The twenty most sought-after architects in the Czech Republic. Who builds for the richest Czechs? Forbes

IVANA DOMBKOVÁ

It doesn't always have to be villas and family houses. Ivana Dombková (together with Rostislav Černík) focuses mainly on apartments, whether it is a complete renovation or new apartments in development projects. For example, she worked for Zdenek Bakala, now she is involved in the reconstruction of an apartment building in Pařížská street for PPF.

Among her clients are a number of athletes, for example Martin Ručinský. Her work can be seen in Prague, Český Krumlov (attic renovation in the photo) and other cities. Although the focus of her work is on apartment architecture, she has also designed a number of family houses and the Škrobák Winery in Čejkovice.

His name was often seen in connection with the design of the house that was to be built near St. Agnes Monastery in Prague and which earned the nickname Maršmeloun.

Fránek, who is the former dean of the Faculty of Art and Architecture at the Technical University of Liberec, is also the author of, for example, Trails in the Clouds in Lower Moravia and is behind the award-winning three-story CCC private gallery in Beijing, which he created for the Czech-Chinese married couple Strakovy. For the Liko-S company, he designed the object of the Liko-Noe laboratories, which show the possibilities of connecting ecology and architecture.

STANISLAV FIALA

He is the court architect of the billionaire Petr Němec and his company Sebre, their names are connected in the name of the architectural office Fiala and Němec. His most striking recent construction is the corner multi-functional Drn building on Prague's Národní třída and the reconstruction of the historic Špork Palace. He also designed a family house in Belgrade for the Germans. He is also the author of a number of corporate residences, the Devil's Burden golf club or a family home on the island of Caicos in the Caribbean.

PETR HÁJEK

Architect of the year 2018. He became famous, for example, for the expansion of the Center for Contemporary Art DOX or the reconstruction of the water tower in Prague on Letná. His work can often be seen in public spaces, for example he is behind the renovation of Horní náměstí in Olomouc or the castle hill in Litomyšl. But he also designs family houses.

For example, his Chameleon in Lipenice, a villa in Beroun, Černín or the award-winning building of the Krkonoše Environmental Education Center are well-known. Petr Hájek himself tests how his buildings work. He is said to have slept one night in all the houses he designed.

RADAN HUBIČKA

No one from our selection made it higher. At least as far as living in the Czech Republic is concerned. Radan Hubička is the author of the 30-story skyscraper V Tower, which, at 104 meters, is the tallest apartment building in the Czech Republic.

Luxury projects are not new for Hubička, he is the author of the house (partially hidden in the ground) of Zdeňko Bakala in Modrava in Šumava, he designed an extensive villa for Roman Janousek. For Petr Kellner's PPF group, he designed an office building known as Lední medvěd or Line, which was to be built in Prague's Dejvice.

PAVEL CHLÁDEK

Zlín and modern architecture have been going together for a long time. Today, the most prominent name here is Pavel Chládek. He comes from a family of architects and returned to his hometown after an internship in the Netherlands.

He mainly designs modern functionalist villas with a typical white color. In addition to a number of minimalist family houses, an apartment building in Zlín has recently been built according to his design.

ONDŘREJ CHYBÍK

Together with Michal Krištof, he forms a pair that made it to the selection of the Czech and Slovak Forbes 30 under 30. They studied in Brno, but soon surpassed it with their works and today are among the most outstanding young architects at U.S.

For example, they won the Penta tender, for which they designed the Waltrovka apartment complex in Prague, they created a modern building for the Lahofer winery, they designed an administrative center for Lesy ČR for half a billion crowns, and they presented themselves to the general public with the Czech pavilion for Expo in Milan three years ago.

EVA JIŘIČNÁ

The most famous Czech architect who influenced most of the other architects from our selection. She has lived in London since 1968, and since the 1990s she has also been active in the Czech Republic, where she has the AI ​​Design studio with Petr Vágner.

Among her most famous works is, for example, the interior of the London insurance company Lloyds, she collaborated with Jan Kaplický on the creation of the Harrods department store. For example, the Josef and Maximilian hotels are highly valued here. There are several buildings in Zlín based on her designs, for example the Congress Center or the university complex that opened last year. She designed a Prague villa for billionaire Luďek Sekyra, with whom she also collaborates on commercial projects, such as a residential and office center on Rohanské ostrov in Prague, which is due to start construction next year.

JAKUB KLAŠKA

The Zaha Hadid Architects studio belongs to the world's top and most famous names in architecture. And Jakub Klaška has been working there for eight years. He is now in charge of the preparation of the project for the reconstruction of the Masaryk railway station in Prague. The construction of a modern office and shopping center with several buildings is expected to cost up to 10 billion crowns, and the investment group Penta is behind it. In addition, he is involved in the project of a unique football stadium for the English club Forest Green Rovers.

