Ing. Arch. Jiří Richter

Jiri is responsible for leading multidisciplinary teams at all stages. He is a seasoned architect with experience in public building and the education sector. He was the project manager for the refurbishment and extension of the Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague and he is taking charge of the hockey stadium in Jihlava from study to tender documentation. In 2022, he was appointed Design Director, responsible for overseeing the entire office’s competition production. 

With over 15 years of experience, Jiri Richter stands among the finest European architects, working for studios in London, Zurich, Barcelona, and Brussels. His educational background includes teaching at the Technical University of Liberec, reflecting a solid foundation that has guided his career in the field of architecture. Jiri Richter believes that flexibility is key to sustainability and is particularly passionate about construction using wooden and demountable materials. His philosophy extends to both renovating existing structures and designing new ones, emphasizing a harmonious blend of the old and the new in architectural endeavours.

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Abstract

CREATIVE REUSE OF CITIES

Our cities are not static – they are living systems shaped by history, culture, and the way people live in them. As cities grow, the needs of their communities change too. But too often, this change means destroying what’s already there – buildings are torn down, streets are rebuilt, and the unique identity of a place gets lost.

Today, we know we can’t keep doing this. The construction industry is responsible for around 38% of global CO2 emissions. So instead of tearing things down and starting from scratch, we need to focus on using what we already have. This helps not only the environment but also keeps the memory and character of our cities alive.

But reuse shouldn’t be just a technical task. It’s not only about saving materials. It should also protect the story, the atmosphere, and the soul of a place. So we ask: how can we make reuse creative? How can we transform spaces while keeping what makes them meaningful?

There are, however, cases when preservation or reuse is simply not possible – when materials are too damaged to fix, when urban needs evolve, or when history itself is layered with erasure. In these cases, how do we balance progress and memory? How do we build anew without repeating mistakes of the past? And can demolition, too, be an act of creative continuity?

For the past 15 years, we’ve explored what we call Creative Reuse of Cities, which operates along a spectrum of interventions – from retrofitting and adaptive reuse to reimagining spaces and even building anew. We see it as a way to improve urban life – by renewing neighborhoods, adding public spaces, bringing back forgotten heritage, or creating buildings that serve many functions and spark change in whole districts.