Eva Jiřičná

Eva Jiřičná is a world-renowned Czech-British architect famous for her sleek, high-tech commercial interiors and her pioneering, innovative use of structural glass. One of her most celebrated early works is the 1990 Joan & David shop in London. She also designed the wildly popular interior of the Boca di Lupo bar.

Eva Jiřičná was born in Zlín, Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia). She initially studied and practiced architecture in Prague before fleeing to London following the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. She eventually established her highly successful architectural practice, Eva Jiřičná Architects (EJA), in the UK.

Jiřičná is heavily associated with industrial, high-tech materials, most notably glass and stainless steel. She pushes the boundaries of structural engineering by using glass not just for walls or windows, but as load-bearing structural elements like stairs and beams. Her minimalist designs often integrate high-gloss metals and futuristic lighting to create a sense of weightlessness.

While Eva Jiřičná is a prominent figure in London architecture, the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympics was actually designed by the late Zaha Hadid. Jiřičná did, however, design the interior spaces of the nearby residential development at the Olympic Park. Her legacy remains strongest in bespoke retail and hospitality interiors.