PETR KOLÁŘ

Together with Aleš Lapka, they founded the ADR studio 22 years ago, which they still manage together and which is one of the most sought-after architectural offices in our country. For example, they designed the Open Gate school for the number one Czech billionaire Petr Kellner, Kolář is the main creator of Jiří Šmejc's private luxury resort in the Maldives.

LADISLAV LÁBUS

He works as the dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University, yet he is still active in his studio. He is the author of a number of reconstructions in historical buildings, for example the reconstruction of the Langhans Palace in the center of Prague is well-known. Recently, he designed, for example, the reconstruction and extension of an apartment building in Na Smetance Street in Vinohrady, Prague.

PETR MALINSKÝ

He took part in the complete renovation of a villa in Ořechovce in Prague, which the Dam studio did for Václav and Olga Havlova. Currently, he designs both villas and residences, as well as administrative units.

Malinský is now working on the revitalization of the Modrá Hůrka castle in southern Bohemia. Among the prestigious and non-traditional orders of recent times are, for example, the repair of the tower, chapel and astronomical clock of the Old Town Hall or the repair of the royal tomb in the Cathedral of St. Welcome to Prague Castle.

VÍT MÁSLO

Together with David Richard Chisholm, he designs houses not only for the richest Czechs, but also for the stars of Czech show business. He designed the Engel House near Karlovy Vary for Jiří Bartoška. A luxurious summer villa in Čeladná in Moravia received a lot of attention.

He is the co-author of a number of office and residential projects, such as Karolina Ostrava or the ArtGen building, which was created for PPF. He is preparing the reconstruction of the Nuselský brewery for Penta.

MJÖLK ARCHITEKTI

It is difficult to choose just one from this trio. Jan Mach, Jan Vondrák and Lukáš Holub studied architecture in Liberec and have been working as Mjölk Architects in this city ever since.

They chose a Swedish name for their studio (Mjölk means milk) and their buildings are very close to Nordic conceptual simplicity and - as they say - youthful openness.

For example, their Lesní vila u Prahy, the Uhlík house, the House in the fence or the House for Markétka are well-known. They prove that it is possible to create a successful office right after school, especially in a smaller town. There they also run a pub, film festival or running races.

EVA LE PEUTREC

The native of Hořice has an admirable drive and those around her often do not understand how she manages such a large number of projects.

It has established itself mainly in China, where it already has 24 skyscrapers - the tallest of them, the Agricultural Trade Center, is 348 meters tall. Its buildings are in Shanghai, Shuzhou and other cities. However, its portfolio is much more diverse: luxury hotels, shopping malls, private villas... and a city for a million inhabitants, Yuchang. She lives in New Caledonia and works as an independent consultant. The great asset of her work is that a significant part of her projects are actually implemented.

JOSEF PLESKOT

Belongs to the most important Czech architects. He designed a family house for Petr Kellner in Vrané nad Vltavou, he is the author of a spacious modern villa, which was built on the floor plan of an old homestead in Prague's Dejvice.

His name is firmly connected with the revitalization of the Lower Vítkovice area, on which he worked for Jan Světlík. In Prague, the new ČSOB building in Radlice caused a great response. His most recent projects include, for example, the reconstruction of Vavrečkova's villa in Zlín.

VIKTORIE SOUČKOVÁ

She worked for a long time in Great Britain, including in Norman Foster's office, and returned to Prague 11 years ago. Her architectural studio recently became part of London-based Bogle Architects. According to her proposal, the unique scientific center Eli was created in Dolní Břežany, where the most powerful laser in the world is located. Součková is also behind the recently completed apartment complex Šárecký dvůr in Prague's Vokovice or, for example, the headquarters of British billionaire Pavel Bouška.

JÁN STEMPEL

He comes from Slovakia, studied architecture in Budapest, has lived and worked in the Czech Republic for over 30 years. He has a studio with Jan Jakub Tesař, where they mainly design family houses. Simplicity and airiness are typical for their buildings. A prime example is from the recent reconstruction of a historic mill, when a strip of wall and roof was "cut out" of the original building.

BARBORA ŠKORPILOVÁ

She is the co-founder of the Mimolimit studio, which has focused mainly on interior design since 2001. Her work can be seen, for example, in the luxury hotel resort of billionaire Jiří Šmejc (the complex was designed by the ADR studio) in the Maldives. A little more accessible from her work are, for example, the administrative buildings of PPF in Dejvice or J&T in Bratislava.

Although he excels in interior design, he also designs residences and apartment buildings. Currently, the hotel Chateau Clara Futura – a castle in Dolní Břežany – has been completed, and the four-star hotel Hradec in the center of Pec pod Sněžkou, which is due to open next year, is also being completed.

HOW DID WE CHOOSE?

There are certainly more successful architects who build and design beautiful houses here. When choosing, we took into account the number and size of the orders that they have implemented in recent years, as well as clients who belong to the richest people in the Czech Republic and have selected architects build private houses, apartments or their office and residential complexes. We made the selection based on a series of meetings and consultations with architects and experts in the field.

The entire text was originally published in ForbesLife magazine in Fall 2018.

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