<Věra Machoninová> will celebrate her ninetieth birthday

photo: Lukáš Beran

Prague - Architect Věra Machoninová is (often with her husband Vladimír Machonin) the author of a number of significant buildings primarily in the style of brutalism. Among the most famous are the Kotva department store in Prague, the Thermal hotel complex in Karlovy Vary, and the Czechoslovak embassy in Berlin. A holder of several prestigious awards, who also engages in interior design, will celebrate her 90th birthday on September 27 this year.

Born in Strakonice, she studied at the Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering. She then worked at the state project institute in Prague. There, in 1967, she and her husband founded their own studio, Alfa. As the couple opposed the Soviet occupation in August 1968, they could only create to a limited extent afterward, and for example, they could not participate in architectural competitions, which led to the closure of the studio. Machoninová became an employee of the Project Institute of the Capital City of Prague, where she mainly supervised projects. In addition, she devoted herself to interior design. In 1991, she revived Atelier Alfa, but without her husband, who passed away in 1990.

The work of the Machonins is valued for its timelessness; Machoninová became renowned for experimenting with new materials and technologies. In shaping her own style, they also drew from knowledge of world architecture and experiences from their travels.

A few years after completing her studies, she and her husband won their first significant competition for the construction of the House of Culture in Jihlava. Another major success was winning the competition for the construction of an international hotel and festival cinema in Karlovy Vary, the current Thermal hotel complex.

Shortly after founding Atelier Alfa, she received an offer to design the Housing Culture House (DBK) on Budějovická Street in Prague. Ultimately, she shaped the entire surrounding area; besides DBK, she also designed a metro station and two administrative buildings. Her daughter Pavla Kordovská later contributed to the design of the square, who along with her husband designed the local bank buildings.

Among the greatest successes of the Machonins is their victory in the competition for the Kotva department store, which was built between 1970 and 1975. The entire building was assembled from self-supporting hexagonal segments, thus meeting the requirement for the largest possible sales area on a relatively small plot. At the same time, they also won the competition for the construction of the embassy in East Berlin, which is now a prime example of Czechoslovak brutalism.

After her husband's death, Machoninová continued to work, designing a number of apartment and family houses as well as interiors. Among her most notable realizations are the renovation of the center of Jablonec nad Nisou and the square in Štětí.

Machoninová has received several awards, including the Grand Prix of the Association of Architects in 2006, the most prestigious in her field in the Czech Republic. Last year, she received the Ministry of Culture award for her contribution to architecture, and in 2014, an Honor from the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA). According to the website archiweb.cz, the jury in selecting the recipient of this personality award from ČKA particularly appreciated the timeless quality of her work, "which in addition was created at a time that was not exactly favorable for architecture." The jury also expressed concerns about the fate of some of her buildings (Thermal, the embassy in Berlin, Kotva), stating that "they feel a duty to remind the owners and managers of these objects that they are works of exceptional architectural quality."

Věra Machoninová has three daughters. Besides Pavla, who is also an architect, Eva and Anna, both are doctors.