Architektura is an architecture studio founded by David Kraus in 2002 and based in Záběhlice, Czech Republic. The studio is defined by its search for information, inspiration, and motivation outside of architecture itself: in music, martial arts, fine arts, and writing. They aspire to human versatility, defiance of categorization, and the absence of stylistic conventions, while continuously searching for the essence of Czech identity.
David Kraus is an architect, publicist, professor, and artist. A graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University (1989–1996), he trained in the studio of Miroslav Šik, was a member of the New Czech Work movement, and received his diploma in 1996 (from the industrial architecture studio of Emil Hlaváček).
His work, which encompasses diverse typologies, is characterized by creativity and an existential undercurrent. Among the most famous projects are the Strančice concrete plant (Czech Architecture Award 2018 - main prize, National Grand Prize for Architecture, New Construction Award), the Větrník kindergarten in Říčany (Central Bohemian Region Building of the Year 2023, Municipality-funded construction award, German Design Awards nomination 2024) or the Josefův Důl glass factory (Liberec Region Building of the Year 2023, Governor's Prize, Public Prize and Reconstruction Prize). In addition, he has received dozens of other awards: Grand Prix d'Architecture (2012, 2013), Top 100 Architects+ (2019–2025), Real Estate Project of the Year (2017, 2018), House of the Year (2004, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015), was nominated twice for Architect of the Year (2021 and 2025), was a finalist for the BigMat International Architecture Award in 2013, and was nominated for the CBRE Art of Space Award in 2019.
He is the author of more than 250 projects and has exhibited at the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery in Berlin, Moscow, Budapest, Zlín, and the House of Arts in Brno. He has given dozens of lectures, for example, at ETH Zurich, and repeatedly at Pecha Kucha Night, VŠUP, FA CTU, AVU, and others. TUL Liberec, Roxy, FOR ARCH, Days of Architecture, and in 2024 for the Croatian platform Koho.
The studio's clients include, for example, Prague Airport, the Prague City Fire and Rescue Department, the Czech Republic's General Directorate of Police, Prague City Hall, the Embassy of Lithuania, Europapier, Wurth, Ikem, Thomayer Hospital, Bulovka, numerous cities, municipalities, and private investors. The studio's projects can be found in the Czech Republic, Germany, the United States, Slovakia, and Oman.
She serves on juries for Czech and international competitions. Between 2000 and 2001, she was a member of the editorial board of Stavba magazine; in 1999/2000, of the Mánes association; and in 2000, of the Forum for the Restoration of the Vítkov Monument. and in 2000/2001, on the board of the Czech Architecture Foundation.
Some of her paintings from the VIZE exhibition were acquired by the National Gallery in 1997, and her work has been featured on radio programs and television reports (ČT Art, Události komentáře, the ČT 2 documentary Bílé vrány, Wave radio, Radio 1, R-plus, Vltava). Her studio's work has been published in approximately 400 articles and reports in the Czech Republic and abroad (in 2023, the Větrník kindergarten was named by the Czech media as the most featured Czech building abroad).
As an educator, he led the workshop at the Faculty of Arts of the Czech Technical University, was a visiting professor at the Academy of Fine Arts (2013) and the University of Applied Sciences (2021-2022), and collaborates with BUT Brno, VŠVÚ, AVU, FFUK, and Archipem. During his time at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University (2015-2018), his workshop received two awards: one for best workshop and another for best project (2016 and 2017). In 2021, he was nominated for Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University, in 2023 he was invited to run for Dean of the Czech Technical University, and in 2025 for Dean of the Technical University of Brno.
David Kraus draws inspiration from martial arts, percussion, and everyday objects, and remains firmly committed to finding a distinct Czech identity in architecture.
Miroslav Styk is an architect and a member of the Architektura team. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Slovak Technical University (2010-2014). He participated in the Erasmus program at ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon – Architecture (2014-2015). He earned a Master of Architecture degree from the Czech Technical University (2015-2018).
In 2017, he completed an internship at the ENSAMBLE studio in Madrid. Together with Martin Želiar and David Lašek, he won the
In 2017, she completed an internship at the ENSAMBLE studio in Madrid. Together with Martin Želiar and David Lašek, she won the jury prize in the Olovený Dušan competition for the project Most medzi a bytový dům (2017) at the Císler & Pazder studio. She wrote her undergraduate thesis under the supervision of architect David Kraus.
After graduating in 2018, she began working at the Architektura studio, where she participated in projects such as an administrative building for the Prague Fire and Rescue Service, the Czech Republic Police Headquarters building in Cheb, a single-family home in Jevany, the interior of the Würth company offices, the conversion of a glass factory in Josefův Důl, the observation tower in Dolný Slivno, the youth park at the Riegrova quarry in Úvaly, the completion of the Hálkova Primary School in Humpolec, and the design of a warehouse for the Europapier company.
