20/029

Chybik+Kristof

Architects and Urban Designers
Prague/Brno/Bratislava

«We try to create bridges between private and public space, aiming for our work to transcend generations and social spheres.»

«I’m attracted to buildings that are fragment and unity at the same time – that are a closed system and an open arrangement.»

Please, introduce yourself and your Studio…

We started our practice, Chybik+Kristof Architects and Urban Designers in 2010 and since then we have grown to three studios in Prague, Brno and Bratislava. In our work we take into account local histories and environmental specificities, while trying to create bridges between private and public space, aiming for our work to transcend generations and social spheres.

Portrait Chybik Kristof

How did you find your way into the field of Architecture?

We both studied architecture in Brno, Czech Republic, and were interested in it from a young age. Ondrej’s father was teaching at the University so he was hypnotized by the “bohemian” architecture student life early on, when visiting his father at work.

Michal was always interested in working in the creative field, and as he was passionate about airplane modelling when he was young, he found being an architect as the closest profession to his hobby.

What are your experiences founding Chybik+Kristof and working as self-employed architects?

We decided to work together during a chat in a bar, in Venice, while attending that year’s biennale. We decided to join forces and work together on a competition that we eventually didn’t win. Nevertheless, we realized the importance of seeing things from a different perspective and that we complement each other well.

Your office is based in Prague, Brno, and Bratislava. How would you characterize and compare these locations for practicing architecture? How is the context of these places influencing your work?

These three locations are in fact all part of a somewhat similar culture, who’s borders have shifted many times. The locations therefore are quite similar in character, but each city has a multitude of situations that make them unique. We are grateful to be able to practice in an area where one can find inspiration in various architectural forms: from modernist jewels as the villa Tugendhat or baroque palaces, to flamboyant gothic cathedrals.
Also, our projects are also within the provincial landscape, for example the Lahofer winery set to open this Spring, in Znojmo, Czech Republic, an area famous for its wine production.

What does your desk/working space look like?

Working Spaces – Prague/Brno/Bratislava

For you personally, what is the essence of architecture?

Architecture is very powerful in that it can influence the experience of many over a long time, and therefore for us, architecture is responsibility. We welcome this with enthusiasm and we aim at making sure that the spaces we design inspire this in others.

Whom would you call your mentor?

Ondrej – PPAG lead architects, Anna Popelka and Georg Poduschka
Michal – Wim Goes, a teacher I had at Sint-Lucas in Ghent

Name a…

Book: Delirious NY

Person: Charles Correa

Building: Brno Crematorium - by Ernst Wiesner

How do you communicate / present Architecture?

We present our projects in as many ways as there are audiences. We use models to develop and communicate our designs to our clients, diagrams, photography and video for press and media. We both lecture at architecture festivals and universities, and we are interviewed about our work.

Your thoughts on Architecture and Society?

Architecture is a product of culture and society as a whole. It reflects our interactions and the way we live together so we design with this in mind, always. We trust our work contributes in a positive way to this relationship and invites to a better dialogue between the built environment and the society that inhabits it.

Project