Josef Zítek

Who was Josef Zítek?

Josef von Zitek was a Czech architect and engineer best known for two neo-Renaissance landmarks in Prague, the National Theater and the Rudolfinum.

As a 33-year-old professor of civil engineering at Czech Institute of technology, he was chosen as the designer of the original National Theatre. The theater burned shortly after its 1881 opening, and Zítek's student Josef Schulz was put in charge of the rebuilding. Zítek had a disagreement with the building committee and never set foot in the completed theater. Among his other students was the architect Josef Fanta.

Other works include the Mill Colonnade in the spa city of Karlovy Vary.

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