Eva Jiricná
Encyclopedia
Eva Jiřičná CBE is a renowned Czech
architect
, and designer
, active in London
and Prague
. She is known for her attention to detail and work of a distinctly modern style. Jiřičná is also famous for her steel and glass staircases.
Eva Jiricna is an architect and interior designer, best known for her innovative use of industrial materials in retail and commercial spaces. Jiricna was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She studied engineering and architecture until 1962, when she earned an MA at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1968, Jiricna 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, Jiricna also shifted from technical architectural projects to interior design assignments, but still incorporated the complexities of her architectural background.
Jiricna 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 Jiricna Kerr Associates with Kathy Kerr, a practice which is still operating, now under the name of Eva Jiricna Architects. Her business of ten team members works on projects including architecture, interior design, and furniture design.
Eva Jiricna 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, Jiricna 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.
[McQuinston, Liz. "Eva Jiricna." Women in Design. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1988. 62-63. Print.]
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, and designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
, active in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. She is known for her attention to detail and work of a distinctly modern style. Jiřičná is also famous for her steel and glass staircases.
Eva Jiricna is an architect and interior designer, best known for her innovative use of industrial materials in retail and commercial spaces. Jiricna was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She studied engineering and architecture until 1962, when she earned an MA at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts.
In 1968, Jiricna 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, Jiricna also shifted from technical architectural projects to interior design assignments, but still incorporated the complexities of her architectural background.
Jiricna 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 Jiricna Kerr Associates with Kathy Kerr, a practice which is still operating, now under the name of Eva Jiricna Architects. Her business of ten team members works on projects including architecture, interior design, and furniture design.
Eva Jiricna 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, Jiricna 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.
[McQuinston, Liz. "Eva Jiricna." Women in Design. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 1988. 62-63. Print.]
External links
- www.ejal.com
- Eva Jiřičná Architects on the web www.archiweb.cz