Josef Hlávka
Encyclopedia
Josef Hlávka was a Czech architect, builder, philanthropist and founder of the oldest Czech foundation.
and later architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts
in Vienna. Shortly after he had finished his studies, the Czech architect František Šebek retired and left him his well established company in Vienna
. Later Hlávka built the Opera House
in Vienna, Regional maternal hospital in Prague
, the complex of an Eastern Catholic Church in Chernivtsi
(Ukraine
, now the seat of the university
), and numerous apartment buildings in Vienna.
was founded owing to the significant financial support from Josef Hlávka who became its first President. When the floods damaged the Charles Bridge
in Prague in 1890, Hlavka pushed through and co-funded its renovation in the original historic style. Hlavka established student dormitory in Jenštejnská Street in Prague and donated the dorm for gifted but poor students. In 1904 Hlávka gave all his fortune to the foundation, named after him and his wives Nadání Josefa, Marie a Zdenky Hlávkových (the Foundation of Josef, Marie and Zdeňka Hlávka).
The 100th anniversary of the death of Hlavka was declared by UNESCO
as a World Cultural Anniversary.
Architect
Hlavka studied at the Technical University in PragueCzech Technical University in Prague
Czech Technical University in Prague is one of the largest universities in the Czech Republic, and the oldest institute of technology in Central Europe....
and later architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
in Vienna. Shortly after he had finished his studies, the Czech architect František Šebek retired and left him his well established company in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Later Hlávka built the Opera House
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
in Vienna, Regional maternal hospital in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, the complex of an Eastern Catholic Church in Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi
Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. The city is situated on the upper course of the River Prut, a tributary of the Danube, in the northern part of the historic region of Bukovina, which is currently divided between Romania and Ukraine...
(Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, now the seat of the university
Chernivtsi University
The Chernivtsi National University is the leading Ukrainian institution for higher education in northern Bukovina, in Chernivtsi, a city in southwest Ukraine....
), and numerous apartment buildings in Vienna.
Patron
The Czech Academy of Science and the ArtsRoyal Czech Society of Sciences
The Royal Czech Society of Sciences was established in 1784 to be the scientific center for Czech Crown lands. It was succeeded by the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in 1952, and finally became what is known today as the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in 1992.-History:The Society was...
was founded owing to the significant financial support from Josef Hlávka who became its first President. When the floods damaged the Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of the 15th century...
in Prague in 1890, Hlavka pushed through and co-funded its renovation in the original historic style. Hlavka established student dormitory in Jenštejnská Street in Prague and donated the dorm for gifted but poor students. In 1904 Hlávka gave all his fortune to the foundation, named after him and his wives Nadání Josefa, Marie a Zdenky Hlávkových (the Foundation of Josef, Marie and Zdeňka Hlávka).
The 100th anniversary of the death of Hlavka was declared by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a World Cultural Anniversary.
External links
- Hlavka Foundation
- Ruth Fraňková: Josef Hlávka: one of the greatest Czech philanthropists, Český rozhlasCeský rozhlasČeský rozhlas is the Czech Republic's publicly funded radio broadcasting organization.It offers the following radio channels:*ČRo 1 – Radiožurnál: news and information*ČRo 2 – Praha: talk and family programmes...
, 12.3.2008 - Prize of Josef Hlávka for the Best Students and Graduates
- Czechs celebrate centenary of their own Nobel