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Jiri Lev

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Jiri Lev
Born1979 (age 44–45)
Brno, Czechoslovakia
CitizenshipAustralia, Czech Republic
Alma materUniversity of Newcastle (Australia)
OccupationArchitect
Years active1998 – present
StyleContextual, Contemporary Traditional, New Classical
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Jiri Lev (born 1979, /ˈjɪrɪ ˈlɛv/, Czech: Jiří Lev) is a Czech-Australian architect and urbanist, active in the field of sustainable residential, sacred and public architecture, disaster recovery and humanitarian development.[1]

Lev's work is known for its highly varied, regionally specific, contextual architectural style, often but not always inspired in traditional architecture, and prolific use of natural, raw and locally sourced construction materials, such as timber, stone, hempcrete, canite or clay and lime products.[1][2] He teaches on sustainable and resilient architecture in lectures, workshops and writing.

Early life

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Lev was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia[1] (today Czech Republic) and educated at grammar school there.[3]

As a child, he was inspired by growing up in an environment filled with his parents' architectural drawings, models, natural science collections, books and plants, just before the proliferation of the internet and social media.[4]

He first established his multidisciplinary design practice in Prague in 1998. In 2005, he moved to Sydney, Australia,[2] where he studied architecture at the University of Newcastle under Richard Leplastrier and Kerry and Lindsay Clare.[3] During studies he founded ArchiCamp,[5][6] a grassroots architecture festival focused on invited architectural intervention in disadvantaged or disaster stricken rural communities.[7][8][9]

Career

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Lev first opened his practice, Atelier Jiri Lev, in 2014, with first commission the Gulgong Holtermann Museum. A volunteer-driven community project, it involved adaptive reuse of two historic buildings, also featured on Australian banknotes, and new multi-purpose pavilions.[10]

In response to the 2019-20 Australian bushfires, Lev established Architects Assist,[11][12][13] an initiative of Australian architecture firms providing pro bono assistance to the victims, as "a platform for equitable access to sustainable and resilient architecture." In 2020, the initiative had 600 participating architecture firms.[3][14][15]

In 2020, Lev's practice revealed plans for two model cohousing ecovillage developments in Tasmania, addressing the concurrent housing and environmental crises.[16][17] Inspired by traditional European settlements, a network of small, compact urban forms was proposed, surrounded by shared agricultural land and managed wilderness. A prototype residence was completed in 2021.[18]

After the 2021 South Moravia tornado in the Czech Republic, Lev founded Architekti Pro Bono, an initiative of Czech architects assisting the victims.[19]

Practice

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Lev advocates for localised, regionally specific architectural style.[20] In his work he references and interprets vernacular architecture. He claims that globalised design trends are highly destructive to the identity and spirit of places where they are introduced.[2][21][22] He often refers to the principles of new urbanism.[16]

Lev's works often use natural, raw and locally sourced construction materials and avoid or minimise the use of chemical treatments, plastics and synthetic paints.[23] His buildings have been called "almost edible" and his approach described as "design for an economy of means, a generosity of ends."[24]

Lev's practice has delivered a large number of pro bono and community projects, often as part of organised workshops and student engagement.[25] Occasionally, the firm releases plans for sustainable dwellings as open source into the public domain.[26][27][28]

The firm is known not to publicise client projects or enter awards.[29] Published works include Holtermann Museum (2015),[10] Courtyard House (2018),[26] Tasmanian House (2021),[30][31] Tasmanian Homestead (2023).[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Architects Assist offers pro-bono bushfire services". Australian Design Review. 8 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Jiri Lev". MPavilion.
  3. ^ a b c W, Dan (4 March 2020). "The Australian Architects Offering Pro-Bono Design Services to Bushfire Survivors". Hive Life: The people, places and ideas shaping Asia Pacific. The Hive Worldwide.
  4. ^ "In profile". Sanctuary Magazine (60): 96. 2022.
  5. ^ "Architecture in the field: Archicamp 2015". ArchitectureAU.
  6. ^ Virtue, Robert (19 October 2015). "University students design infrastructure for flood-ravaged Dungog". ABC News.
  7. ^ WATSON, ELLE (12 October 2015). "Architects and designers plan projects for flood affected town". Mudgee Guardian.
  8. ^ WATTS, ELLIE-MARIE (22 October 2015). "Students shepherd ideas". Port Stephens Examiner.
  9. ^ SWAIN, EMMA (5 October 2015). "Sustainable architecture gathering comes to Shepherds Ground | PHOTOS". The Maitland Mercury.
  10. ^ a b WATSON, ELLE (26 January 2015). "Gulgong's Holtermann Museum launch reveals first drawings". Mudgee Guardian.
  11. ^ "Australian architects offer free design services to bushfire victims". Dezeen. 7 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Architects organize to provide pro-bono services to those affected by Australian bushfires". Archpaper.com. 8 January 2020.
  13. ^ Whish, Bec (16 January 2020). "Architects and interior designers are offering free services to bushfire victims who've lost their homes". Vogue Australia.
  14. ^ "Architect's Assist in rebuilding Australian bushfire ravaged homes". Architecture & Design. 8 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Can architects help bushfire-ravaged communities rebuild?". ArchitectureAU. 7 January 2020.
  16. ^ a b Compton, Leon (18 February 2020). "Intentional Communities". ABC Radio Hobart.
  17. ^ Holmes, Adam (10 June 2020). "Land share idea could ease housing stress in Launceston". The Examiner. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  18. ^ Dailey, Jessica (2 October 2021). "Tasmanian House by Jiri Lev Architect". Dwell. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Pomoc postiženým tornádem nabízejí i architekti - Novinky.cz". www.novinky.cz. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Tasmanian House | Jiri Lev". Architecture & Design. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  21. ^ Whiteman, Hilary (8 April 2020). "The Australian architects designing homes to withstand bushfires". CNN. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  22. ^ Chapman, Clare (21 January 2020). "A changing climate: architecture in 2020 and beyond".
  23. ^ Renew. "Tiny treasure - Sanctuary magazine". Renew. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Tasmanian House Shows How to 'Make the Most Out of Quite Little'". Treehugger. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  25. ^ "A sustainable design response to Australia's housing crisis". 7 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  26. ^ a b "The Courtyard House". The Owner Builder. 216: 42–43. December 2019 – February 2020.
  27. ^ Davison, Sarah (28 August 2021). "Big dreams for small home". The Examiner. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Tasmanian architect unveils DIY house, which can be built in six months for $150k". www.9news.com.au. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Architektura jako poslání - MINUTA". ARCHIZOOM.CZ (in Czech). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Atelier Jiri Lev, Sasha Lev · Tasmanian House". Divisare. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Tasmanian House / Atelier Jiri Lev". ArchDaily. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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