, but I also use particle accelerators that are almost a kilometre long. Is there danger of an explosion? Sometimes there is a bit of radioactivity, but the most dangerous thing is looking directly into the laser beam. It’s a stupid mistake that has cost many scientists their eyesight. Paradoxically, the most dangerous lasers are the infrared ones, because they are invisible. You studied at prestigious universities and worked in some of the most fascinating laboratories in the world. How do people relate to science elsewhere? Teaching mathematics and physics is bad everywhere, but the Czech educational system is very authoritative and memorisation-based. The Scandinavians are more inquisitive, and in the USA good quality education is accessible mainly to the wealthy. We see a very gradual improvement in the attitude towards women in science. Advancements in science are also closely linked to funding, and this is where Germany excels at the moment. How are you able to motivate young scientists? I give a lot of talks, write articles and participate in mentoring programmes. I enjoy teaching at astronomy camps and I am currently working on a science book called Co je nového ve fyzice [What’s New in Physics]. Have we reached a science discovery peak? In reality we know very little. For a hundred years now no one has done anything as big as Einstein, Planck or Gauss. What do you do when you’re not doing science? I love nature, music and painting. I listen to heavy metal and watch sci-fi shows. The brain is actually at its most creative when it’s not trying to work so hard! That’s why scientists love sports and beer. Do you hate seeing nonsense in sci-fi films? Armageddon was full of it, but it had a great soundtrack. A laser sword is complete nonsense, but who knows, maybe only according to our current understanding of the Universe. ■

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Cars

ELECTRIC STYLE partner for the article: Mini Czech Republic text: Kristýna Svobodová photo: Ondřej Lipár and Adéla Havelková

Cars

HERE AT SOFFA WE LOVE SPONTANEOUS JOURNEYS, FAST DRIVING AND THE WIND IN OUR HAIR. BUT WE DON’T LIKE TO DAMPEN OUR JOY WITH THE LARGE CARBON FOOTPRINT THAT CONVENTIONAL CARS LEAVE BEHIND. THANKFULLY, THE NEW MINI COUNTRYMAN WITH A PLUG-IN HYBRID SYSTEM IS PROOF THAT CAR TRAVEL CAN BE INNOVATIVE AND ECOLOGICAL, WITHOUT LOSING ITS MAGIC.

Global warming is a major concern of the day, fuelled in no small part by the way that we transport ourselves from A to B. While most carmakers continue to focus on fuel-efficiency, Mini has shown the world its own vision: the spirited Mini Cooper S E Countryman All4, which embodies the best of the British brand and does so with a passion for sustainability.

On the surface everything appears the same: the hybrid version of the Countryman is still primarily a nimble, stylish car for lively city driving. But under the bonnet hides a powerful electric motor and a three-cylinder engine, which combine forces to move all four wheels while emitting minimal harmful exhaust into the atmosphere. The Soffa team tested the Mini hybrid and its recharging feature in Berlin, where it proved to be not just a stylish, eco-friendly accessory, but also a fun, practical and reliable car that could deftly traverse the city and transport the whole team.

For more information visit www.mini.cz .

Décor

partner for the article: Moser text and styling: Janka Murínová photo: Lina Németh

BEAUTY IN OUR MIDST LEFT: Purity Vases, design Studio Moser, Moser | Around Small Table, Muuto and Plaisir2 Coffee Table, Zeitraum; both from www.stockist.cz Painting: Těžké hlavy, 2017, Karolína Klimešová, www.karolinaklimesova.blog.cz

FINE ART AND FINE GLASS MAKE OUR HOMES BEAUTIFUL, AND BEING SURROUNDED BY BEAUTY IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL. ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES WE HAVE PAIRED VASES AND OTHER HANDMADE GLASS OBJECTS FROM THE CZECH GLASSWORKS MOSER WITH PAINTINGS FROM CONTEMPORARY CZECH ARTISTS. THE RESULTING ARRANGEMENTS ARE DELICATE AND COLOURFUL, EVOKING THE CHEERFUL SCENT OF SPRING THAT FOLLOWS THE MELANCHOLY OF WINTER. FILL THE VASES WITH SPRIGS OF BLOSSOMS AND INHALE …

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BUT WHEN THE MELANCHOLY FIT SHALL FALL SUDDEN FROM HEAVEN LIKE A WEEPING CLOUD, THAT FOSTERS THE DROOP-HEADED FLOWERS ALL, AND HIDES THE GREEN HILL IN AN APRIL SHROUD; THEN GLUT THY SORROW ON A MORNING ROSE …

JOHN KEATS, ODE ON MELANCHOLY, 1819

THIS SPREAD: Julia Carafe and Glasses, design Boda Horák; Caorle Vase and Pear Vase, design Lukáš Jabůrek; all from Moser Lithograph: Šumavský les, 2014, Lenka Falušiová, nejmenuje.webnode.cz | Aquarelle: Barevný les, 2018, Věra Krumphanzlová, www.artbanana.cz | Illustrations: Tephrophytum melanoxylon and Les, Michal Bačák, www.michalbacak.com

THIS PAGE: Julia Carafe, design Boda Horák; Zoom Lamp, design Daniela Chodilová, Cone Vase, design Lukáš Jabůrek; all from Moser Paintings: Flower, 2012 and Birdie, 2011, Šimon Vahala; both www.vahala.org | Scabiosa, 2017 and Květiny, 2015; both Petra Švecová LEFT: Planet Moser Bowl, design Martin Opl, Moser | Common Comrades Small Table, Moooi, www.bulb.cz Painting: Rododendron, 2011, Šimon Vahala, www.vahala.org

THIS SPREAD: Caorle Vases, design Lukáš Jabůrek; Twist Vase, design Jan Čtvrtník; all from Moser | Slab Coffee Table, Tom Dixon, www.bulb.cz Paintings: Pivoňky, 2016, Karolína Klimešová, www.karolinaklimesova.blog.cz | Flower, 2012, Šimon Vahala, www.vahala.org

Travel

text: Teru Menclová and Helena Stiessová photo: Teru Menclová

PULL OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

FROSTY FJORDS, BREATHTAKING SCENERY, FAIRY TALE VILLAGES, COLOSSAL CLIFFS AND UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER. NO, THIS IS NOT A STORY ABOUT ICELAND, AS MAY APPEAR AT FIRST GLANCE, BUT ABOUT THE STUNNING AND WILD FAROE ISLANDS. WHEN YOU VISIT YOU SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED – BUT ISN’T THAT WHAT BECKONS EVERY TRAVELLER? THIS BEWITCHING GEM HIDDEN IN THE COLD WATERS OF THE ATLANTIC WILL NOT DISAPPOINT.

