Jiri Lev

Jiri Lev
Born1979 (age 46–47)
Brno, Czechoslovakia
CitizenshipAustralia, Czech Republic
Alma materUniversity of Newcastle (Australia)
OccupationArchitect
Years active1998 – present
StyleContextual, Contemporary traditional, New classical
ParentJiří Löw

Jiri Lev (born 1979, /ˈjɪrɪ ˈlɛv/, Czech: Jiří Lev or germanised Löw) is an Australian architect and urbanist, active in residential, sacred, and public architecture, disaster recovery and humanitarian development.[1][2][3]

Career

Lev first established his multidisciplinary design practice in Prague in 1998, before relocating to Sydney, Australia in 2005.[3]

Lev’s works works are known for their highly varied, regionally specific, contextual, often traditional, sometimes classical style, inspired in the vernacular, prolific use of natural, raw, locally sourced construction materials,[1][4][5] and avoidance of synthetic treatments, paints and plastics.[6][7][8] His open-source residential designs have been widely replicated across Australia and North America.[9][10]

Lev is recognised for his philanthropic and community-focused initiatives.[11][3] Following the 2019-20 Australian bushfires, he established Architects Assist,[12][13] a joint initiative of six hundred architectural firms providing assistance to victims (later passed under the Australian Institute of Architects).[14][15][16] In 2021 he founded Architekti Pro Bono in Czechia to aid victims of the South Moravia tornado.[17]

Lev's firm, Atelier Jiri Lev is known not to enter awards nor photograph or publish their works[18] (with exception of their open-source projects). Published works include Holtermann Museum (2015),[19] Courtyard House (2018),[20] Tasmanian House (2021),[21][22][23] Tasmanian Homestead (2023)[9] and Tasmanian House 3 (2025).[24] The atelier's projects are located across Australian states and internationally.

Personal life

Lev was born in 1979 in Brno, Czechoslovakia (today Czech Republic). He relocated to Sydney, Australia in 2005. He studied architecture at the University of Newcastle, where he founded a grassroots architecture festival.[25][1][26][27]

Lev stood as an independent candidate in the 2025 Tasmanian state election,[28] proposing housing schemes for disadvantaged people and advocating for reforms to planning regulations, greater transparency, stronger environmental protection, and minimum aesthetic standards reflecting local character.[29][30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Architects Assist offers pro-bono bushfire services". Australian Design Review. 8 January 2020.
  2. ^ Wilson, Sally; Lev, Jiri (2022). "Designers in Profile". Sanctuary: Modern Green Homes (60): 96–96. ISSN 1833-1416.
  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. ^ Crerar, Chris; Lev, Sasha (2022). "Tiny treasure". Sanctuary: Modern Green Homes (58): 16–21. ISSN 1833-1416.
  5. ^ "A sustainable design response to Australia's housing crisis". 7 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ^ Williams, Steph (1 September 2024). "Tassie Architect Shares Affordable Living Design". The Hobart Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  7. ^ Holmes, Adam (10 June 2020). "Land share idea could ease housing stress in Launceston". The Examiner. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Tasmanian House Shows How to 'Make the Most Out of Quite Little'". Treehugger. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Architect uploads free plan for owner-builders to use". ABC News. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  11. ^ Honeyman, E (17 July 2023). "Architecture Bulletin / Resilience/ Vol. 80 No. 1/ 2023". Issuu. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  12. ^ Whiteman, Hilary (8 April 2020). "The Australian architects designing homes to withstand bushfires". CNN. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  13. ^ Charlesworth, Esther; Fien, John (30 December 2022). Design for Fragility: 13 Stories of Humanitarian Architects. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-81392-0.
  14. ^ "Australian architects offer free design services to bushfire victims". Dezeen. 7 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Architects organize to provide pro-bono services to those affected by Australian bushfires". Archpaper.com. 8 January 2020.
  16. ^ Whish, Bec (16 January 2020). "Architects and interior designers are offering free services to bushfire victims who've lost their homes". Vogue Australia.
  17. ^ "Pomoc postiženým tornádem nabízejí i architekti - Novinky.cz". www.novinky.cz. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  18. ^ ARCHIZOOM, redakce (3 September 2021). "Architektura jako poslání - MINUTA". ARCHIZOOM.CZ (in Czech). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  19. ^ WATSON, ELLE (26 January 2015). "Gulgong's Holtermann Museum launch reveals first drawings". Mudgee Guardian.
  20. ^ "The Courtyard House". The Owner Builder. 216: 42–43. December 2019 – February 2020.
  21. ^ "Atelier Jiri Lev, Sasha Lev · Tasmanian House". Divisare. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Tasmanian House / Atelier Jiri Lev". ArchDaily. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  23. ^ Dailey, Jessica (2 October 2021). "Tasmanian House by Jiri Lev Architect". Dwell. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  24. ^ Keighran, Mandi (7 July 2025). "Budget Breakdown: How an Architect Built a Family Home in Tasmania for $72K". Dwell. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  25. ^ Virtue, Robert (19 October 2015). "University students design infrastructure for flood-ravaged Dungog". ABC News.
  26. ^ WATTS, ELLIE-MARIE (22 October 2015). "Students shepherd ideas". Port Stephens Examiner.
  27. ^ "Architecture in the field: Archicamp 2015". ArchitectureAU.
  28. ^ Bailey, Sue. "Jiri Lev wants new approach to housing and 'dysfunctional' building regulations improved". The Mercury. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Architect in the running for upcoming state election". ArchitectureAu. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Lyons hopeful Jiri Lev launches plastic-free election campaign". Pulse Tasmania. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiri_Lev