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Technically beautiful

Miroslav Masák, a leading architect at SIAL architectural studios, says, 'The close cooperation of architects and specialists was atypical' and fostered an especially creative atmosphere that made SIAL unique.

The television transmitter and hotel Ještěd, which was built in 1973 atop the Ještěd Mountain in Liberec, is SIAL's most famous creation.

A view of the restaurant inside Ještěd, which was built on the site of a burned-down hotel according to the simple shape of the surroundings.

A 1986 model of 'Czech Hut,' a building designed by SIAL architect Jiří Suchomel and intended to sit atop Sněžka, the tallest mountain in the Czech Republic. The building was never constructed.

The informal atmosphere of SIAL studios, which promoted individuality and creativity of design, set SIAL apart from other architectural studios operating in communist Czechoslovakia.

The 'Linear Carrier' was designed to house all street equipment in one unit. The design won the Man Size Prize in Italy in 1975, but authorities blocked its implementation in Prague's city center.

SIAL's design for a shopping center in Liberec mirrors the innovations of structuralist architecture seen predominantly in West European countries. It was demolished in 2009.

Miroslav Masák, a leading architect at SIAL architectural studios, says, 'The close cooperation of architects and specialists was atypical' and fostered an especially creative atmosphere that made SIAL unique.

Miroslav Masák, a leading architect at SIAL architectural studios, says, "The close cooperation of architects and specialists was atypical" and fostered an especially creative atmosphere that made SIAL unique.