Eva Jiřičná

Eva Jiřičná CBE RA (born 3 March 1939) is a Czech architect and designer, active in London and Prague. She is known for her attention to detail and work of a distinctly modern style, and for her steel and glass staircases.

Eva Jiřičná (2019)

Since 1996 she has been the head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Applied Arts in Prague. In 2007, she was President of the International Commission levying a construction project of the new building of the National Library on Letná.[1]

Life and career

Jiřičná was born on 3 March 1939 in Zlín. She is an architect and interior designer, best known for her innovative use of industrial materials in retail and commercial spaces. Jiřičná was born in Zlín,[2] Czechoslovakia. She studied engineering and architecture until 1962, when she earned an MA at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts.[3]

In 1968, Jiřičná moved to London, working as an architect with the Greater London Council. A year later, she became an associate in the Louis de Soissons Partnership. Here, she spent eight years working on design and construction of the Brighton Marina. By the end of 1980 she had formed her own practice alongside David Hodges. From here, she began to be recognized for her work in architectural competitions with her business partner. During this time, Jiřičná also shifted from technical architectural projects to interior design assignments, but still incorporated the complexities of her architectural background.[1]

Jiřičná continued to gain recognition in the mid-eighties. She met fashion designer and entrepreneur Joseph Ettedgui, designing several of his Joseph retail shops in London, and eventually his own Knightsbridge flat. By 1985 she had formed Jiřičná Kerr Associates with Kathy Kerr, a practice which is still operating, now under the name of Eva Jiřičná Architects. Her business of ten team members works on projects including architecture, interior design, and furniture design.[4]

Eva Jiřičná creatively fused her engineering and architecture background with interior design. By utilizing lighting effects and material characteristics, she maximized space in an intriguing manner. The understanding of architecture is perhaps responsible for this, Jiřičná was able to transform the sometimes unmanageable spaces of London’s old buildings into usable area. While she gained recognition with architectural projects, her store design commissions were large contributions to her profession. She demonstrated how retail design could be treated with architectural concepts, strengthening the image of interior design.[4]

National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview (C467/127) with Eva Jiricna in 2015-16 for its Architects Lives' collection held by the British Library.[5]

Works
  • New Orangery at Prague Castle, Prague 1999
  • Hotel Josef, Prague 2000
  • The British Council, Prague 2003
  • Hotel Maximilian, Prague 2004
  • Zlín Congress Centre, Zlín 2011[6]
  • University Centre Zlín, Zlín 2008

Awards

Literature
  • Eva Jiřičná, Prague Castle Administration, Prague 1998
  • In/Ex Terior: The Works Of Eva Jiřičná, Prostor, Prague 2005
  • Karel Hvížďala, Prostory a dialogy Evy Jiřičné, Prostor, Praha 2011

References
  1. "7 divů Česka". ceskatelevize.cz.
  2. "Eva Jiřičná - Encyklopedie dějin města Brna - Profil osobnosti". encyklopedie.brna.cz. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  3. "Státní ceny dostali Rotrekl, Jindra, Vyskočil i Jiřičná". magazin.aktualne.cz.
  4. McQuinston, Liz (1988). "Eva Jiricna." Women in Design. New York: Rizzoli International Publications.
  5. National Life Stories, 'Jiricna, Eva (1 of 12) National Life Stories Collection: Architects' Lives', The British Library Board, 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2018
  6. "Convention Centre by Eva Jiricna Architects and A.I Design s.r.o." dezeen.com. Dezeen Magazine. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  7. "Current Royal Designers". Royal Society of Arts. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  8. "No. 53696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1994. p. 9.
  9. "Awards". EJAL. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  10. Rosenfield, Karissa (8 March 2013). "Eva Jiricna Awarded 2013 Jane Drew Prize". ArchDaily. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  11. "Honorary Doctors". RCA. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  12. "Resumes of recipients of the Silver Medal of Jan Masaryk" (PDF).
  13. "Stříbrná medaile Jana Masaryka".
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