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Travel

PREVIOUS PAGE: The village of Gásadalur is found on the west side of Vágar Island and offers panoramic views of the neighbouring Mykines Island as well as vistas of one of the most famous of the archipelago’s waterfalls.

This quaint hamlet is home to 18 people.

RIGHT: A small church in the village of Saksun, built originally in Tjørnuvík and moved to its current location – over the mountains – in 1858. A narrow, one-lane road leads to the village.

We are in flight to the Faroe Islands and can see nothing for the thick shroud of fog enveloping the plane. For the past half hour we have been circling above the airport, unable to land due to bad weather, and suffering an unpleasant tummy workout from turbulence. The welcome extended to us by the Faroe Islands is just as we had expected: steel grey sky, strong winds, thick wall of water. A spectacular week in the north awaits.

In Faroese the islands are called Føroyar, which is believed to derive from ‘islands of sheep’. While etymologists dispute the origin of the name, the fact that there are more sheep on the island than people makes it quite fitting. The archipelago comprises eighteen major islands and many small islets. Formally part of Denmark, the Faroe Islands enjoy significant autonomy and are not part of the European Union. In terms of size, this speck in the ocean located halfway between Iceland and Norway is only 113 kilometres long and 75 kilometres wide. Most of the islands are connected with bridges or underwater tunnels, and so nothing prevents a visitor from literally criss-crossing this most unusual of lands.

Although tourism is one of the main sources of income on the islands, you won’t have to stand in line to take your selfie. We visited in February and met only four other travelling photographers amidst a few locals. While in the summer you are likely to encounter more people on Faroe’s emerald fields, the islands are still one of ‘Europe’s best-guarded secrets’, as the official tourist portal states. The islands are home to some 50,000 inhabitants, with fewer than half of them living in the capital city Tórshavn.

The rest of the archipelago offers complete peace and quiet, interrupted only by the bleating of sheep – 90,000 of them roam the islands – and the squawking of seagulls, which have yet to be counted. And if you find yourself on top of a cliff, don’t be alarmed by the apparent clatter of a chainsaw – the sound would be the call of the highly photogenic Atlantic puffin.

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LEFT: Even in the towns you are more likely to meet sheep than people, as was the case in the small hamlet of Streymnes.

RIGHT: The famous coastal village of Gjรณgv, one of the quaintest villages on the Faroe Islands.

NEXT PAGE: The capital city Tรณrnshavn has one of the most important ports on the islands.

From there you can catch a ferry to Denmark or Iceland.

Travel

PREVIOUS PAGE: The view of the cliffs from the Kallur lighthouse on Kalsoy Island is absolutely stunning. Make sure you take the time to walk up to the lighthouse.

The short climb is well worth it.

RIGHT: The Faroese name for the islands is believed by many to originate from ‘islands of sheep’.

Since the archipelago is home to twice as many head of sheep as people, this would be hard to dispute.

Perhaps the only thing disturbing the serene atmosphere of these majestic islands is the erratic weather. It rains a lot of the time and gusty winds charge over the wide planes of the islands. The local flora and fauna have adapted to the harsh conditions – resilient mosses and lichens dominate over the rocky land and the sheep are protected by their thick layer of wool. But the warming embrace of the North Atlantic Current protects the islands from even harsher weather, and so winter months will surprise with ‘mild’ temperatures that hover around zero.

The spellbinding landscape, dusted during our visit with February snow, is dotted here and there with colourful villages set amongst the hills or on the rocky coast. A huddle of wooden houses, a small church, a few sheep pens – that’s the image of a typical Faroese village. Each is home to a few dozen people, but given their small number, you are not likely to meet many. These tiny traces of human civilisation underscore the feeling of being the last person on the planet. Savour it – for it is hard to come by.

In addition to picturesque villages, the islands also squeeze in a few towns and the charming metropolis Tórnshavn. Don’t expect anything big – one large port, a few hotels and restaurants – it is, after all, Europe’s smallest capital city. The quaint historical centre with narrow, stone-cobbled streets is very inviting for an exploratory walk, but nature is the main drawcard of the islands. It is no surprise then that trips exploring nature are far more popular with visitors than a stroll through the city.

One place not to be missed is Kalsoy Island, which can be reached by ferry from the town of Klaksvík. Offering spectacular views of nearby islands, Kalsoy has many of its own beautiful corners and hidden surprises. One of the prettiest is the Kallur lighthouse, reached by a pleasant hour-long hike from the village of Trøllanes.

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LEFT: With almost 700 inhabitants, Eiði is one of the larger villages on the islands. In addition to its beautiful natural surroundings, the village is interesting for its large football pitch. Eiði has its own football team: the EB/ Streymur.

RIGHT: Another iconic village is Viðareiði, found in the northernmost part of the archipelago.

To get there you will go through a system of tunnels from the city of Klaksvík.

Travel

LEFT: In addition to its charming church, the village of Viðareiði offers beautiful natural surroundings. When admiring the nearby cliffs, be on the look-out for sudden tall waves that will give you an unwanted shower.

