Jiri Lev
Jiri Lev | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979 (age 46–47) |
| Citizenship | Australia, Czech Republic |
| Alma mater | University of Newcastle (Australia) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Years active | 1998 – present |
| Style | Contextual, Contemporary traditional, New classical |
| Parent | Jiří Löw |
Jiri Lev (born 1979, /ˈjɪrɪ ˈlɛv/, Czech: Jiří Lev or germanised Löw) is an Australian architect and urbanist, recognised for his residential, sacred and public architecture, and disaster recovery and humanitarian work.[1][2][3]
Career
[edit]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 publicise their client’s private residential projects.[18] 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 firm operates across Australian states and internationally.
Personal life
[edit]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 scheme for disadvantaged people and advocating for reforms to planning regulations, greater transparency, stronger environmental protection, and minimum aesthetic standard for new buildings, reflecting local character and tradition.[29][30]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Architects Assist offers pro-bono bushfire services". Australian Design Review. 8 January 2020.
- ↑ Wilson, Sally; Lev, Jiri (2022). "Designers in Profile". Sanctuary: Modern Green Homes (60): 96–96. ISSN 1833-1416.
- 1 2 3 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.
- ↑ Crerar, Chris; Lev, Sasha (2022). "Tiny treasure". Sanctuary: Modern Green Homes (58): 16–21. ISSN 1833-1416.
- ↑ "A sustainable design response to Australia's housing crisis". 7 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ↑ Williams, Steph (1 September 2024). "Tassie Architect Shares Affordable Living Design". The Hobart Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ↑ Holmes, Adam (10 June 2020). "Land share idea could ease housing stress in Launceston". The Examiner. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ↑ "Tasmanian House Shows How to 'Make the Most Out of Quite Little'". Treehugger. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- 1 2 "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.
- ↑ "Architect uploads free plan for owner-builders to use". ABC News. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ↑ Honeyman, E (17 July 2023). "Architecture Bulletin / Resilience/ Vol. 80 No. 1/ 2023". Issuu. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ Whiteman, Hilary (8 April 2020). "The Australian architects designing homes to withstand bushfires". CNN. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- ↑ Charlesworth, Esther; Fien, John (30 December 2022). Design for Fragility: 13 Stories of Humanitarian Architects. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-81392-0.
- ↑ "Australian architects offer free design services to bushfire victims". Dezeen. 7 January 2020.
- ↑ "Architects organize to provide pro-bono services to those affected by Australian bushfires". Archpaper.com. 8 January 2020.
- ↑ Whish, Bec (16 January 2020). "Architects and interior designers are offering free services to bushfire victims who've lost their homes". Vogue Australia.
- ↑ "Pomoc postiženým tornádem nabízejí i architekti - Novinky.cz". www.novinky.cz. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ↑ ARCHIZOOM, redakce (3 September 2021). "Architektura jako poslání - MINUTA". ARCHIZOOM.CZ (in Czech). Retrieved 25 December 2025.
- ↑ WATSON, ELLE (26 January 2015). "Gulgong's Holtermann Museum launch reveals first drawings". Mudgee Guardian.
- ↑ "The Courtyard House". The Owner Builder. 216: 42–43. December 2019 – February 2020.
- ↑ "Atelier Jiri Lev, Sasha Lev · Tasmanian House". Divisare. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ↑ "Tasmanian House / Atelier Jiri Lev". ArchDaily. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ↑ Dailey, Jessica (2 October 2021). "Tasmanian House by Jiri Lev Architect". Dwell. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ↑ Keighran, Mandi (7 July 2025). "Budget Breakdown: How an Architect Built a Family Home in Tasmania for $72K". Dwell. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ Virtue, Robert (19 October 2015). "University students design infrastructure for flood-ravaged Dungog". ABC News.
- ↑ WATTS, ELLIE-MARIE (22 October 2015). "Students shepherd ideas". Port Stephens Examiner.
- ↑ "Architecture in the field: Archicamp 2015". ArchitectureAU.
- ↑ Bailey, Sue. "Jiri Lev wants new approach to housing and 'dysfunctional' building regulations improved". The Mercury. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ↑ "Architect in the running for upcoming state election". ArchitectureAu. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ↑ "Lyons hopeful Jiri Lev launches plastic-free election campaign". Pulse Tasmania. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- 1979 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Australian male artists
- 21st-century Australian architects
- 21st-century Czech male artists
- 21st-century Czech artists
- Architects from Brno
- Architects from Prague
- Architects from Sydney
- Australian company founders
- Australian ecclesiastical architects
- Brno University of Technology alumni
- Czech emigrants to Australia
- Festival founders
- University of Newcastle (Australia) alumni