hut architektury lands giant airship atop of DOX in prague

docked atop of the DOX centre for contemporary art in prague is a 42 meter-long, giant airship shaped similar to the ones that cruised the skies in the early 20th century. this architectural intervention —eye catching against the existing white museum buildings— seemingly appears to have landed to serve as the museum’s new permanent space for literature and reading.

image © jan slavík

named after the famous traveler, the idea of the ship was conceptualized by leoš válka, director of DOX and completed by hut architektury, led by architect martin rajniš. in total, the 10 meter wide and 42 meter long wooden airship took more than two years to construct. the resulting shape –symbolic to children’s books, movies and imagination– derives from the early zeppelins which reflected the optimistic and innovative era of technological advancements.

image © jan slavík

‘the idea to invade the DOX centre’s starkly modern austere concrete-and- glass architecture with a ‘parasitic’ structure has been on my mind for several years. I first dreamed of an absurdly fascinating organic shape that would contrast with the dox centre’s existing architecture,’ says leoš válka.

a plastic shell covers the all-timber structure of the airship
image © jan slavík

inside the gulliver airship, the expansive timber frame gently narrows, the permeable envelope inviting natural light and warmth into the stepped interior which offers an intimate space for reading and public discussions.

accessed from the rooftop of DOX, the airship serves as a space for literature
image © jan slavík

the airship measures at a total of 42 meters
image © jan slavík

entrance into the space
image © jan slavík

the stepped interior provides seating inside the space
image © petr králík

detail of the steel and timber structure

the early zeppelins represented the optimistic ideals of a new era of technological advancements
image © jan slavík

crowd of people waiting to enter the airship

sectional drawing of the airship
image © hut architektury

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