The stunning vistas of waterfalls such as Mulafossur and Fossá are another great attraction. The waterfalls are etched perfectly into the dramatically undulating landscape and make for a perfect photo opportunity. One must be careful when searching for the right angle, however, for the damp moss is slippery underfoot. The local sheep have no trouble scaling the terrain, moving along it as deftly as mountain goats. Their agility may explain why in 2016 they were chosen to map the islands that had been long ignored by Google Maps. Fed up with being invisible on Google’s Street View, the Faroese strapped cameras onto five sheep and ‘Sheepview 360’ was born. A clever solution and a great marketing gimmick.

We stayed on the islands for six days, which was sufficient time to visit all the places on our list. It is good to set aside at least a week, however, to have a reserve against inclement weather. A single day in this fairy tale land can include downpours, piercing sun and blizzard-like conditions. You can while away a bad weather day in one of several restaurants that are placing the Faroe Islands on the bucket list of many food lovers. Or snuggle up with a good book. Those who welcome the grey weather as a perfect setting for Scandinavian noir can reach for The Last Refuge by the Scottish author Craig Robertson. In reality there hasn’t been a murder on the islands for some thirty years, but truth need not be stranger than fiction.

And as soon as the downpour stops, it’s time for another island excursion! ■

For practical information on visiting the Faroe Islands go to www.visitfaroeislands.com .

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Travel

MORE TO SEE ON THE FAROE ISLANDS

FOSSÁ WATERFALL Fossá is one of the tallest waterfalls on the islands. We recommend a visit during rainy weather, when the water is flowing at its maximum. The waterfall is next to a road, so you won’t need to do a difficult climb in the rain.

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Travel

PANAME CAFÉ

SØRVÁGSVATN LAKE

On the Faroe Islands there are a few places that serve excellent coffee.

One such place is a cosy café found in the centre of the capital Tórnshavn, where you can enjoy a great espresso and a delicious homemade pastry.

If you like to walk, we recommend a hike up to the cliffs near the largest lake on the Faroe Islands. You will be rewarded with an incredible optical illusion, in which the lake surface appears to touch the very edge of the cliff.

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Fashion

partners for the article: Roberto Coin and H&M make-up and hair: Tereza Hrdličková models: Simona Janů, Karin Pešíková / Pure Model Management text and styling: Patrik Florián photo: Michaela Karásek Čejková and Barbora Bydžovská

ROMANTIC NOSTALGIA Simona: shirt, jacket and pants; all H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | ring – Carnaby Street collection, Roberto Coin LEFT: Karin: dress and kimono, both H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | earrings and ring – New Barocco collection, bracelet – Roman Barocco collection; all Roberto Coin

OUR OPULENT FASHION PHOTOESSAY CELEBRATES PASSIONS OF ALL KINDS, INCLUDING THOSE OF ARDENT COLLECTORS. SHOWCASING FULLY RECYCLED MATERIALS WORKED TO PERFECTION – INCLUDING SILVER AND FISHING NET NYLON – THE NEW CONSCIOUS EXCLUSIVE H&M COLLECTION ATTESTS TO THE FASHION INDUSTRY’S ENDURING DESIRE FOR IMPROVEMENT. GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES FROM THE JEWELLERY MAKER ROBERTO COIN SHINE THROUGH THESE PAGES AS SYMBOLS OF ETERNITY. THE JEWELLERY HOUSE KNOWN FOR ITS SIGNATURE RUBY IS AN EMBODIMENT OF REFINED CRAFTSMANSHIP AND PRECISION DETAIL. ALSO ENCHANTING ARE THE FRESH CREATIONS FROM THE DESIGNERS MIRO SABO AND ALTER ERA.

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Simona: dress, H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | ring – Garden collection, earrings – Unique collection; both Roberto Coin

Karin: dress, H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | bracelet – Horse collection, rings: Falcon, Panther, Animalier Coco, Rock & Diamonds collection, Roman Barocco collection and Scorpio collection; all Roberto Coin

Simona: shirt, jacket and pants; all H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | earrings – Black Jade collection, Roberto Coin

Simona: dress, Miro Sabo | earrings and necklaces – Colored Treasure collection, rings – Cocktail collection; all Roberto Coin LEFT: Simona: jumpsuit, Alter Era | boots, the model’s own | ring – Oro Classic collection, Roberto Coin Karin: dress, Alter Era | shoes, H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | ring – Golden Gate collection, Love Chain necklace; both Roberto Coin

Karin: dress, H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | earrings, bracelet and ring – Sauvage PrivÊ collection; Roberto Coin

Karin: top and pants, both H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 | rings: Princess Flower collection, Garden collection; both Roberto Coin

Styling: sautoir with turquoise, sautoir with black jade, necklace; all Princess Flower collection, Roberto Coin

Simona: dress, Miro Sabo | necklace – Princess Flower collection, Roberto Coin Karin: dress, Miro Sabo | bracelet and ring – Princess collection, Tanaquilla earrings; all Roberto Coin

Karin: top, pants and shoes; all H&M Conscious Exclusive 2018 We thank Stodola Antiques for lending us their space for the fashion photo shoot. Visit them at www.stodola.cz .

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LUCE SOLIDA

text: Kristýna Svobodová photo: Filippo Bamberghi and company archives

Milan Design Week 2018

AT THIS YEAR’S MILAN DESIGN WEEK, SOFFA WILL SHINE NEXT TO GALLOTTI&RADICE, THE ITALIAN FAMILY COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCING HANDMADE GLASS OBJECTS FOR MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS. IN GLASSMAKING ARTISTIC CREATIVITY INTERTWINES WITH TECHNICAL PRECISION, AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE COMPANY’S INSTALLATION FOR MILAN DESIGN WEEK. THE INSTALLATION WAS DEVELOPED BY THE ITALIAN DESIGNER PIETRO RUSSO WHO IS RENOWNED FOR WORK THAT COMBINES CREATIVITY WITH PRECISION CRAFT. AS THE MEDIA PARTNER FOR THE INSTALLATION, SOFFA WAS ALLOWED BEHIND THE SCENES TO WITNESS ITS CREATION. JOIN US FOR A SNEAK PREVIEW OF WHAT TO EXPECT!

