Chybik + Kristof’s first publication, Crafting Character – FRAME Publishers’ latest release, out today in Europe – shares learnings from the team’s 13 years of practice.

Based between London, Prague, Brno and Bratislava, architecture and urban design firm Chybik + Kristof has completed over 500 projects since its establishment in 2010. Crafting Character marks an exciting collaboration between Chybik + Kristof, Lukas Kijonka and ExLovers Studio, Adrian Madlener and Frame Publishers, kickstarting an  exchange between character and audience, book and reader, building and city. The volume is a tool for readers looking to understand how to design spaces that harmoniously interact with their surroundings, convey a true sense of purpose and leave a lasting impression on those who experience them.  

Key projects emerge as platforms to investigate today’s most pressing design issues, from sustainability to affordability. Organized through fourteen vignettes and eight themes – including adaptive reuse, materiality and integration – the book draw ties between relational culture and Chybik + Kristof’s philosophy. ‘This monograph is a testament to our studio's dedication of infusing cultural meaning and social relevance into all built environments, ensuring that these structures become more than just spaces but rather expressions of a collective identity and repositories of history, making them indispensable assets that communities are determined to preserve for generations to come,’ explain Ondřej Chybík and Michal Kristof, the founders of Chybik + Kristof. 

Framed by a foreword by architecture critic Aaron Betsky and an insightful commentary by writer Adrian Madlener, a reader is guided through the world of Chybik + Kristof over 301 full-colour pages, understanding how the architects balance social and environmental responsibility. Following an edit by FRAME’s François-Luc Giraldeau, Crafting Character infuses the distinct voices of the practice within the monograph’s narrative, establishing them as design influences of this generation.

Ultimately, the monograph aims to plant seeds for architecture and design solutions that support a progressive future. ‘We are excited to share the stories behind our projects and inspire fellow architects, designers, and architecture enthusiasts,’ say Chybík and Kristof.

Purchase your copy of Crafting Character here.