The Architectural Manual is an online database of modern architecture that was created to document architectural heritage and make the stories of buildings, their authors and their inhabitants accessible to the general public. The first database of its kind was the Brno Architectural Manual (BAM), which was created in 2008 under the name Brno Architectural Trails under the auspices of the Brno House of Arts. In its first phase, the BAM focused on architecture from 1918-1945, the period that gave rise to the phenomenon of Brno functionalism, one of the most significant manifestations of modern architecture in the country. This was followed by buildings from 1945-1989, when architecture often became a tool of political ideology, but at the same time several valuable buildings were (and are) neglected or even destroyed for the same reason. In the last three years, the database has been expanded to include the period 1900-1918, which documents the transformation of Brno into a modern metropolis at the beginning of the 20th century. Overall, the Brno Architectural Manual covers almost the entire 20th century, and printed guides have also been published for each period.

Following the example of the Brno Architectural Manual, similar projects were created in other Czech cities. In Pilsen it is PAM (pam.plzne.cz), in Litomyšl LAM (lam.litomysl.cz), in Hradec Králové KAM (kam.hradcekralove.cz), in Zlín ZAM (zam.zlin.eu), in Jičín AM.Jicin (am.jicin.cz), in Jihlava JAM (jam.jihlava.cz), Tišnov has TAM (tamtisnov.cz). In Prague, a database called Umělecké památky Prahy (umeleckepamatky.udu.cas.cz) was created under the auspices of the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The Přerov district is processed as the Architectural Manual of the Přerov District (amop.cz), another manual was launched in Opava (opam.opava.eu). This year, the family of architectural manuals has expanded to include Havlíčkův Brod (Architectural Manual Havlíčkův Brod), a separate project is being developed for Prague's Olšanské hřbitovy (Olšany Cemetery), and Pardubice, Ostrava, and Krnov are also preparing their databases.

The AM project is not only a popularisation but also a documentation tool. Thanks to the targeted collection of contemporary and historical image material, it becomes a valuable archival resource. AM will publish and systematise often poorly available archival materials from museum and archival collections, thus becoming an important starting point for the professional public and students in the field of (modern) architectural history. At the same time, the AM will take new photographic documentation of the current state of the buildings, which will one day also become an important archival resource.

At the planned meeting, the history and development of the project will be summarised, the new visual design of the project, which is being developed by the Pixle graphic studio (pixle.cz), will be presented, as well as the new website, the modernised database and the advanced administrative system, which are being developed by Via Aurea (viaaurea.cz). Furthermore, the newly emerging social networks of the project will be presented and space will be devoted to a discussion aimed at gathering suggestions for further development of the project.

Mgr. Rostislav Koryčánek, guarantor of the AM project, ideator of BAM, architectural historian, FA BUT

e-mail: korycanek.r@vutbr.cz

phone: +420 778 533 134

Mgr. Lucie Valdhansová, professional guarantor of AM and BAM, curator, Department of Architectural History, Brno City Museum

mail: valdhansova.l@vutbr.cz

Ing. Gabriela Juriga, FA BUT, project manager

e-mail: juriga.g@vutbr.cz

Ing. arch. Zuzana Sankotová Morávková, PR and Social Media

mail: sankotova.z@vutbr.cz

tel.: +420 603 985 427

The Architectural Manual (AM) platform is a project of the Faculty of Architecture of Brno University of Technology created according to the methodology and original IT solution of the Brno Architectural Manual (BAM).