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Milan Design Week 2018

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Luce Solida will feature a collection of closely related designer objects that will draw visitors into the dreamy world of imagination. On display will be the Diedro sideboard, designed for Gallotti&Radice by Pietro Russo, as well as the Flabello mirror from the designer duo Lanzavecchia+Wai. LEFT: The designer allowed us a peek at the design process and gave us a preview of Luce Solida.

Honeycomb panels are one of Russo’s favourite materials and feature in the Gallotti&Radice installation.

The designer Pietro Russo has collaborated with various names in the world of design, from brands like Alessi and Benetton to Kartell and Fritz Hansen.

His projects are united by his unwavering passion for traditional craft and custom-made production. Influenced by his past study of scenography and work in film, Russo places each object into its designated space with careful consideration of its unique story. Connected by a common thread, the individual pieces unite to reveal the designer’s grand vis-ion. This often results in installations that speak their own language and engage in a dialogue with the surrounding reality. Russo’s visionary thinking embraces the traditional crafts that have inspired his career so far. His ideas, however futuristic, are always carried out with ultimate precision, and this is one of the reasons why Russo has lent his name to a long-term collaboration with the Gallotti&Radice brand.

The small Italian company was born out of a pure passion for glass. It started with limited production of mostly mirrors and lighting, with each piece created individually to allow for the highest level of finishing detail possible.

From the beginning, Gallotti&Radice was committed to creating new, innovative designs that honoured traditional glassmaking processes and techniques. This commitment has stayed with the company for over sixty years, and it has helped to fulfil the founders’ vision of a family firm that would span generations and thrive on a reputation of innovation authenticity.

Luce Solida, the company’s installation for this year’s Milan Design Week, emerged out of a desire to create an innovative design that would be futuristic yet honour the brand’s origins. Pietro Russo had a profound understanding of the company’s wish and embraced it with his highly distinctive approach. The result is an interactive, artistic installation at the company’s new showroom on Milan’s Via Cavallotti, a short distance from Piazza del Duomo. In Luce Solida, Russo’s creative play with space, light and shadow is intended to evoke a feeling of poetic disorientation in which visitors experience movement to the accompaniment of sound effects.

Russo approached the installation as both a designer and a scenographer, drawing attention to the forms of the various objects and their placement in space, as well as their collective influence on our perception of art and design. ‘I want my work to tell a story,’ affirms the designer. Together with Gallotti&Radice, we are thrilled to be a part of it. ■ Take a trip to Milan and visit the Luce Solida installation.

17–22 April 2018 by appointment only, Via Cavallotti 16, Milan

To learn more, visit www.lucesolidaevent.com, www.gallottiradice.it and www.pietrorusso.com.

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THIS SPREAD: Pietro Russo has worked for domestic and international clients and for many years was based in Berlin. But his work always brings him back to his Italian roots and traditional craft. The full-colour illustration of his installation, which will feature the products he has designed for Gallotti&Radice, demonstrates Russo’s poetic play with light and shadow.

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THIS PAGE: Studio Pietro Russo created Daffodil – a mirror and light in one – whose form recalls the shape of the gentle spring flower.

Creative People

text: Patrik Florián photo: Lina Németh

MEAT OF THE MATTER WHEN SEARCHING FOR THE MOST PASSION-INSPIRING FOOD, WE STARTED WITH CHOCOLATE, MOVED ON TO WINE, AND FINALLY SETTLED ON MEAT. IT’S NO SURPRISE REALLY – FEW FOODS INSPIRE SUCH FERVOUR AS THE PROTEIN-RICH RED MASS. THERE ARE MANY CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL VIEWS ON MEAT, AND EVEN OUR SOFFA TEAM HAS NO CLEAR STANCE ON WHETHER ‘TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT’. BUT TWO THINGS ARE FOR SURE. MEAT HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE HUMAN DIET SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, AND THE AVERAGE CZECH CONSUMES AS MUCH AS 80 KILOGRAMS OF IT EVERY YEAR. JOIN US FOR AN ENLIGHTENMENT ON MEAT, AND WELCOME SPRING WITH A MEAL OF ETHICALLY RAISED LAMB. IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN, CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR THE NEXT FEW PAGES.

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Creative People

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Creative People

PREVIOUS PAGE: The interior of the butcher’s shop was designed

by Paul and Michaela. After an initial attempt to involve designers, they went with their personal style and passion for collectibles.

Their favourite design element is the lit sign Řezník, Uzenář [Butcher, Smoked Meat Maker] from the period between the two world wars, a time Paul considers as the golden days of gastronomy.

LEFT: Lamb is inextricably linked to Easter. It arrives at The Real Meat Society whole and only there does it get cut and portioned.

This requires a knife, a cleaver and a meat saw. First the butcher removes the shoulder, then the shanks, then he cuts the ribs with a saw, separates the neck, and divides the breast. The meat is portioned further and deboned as needed.

There’s meat and then there’s meat. Just ask Paul Day, an Englishman originally from Staffordshire, who nine years ago became a modern butchery pioneer and started the Czech meat revolution. A butcher from the age of thirteen to nineteen, then a cook and a chef, Paul travelled the world for his work: London, New York, Madrid, Tokyo, Istanbul. In 2009 he settled with his wife Michaela in Prague, where a year later they opened a butcher’s shop on Náplavní ulice [street]. Since then Paul and Michaela have developed a network of very capable and reliable animal farmers who share their philosophy. All meat sold at The Real Meat Society comes from carefully selected breeds, from animals that had lived a good life, grew naturally and slowly, and nibbled on green pastures, without stress and antibiotics. The animals are slaughtered in small abattoirs in a respectful way. Very importantly, the butcher’s shop promotes the ‘nose to tail’ principle, where no part of the animal is left to waste. All meat is hung dry in the butchery: beef for five weeks, mutton for three, pork and lamb for at least a week. ‘You can really tell the difference. The meat is easier to work with, it has a nicer texture, and it’s more delicate and fragrant. If you want the best, you simply have to wait,’ affirms Paul Day. The Real Meat Society sells premium meat, which the butcher debones and prepares to your specifications. They also sell free-range eggs, stock, lard, home-made smoked meats and dairy products. If they don’t have something, they will order it and add a delicious recipe for you to try. Each day they prepare in-house specialties like burgers, meat loaf, hot dogs, roast beef and sandwiches, with which Paul and his team like to experiment. Paul is also the owner and chef at the Asian restaurant Sansho, located in the centre of Prague, and the restaurant Maso a kobliha, just a few metres from Sansho. Both restaurants offer a relaxed atmosphere and serve interesting traditional fare as well as playful and creative food. Together, the butcher’s shop and the two restaurants form a complete food triangle. As Paul says, ‘all of the creativity in the kitchen starts in the butcher’s fridge.’ And that’s exactly where his team of butchers intends to focus their efforts.

For our feature recipe, Paul helped us choose traditional Greek moussaka with seasonal lamb, meat that is inextricably linked to spring. The Real Meat Society sells mutton and lamb from Suffolk and Romanov breeds raised in Šumava and eastern Czechia, and you can savour Paul’s version of the recipe at Maso a kobliha. Paul likes to prepare it traditionally, but he adds a Czech cucumber salad on the side, as it balances the overall flavour beautifully. ■

For full offerings from The Real Meat Society visit www.trms.cz .

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Creative People

‘ALTHOUGH I DON’T HAVE MANY CLOSE FRIENDS WHO ARE VEGETARIANS, I RESPECT THEIR POINT OF VIEW. I THINK WE ALL EAT TOO MUCH MEAT. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TWO MEAT-FREE DAYS PER WEEK.’ 126

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THIS PAGE: Lamb neck can be cooked slowly like a lamb shoulder, but it can also be prepared like a steak. It goes well with a wide range of side dishes.

LEFT: Lamb chops are some of the choicest parts of lamb. They are well suited for grilling and can also be prepared French-style for a clean, elegant look.

THIS PAGE: Boned and rolled lamb shoulder is a muscle that worked hard for the animal, so it takes a while before it becomes tender. The wait is well worth it, as it has an excellent taste.

RIGHT: Lamb heart, kidneys and kidney suet contain a vast amount of vitamins and nutrients. They should be cooked for a short time and to precise specifications.

Recipe

TRADITIONAL MOUSSAKA FROM MASO A KOBLIHA

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 180 minutes (including cooking and baking time) WHAT YOU NEED: 1 kg ground organic lamb 4–5 potatoes 2–3 eggplants 1/2 kg onion 500 ml home-made tomato puree 500 ml vegetable stock 400 ml béchamel 200 g grated cheddar extra virgin olive oil cinnamon dried oregano thyme garlic salt and pepper

STEPS: Slice the potatoes into thick (1.5 cm) slices and roast them in olive oil. Put to the side. Sauté onion in olive oil, add oregano and cinnamon and season with salt and black pepper. Add the tomato puree and cook for 30 minutes.

In a separate pan roast minced lamb until dark brown, then season and deglaze with hot vegetable stock. Cook for 10 minutes, then add the lamb to the tomato sauce and cook on low heat until smooth and tender (approx. 1 hour). While the lamb is cooking, cut the eggplant into thick (2 cm) slices, arrange them in a baking dish with smashed garlic and sprinkled thyme, and roast with olive oil. Turn the slices halfway through the roasting process so they are nice and brown on both sides. Then layer the potatoes, eggplant and meat with sauce in a baking dish the same way you would prepare lasagne. Cover with béchamel and sprinkle grated cheddar on top.

Bake at 180 degrees for about 40 minutes. Makes 4 portions.

We recommend that you prepare the moussaka the day before and then reheat it in the oven.

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Interior

text: Helena Novotná photo: Michaela Karásek Čejková

FENCER’S PARADISE

PASSION TAKES MANY FORMS AND SHOWS ITSELF IN VARIOUS GUISES. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT, TRUE ZEAL ALWAYS RISES TO THE SURFACE AND MANIFESTS IN OUR BEHAVIOUR, APPEARANCE OR PERHAPS OUR HOME DÉCOR. STEP INTO AN UNUSUAL APARTMENT IN THE CENTRE OF PRAGUE, WHERE THE OWNER’S PASSION FOR FENCING COMES TO LIFE.

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Interior

PREVIOUS PAGE: Illustrations documenting historical military uniforms from the artist Karel Maria Toman, old fencing masks, swords and daggers. Artefacts honouring fencing and military history cover the walls in every room.

LEFT: Old stirrups and stirrup straps were used to create a holder for antique swords.

NEXT SPREAD: The ornate glass cabinet has been in the apartment since the days of Mr. Leonid’s grandfather. It houses a collection of porcelain, sports trophies and other treasures.

Entering through the front door is like entering another century. Suddenly you are in a place where time stands still and fencing tournaments are part of the daily order. And yet you are still in the city, right in the heart of Prague. Greeting us in the front hall of his spacious old apartment, framed by a collection of historical maps, is Mr. Leonid, an avid fencer and collector. But maps are not his main passion, nor the tobacco pipes of which he has enough to be considered a respectable collection.

Mr. Leonid’s collecting ardour is focused on historical fencing weapons and everything that goes with classical fencing – from protective equipment to books and paintings. What inspires such a collection, and what fuels a passion for the history of this sport?

Mr. Leonid’s grandfather moved into the flat in Prague’s New Town in 1923.

Although he was a member of the Czechoslovak Legion, he was not the source of the current historical collection. Rather than physical objects, the grandfather’s legacy is a collection of stories. Indeed, the only physical item in Mr. Leonid’s collection that came from his grandfather is a long military knife. The rest of the grandfather’s war memorabilia was turned in – never to be returned – during the Second World War, as ownership of legionnaire weapons at that time was grounds for imprisonment. But the grandfather’s military past fascinated the grandson, and he began to develop an interest in military history while still in school. Fencing was a hobby Mr. Leonid discovered in childhood, and interest in the history of the sport naturally followed. ‘I was really interested in old weapons, but no one could tell me what they had looked like,’ explains Mr. Leonid. And so he befriended a military historian who led him to the right sources. By the time he finished reading everything there was to be found on the subject in Czechia, the foundations for his collecting passion had been laid.

Where in Czechia does one find historical weapons? ‘It was a slow, gradual process. First I had five old rusty weapons, then I exchanged them for one that was well preserved, and the collection began to grow. There is a small community of collectors here, and we share tips and sometimes exchange individual pieces.’ Antique shops and second-hand markets are of course another source.

Thanks to his vast collection, Mr. Leonid’s apartment feels like a true schatzkammer, a museum and a cabinet of curiosities in one, a place where various collectibles, antiques and other natural and manmade novelties accumulate with time. Mr. Leonid has no historical photos of his apartment on hand, but its ambience suggests that not much has changed over the

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Interior

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Interior

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Everything in the flat is neatly arranged and visible. Sometimes a curiosity sneaks in between the more common objects on display – like a white pipe shaped as a small hand.

LEFT: Mr. Leonid, owner, founder and curator of this fencer’s paradise. The avid fencer practices each week and works tirelessly on growing his collection.

decades. Except perhaps for the addition of new pieces into the collection.

The ornate furniture has been there since the time of Mr. Leonid’s grandfather. It includes a chest of drawers, a glass cabinet, armchairs and a coffee table, all sharing zoomorphic details on their dark robust legs.

Every wall of the apartment is covered in the style of horror vacui, or fear of empty space. And while the collection may appear to be a loose accumulation of different kinds of objects, it follows a systematic plan. It is a collection of purely military origin – you will find no hunting weapons in its midst. Representing a cross-section of military history, the collection features objects from modern history next to more rare pieces from the nineteenth century. Geographically, it mostly covers the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia.

On display are swords, sabres, foils, fencing masks and riding stirrups, artefacts of military life in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some were easy to come by, such as the complete fencing costume and gear from the 1950s. Thanks to the Spartakiads, the mass athletics events organised during the Communist years, thousands of such costumes were made and could later be bought for a few coins at the local flea market, remembers Mr. Leonid. The white, wire-mesh masks, on the other hand, came from the former Soviet Union. Next to them hang full leather masks, which look interesting at first glance, but have one big disadvantage: leather dries and so in time the masks shrink. Who would risk not being able to take one off?

In addition to weapons and masks, the walls also display paintings with military themes. The detailed renditions of various uniforms, portraits of military chiefs, and fencing tournaments captured mid-fight complete the apartment’s martial atmosphere. Most of the paintings were painted by the Czech painter and illustrator Karel Maria Toman, who shares Mr. Leonid’s passion for military history and old military uniforms. Toman’s passion and artistic talent have combined to make him an expert in illustrating military scenes. At first Mr. Leonid was his customer, then they began to consult with each other, and eventually they became collaborators and friends.

Collecting old swords is only half of Mr. Leonid’s passion. The other half is partaking in historical – or classical – fencing, a sports discipline in which Mr. Leonid excels. Historical fencing is quite different from the modern form of the sport, of which Mr. Leonid is quite critical. You see, passion also carries strong emotion. ■

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Trends

partner for the article: Konsepti text: Helena Novotná styling: Janka Murínová photo: Lina Németh

LESS IS NOT ALWAYS MORE IT MAY HAVE SEEMED THAT STARK MINIMALISM HAD WON THE MONOPOLY ON 21ST CENTURY INTERIOR DESIGN, BUT LIFE IS ABOUT CHANGE AND SO WITH GREAT JOY WE WELCOME THE RETURN OF WARM TONES AND THE ORGANIC IMPERFECTION OF NATURAL MATERIALS. REJOICE IN OUR GALLERY OF PRODUCTS FROM INTERNATIONAL BRANDS REPRESENTED IN CZECHIA BY KONSEPTI.

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Trends

The adage ‘less is more’ no longer applies. Emotions and whimsy have returned to our interiors – thanks to lush interior plants, which can transform any space into an urban jungle, and colours, textiles and natural materials like wood, leather and marble, which make a space more homely and endow it with organic elegance. Ornamentation is now in vogue and mixing different colours or textures is no longer a crime. Eclecticism knows no limits and neither should we!

Wood, leather and marble have unique features, expressed in wood’s texture, variations of thickness in leather and contrasting patterns in marble. One would be hard-pressed to find two specimens exactly the same.

Different ways of processing natural materials result in different textures, but they always retains their elegant character and are always beautiful to behold. What could be more distinctive than brown leather furniture?

Push away any notions of a massive club armchair surrounded by rising cigar smoke; an elegant armchair with a metal frame and dark brown leather will imbue any interior with style and comfort.

Colours are also celebrating a comeback. Seventeenth century artists appreciated the importance of colours when they debated their meaning in paintings. The Dutch artist Hella Jongerius has been focused on colours her entire career and the question that keeps her busy is whether it is colour or form that makes its impression on our perception. While there may be no definite answers, it is clear that vivid, radiant colours are indispensable in design. Blood red is back, not only in fashion but also in our interiors, and it is no longer limited to small accessories. It works brilliantly on wallpaper, upholstery and other home textiles when combined in playful patterns with other shades of red or orange.

Each year the global colour expert Pantone announces not only the colour of the year, but a whole colour range that will dominate the coming season.

For 2019 this includes the Classico colour palette, comprising dark earthy tones complemented with neutral colours, and the Cravings palette, characterised by rich shades ranging from chocolate brown through to raspberry and deep red. One more reason to look forward to the next year! ■

To learn more visit www.konsepti.com .

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Fish, design Vrtiška & Žák, Javorina, €63; Table 194 9, Cassina, €1,598; Alex Table, B&B Italia, €6,455 I all available at www.konsepti.com

Trends

NORWEGIAN WOOD WHO CAN RESIST. RUNNING YOUR FINGERS OVER THE TOP SIDE OF LEATHER, THEN ON THE REVERSE. COUNTING THE ANNUAL RINGS ON A WOODEN TABLETOP. OBSERVING THE TRACES OF PRESSURE AND TIME ON A PIECE OF MARBLE. PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR NATURAL MATERIALS IN YOUR HOME. 1 · Leggia Lounge Chair, design Antonio Scortino, Baxter, €1,827 | 2 · Kobi Stool, design Patrick Norguet, Alias, €465 | 3 · Marble Wall Clock, design Norm Architects, Menu, €287 | 4 · Balancing Boxes Table, design Front, Porro, €1,831 | 5 · Matera Stone Table, design Paola Navone, Baxter, €2,169 | 6 · Flat Sideboard, design Piero Lissoni, Cassina, €8,633 All available at www.konsepti.com .

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Trends

SCARLET SAILS REACH OUT, MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE, RECHARGE. RED IS MORE THAN A SYMBOL OF ‘STOP’. IT CALLS TO ACTION, AWAKENS LIFE, VIBRATES YET RELAXES. DON’T BE AFRAID – FIND YOUR OWN JUICY SHADE. 1 · Deco Futura Tabouret, design Diesel, Moroso, €771 | 2 · L+W- Taco Small Table, design Lazaveccha+Wai, Cappellini, €1,127 | 3 · Carrie LED Lamp, design Norm Architects, Menu, €149 | 4 · La Plus Belle Mirror, design Phillipe Stack, Flos, currently not available | 5 · Accordo Coffee Table, design Charlotte Perriand, Cassina, €4,147 | 6 · 552 Floe Insel Divan, design Patricia Urquiola, Cassina - Contemporanei Collection, €11,347 All available at www.konsepti.com .

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Up Miniature Armchair, B&B Italia, www.konsepti.com , â‚Ź393

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Architecture

ON FIRM GROUND IT USED TO BE SAID THAT A TOWN WITH A SAVINGS BANK WAS A PROSPEROUS TOWN. SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS WELCOMED THE SENTIMENT AND RESPONDED IN KIND: THEY HELPED PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR FINANCES, SUPPORTED CHARITIES AND THEIR STUNNING BUILDINGS CONTRIBUTED TO THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CZECH LANDSCAPE. MORE THAN A REFLECTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES OF THE DAY, CZECHIA’S HISTORICAL BANKING PALACES ARE A SYMBOL OF THIS COUNTRY’S GROWING PROSPERITY AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

Česká spořitelna [Czech Savings Bank] has a long, unwavering tradition in the Czech Republic. A member of the multinational Erste Group since the year 2000, it is a strong and secure institution and is ever-present, thanks to the widest network of branches and bank machines in the country and to modern technology. At the very beginning, however, an office for serving clients was all that was needed. The first savings bank in Prague used two rooms in the Provincial Assembly building, while in other towns early savings institutions based themselves in town halls. In addition to providing savings products, these institutions played an important philanthropic role: the profits from the savings of wealthy patrons were turned into projects for the community, such as the construction of venues like Prague’s Rudolfinum. Throughout its history Česká spořitelna has always been actively engaged in commun-

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ity affairs, supporting local businesses and investing in local projects, be they new water supply and sanitation systems, or kindergartens and centres for seniors. Today, Nadace České spořitelny [Česká spořitelna’s foundation] plays a key role in addressing community needs.

Over time, savings banks outgrew their accommodation in town halls and so they began to build their own purpose-built premises. The new premises were designed to be robust and secure and to inspire trust – places into which people would be happy to put their savings. An imposing structure built in the latest architectural trend was considered a symbol of a serious institution with a solid reputation.

The first headquarters of Česká spořitelna – also the first bank building in Czechia – was a palatial structure on Národní třída [National

Architecture

partner for the article: Erste Premier text: Hana Švolbová photo: Michaela Karásek Čejková and Lina Németh

Avenue], today the headquarters of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Other buildings soon followed, not only in cities, but also in smaller towns. As the financial institution had more resources than a town council, the savings bank buildings were often more impressive than town halls. The buildings also helped to promote regional connections as ornamentation often reflected local industries and was crafted by local artists. Česká spořitelna’s main headquarters on Národní třída was soon replaced by a new building in Rytířská ulice [Knights Street]. Many proud Czechs would describe this Neo-Renaissance palace as the most beautiful bank building in the world.

And this is not the only architecturally interesting gem among Česká spořitelna’s buildings. There are also the grand buildings in Ústí nad Labem and Brno, which they con-

tinue to fill their original functions by looking after the personal and business interests of their clients.

Also in Prague, Ústí nad Labem and Brno, as well as in nine other large cities, Česká spořitelna’s beautiful buildings house the Erste Premier and Erste Private Banking services for wealthy clients.

At present Česká spořitelna is introducing many innovations to its historical buildings, including the replacement of traditional service counters with a more welcoming open floor plan. The bank is also preparing for a new headquarters in Prague’s Smíchov area, and to this end it has recently issued an international design competition.

And so another interesting banking palace awaits, this time to be built in the spirit of modernity. ■ For more information about Česká spořitelna and its various products visit www.csas.cz .

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PRAGUE The grand Neo-Renaissance building of Prague’s City Savings Bank, the precursor of Česká spořitelna, is the most beautiful among Česká spořitelna branches. The palace on Rytířská ulice [Knights Street] was completed in 1894 according to designs by the architects Antonín Wiehl and Oskar Polívka, and it was decorated by leading artists of the day. The emblematic building went through a complete renovation from 2005–2008, which returned the lustre that had been lost due to poor modifications during the Communist era. At the time of its completion the building served as a symbol of Czech art and industry.

Local materials were used in construction and Czech artists worked on its ornamentation.

The ground level includes offices and a grand central staircase that ascends towards the main hall and cash desks. The uppermost level originally housed additional office spaces and apartments. The palace is home to the Česká spořitelna Gallery, which manages an art collection and uses the window displays on the ground level to showcase the work of young artists.

LEFT: The banking palace on Rytířská ulice is an ode to Czech art and industry. Leading artists of the day worked on its ornamentation.

RIGHT: All material used in the construction and decoration of the beautiful building – from stone for the massive staircase to the small mosaic tiles – is of Czech origin.

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Architecture

ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM Ústí nad Labem had its own savings bank from 1867 until the 1950s.

The city guaranteed the deposits and oversaw the management of the bank. Work on the building on Mírové náměstí [Peace Square] began in 1937 according to a design by the local architect Franz Josef Arnold. The massive building opened in the fateful year of 1939. It reflects the spirit of the times as well as the fact that it was built in what was then Nazi-occupied Sudetenland, as it is an exemplar of socalled Nazi architecture. Although the building was intended to also serve the city hall, and provide office space for city employees as well as the premises for the city gaol, in the end it was used by the Gestapo. Even after the war the building remained shrouded in darkness, as it housed – until 1990 – the prison cells of the Communist secret police.

The interior and exterior of the building is designed in stately Neoclassical style. The entrance to the building is guarded by a row of six large allegorical statues representing agriculture, river transport, craft, mining, industry and commerce. The original interior décor is classically simple and functionalist.

LEFT: A curious feature in the functional main hall is the Classical style water fountain.

RIGHT: Although the building housed both the Gestapo and Communist secret police, the interior and exterior décor harks back to common, working-class folk, who had entrusted their savings to the institution.

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Architecture

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BRNO The original premises of the First Moravian Savings Bank in Brno became obsolete in the 1930s, prompting the decision to build a new building. There was a caveat, however: the bank’s operations were to continue uninterrupted during construction. Josef Polášek and Otakar Oplatek developed the winning design and later invited Heinrich Blum to collaborate on the building.

The architects built two buildings – the first to ensure that banking operations would continue undisturbed – and once the new central bank hall was completed, they adapted the first building to fit office and retail spaces. Despite the complexity of a large-scale project involving three architects, the central building has a uniform, emblematic look.

When designing the building, the architects paid special attention to the safety of deposits. They utilised the latest in security technology, including locks with passcodes and vaults made from reinforced concrete, as well as a modern system for paging customers. The building was also the first in Czechia to incorporate substantial neon lighting. Renovations in 2008 retained almost all of the original fittings. ■ LEFT: Thanks to its suspended gallery, round windows and lighting arrangement, the main hall resembles the interior of an ocean liner.

RIGHT: The simpler the interior décor, with its black and white marble, wood and glass bricks, the more complex was the design of the bank’s security features.

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Art

EXQUISITE BEAUTY

partner for the article: Arthouse Hejtmánek text: Kristýna Svobodová photo: company archive

TUCKED AWAY IN A PICTURESQUE CORNER OF PRAGUE’S BUBENEČ NEIGHBOURHOOD, A STONE’S THROW AWAY FROM STROMOVKA PARK, LIES AN AUCTION HOUSE BELONGING TO THE COLLECTORS MARIE AND TOMÁŠ HEJTMÁNEK. THE HOUSE IS TANGIBLE PROOF OF THE COUPLE’S PASSION FOR ART, A PASSION THAT HAS EVOLVED INTO A LIFE CALLING AND TRANSFORMED A SEVENTEENTH CENTURY VILLA INTO A ONE OF A KIND ART EXPERIENCE.

‘Everything comes at the right moment,’ says Marie Hejtmánková about the gallery that has, over time, become a paradise for art lovers – be they collectors or visitors who want to enjoy the gallery’s splendour. The installations at Arthouse Hejtmánek are a testimony to the couple’s vision: modern art blends seamlessly with antiques and every corner exudes enthusiasm and forbearance. Marie and Tomáš Hejtmánek speak of collecting as an affliction born from a yearning to bring beauty and colour into the world.

At Soffa we identify with this sentiment and are thrilled to launch the 26th edition of our magazine at the exquisite Arthouse Hejtmánek.

If you would like to join us at Arthouse Hejtmánek to celebrate the launch of this issue, write to us by 20 April 2018 at info@soffamag.com (subject: Arthouse Hejtmánek) and tell us how art inspires your everyday life. The most interesting response wins an invitation for two to celebrate with us on 16 May 2018.

For complete contest rules go to www.soffamag.com .

For more information about Arthouse Hejtmánek visit www.arthousehejtmanek.cz .

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EDITORIAL STAFF Adéla Kudrnová | editor in chief adela@soffamag.com Róbert Kováč | art director robert@soffamag.com Michaela Karásek Čejková | photographer michaela@soffamag.com Adéla Havelková | photographer adela.h@soffamag.com Lina Németh | photographer lina@soffamag.com Janka Murínová | designer & stylist jana@soffamag.com Lenka Hlaváčová | graphic supervisor lenka@soffamag.com Jan Voharčík | graphic designer jan@soffamag.com Helena Stiessová | managing editor editor@soffamag.com Helena Novotná | editor & editorial office assistant helena@soffamag.com Patrik Florián | editor & fashion stylist patrik@soffamag.com Albert Němec | production manager albert@soffamag.com

CONTRIBUTORS Hana Švolbová | writer Tereza Hošková | writer Teru Menclová | photographer Christian Bendel | photographer Andrea Šafaříková | illustrator Tereza Hrdličková | make-up artist PUBLISHER Soffa, s. r. o. Špálova 444/6 162 00 Praha 6 – Střešovice www.soffamag.com IČ: 03055671 / DIČ: CZ03055671 © Soffa, s. r. o., 2018 | All rights reserved www.soffamag.com | info@soffamag.com Cover illustration: Andrea Šafaříková DISTRIBUTION Would you like to become a Soffa distributor?

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