Vladimír Karfík
Vladimir Karfík (26 October 1901 – 6 June 1996) was a Czech modernist architect and university professor. His life, professional career and his work reflected changes characteristic for the 20th century.
Also recorded as Vladimir Karfik
Vladimír Karfík

Juraj Franců · CC BY 4.0
- Name
- Vladimír Karfík
- Born
- 26 October 1901
- Birthplace
- Idrija, Austria-Hungary (now Slovenia)
- Died
- 6 June 1996
- Place of death
- Brno, Czech Republic
- Occupation
- architect, university professor
- Nationality
- Czech Republic · Czechoslovakia · Austria–Hungary
- Education
- Czech Technical University in Prague
- Known for
- Baťa's Skyscraper · Hotel Zlín · Kostol Povýšenia svätého Kríža · Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Partizánske · Obchodní dům Baťa (Liberec) · Protestant church in Zlín · Malá scéna
- Honours
- honorary citizen of Brno
- Languages
- Czech
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Documentary summary
Vladimir Karfík (26 October 1901 – 6 June 1996) was a Czech modernist architect and university professor. His life, professional career and his work reflected changes characteristic for the 20th century.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q3504112 · wikipedia · Vladimír Karfík
In this article
Biography
Biography
Vladimír Karfík studied at Czech Technical University in Prague. The recorded working language is Czech. Places of work recorded in the authority are Brno and Zlín. Works named in the authority record are Baťa's Skyscraper, Hotel Zlín, Kostol Povýšenia svätého Kríža, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Partizánske, Obchodní dům Baťa (Liberec) and Protestant church in Zlín. Distinctions recorded are honorary citizen of Brno.

Zlín - Třída Tomáše Bati 21 - Baťův mrakodrap - Baťa's Skyscraper 1936-38 by Vladimír Karfík - 17th Floor - ICE Fisheye
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Zlín - Třída Tomáše Bati 21 - Baťův mrakodrap - Baťa's Skyscraper 1936-38 by Vladimír Karfík - 17th Floor - ICE Photo compilation
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Vladimír Karfík • Office — Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of SVŠT • Term Start1 — 1956 • Term End1 — 1958 • Born — 26 October 1901 • Birthplace — Idrija, Austria-Hungary (now Slovenia) • Died — 6 June 1996 • Place of death — Brno, Czech Republic • Alma Mater — Faculty of Architecture of Czech Technical University in Prague • Occupation — architect, university professor • Predecessor — Emanuel Hruška • Successor — Ján Svetlík
Career
Career
Karfík cooperated with many famous creators of the modern architecture all over the world. His architecture from in all periods of his life is very understandable and universal. The most important part of it was represented by function, construction, economy and beauty. Among other works, he designed Baťa's Skyscraper in Zlín. Karfík was one of a number of Czech architects to design the "Bata houses" and Bata shoe factory at East Tilbury, England.
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Baťa's Skyscraper, 19 • Illustration — Bata shoe factory
Identity
Identity
Vladimír Karfík is recorded as having received honorary citizen of Brno.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1901
Vladimír Karfík born at Idrija.
1996
Vladimír Karfík died at Brno.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Idrija.
Birth place
Brno.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Vladimír Karfík”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3504112: Vladimír Karfík
General reference · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
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reference work
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General reference
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
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Studied at
1- Czech Technical University in PragueOrganisation
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Work and production. Works recorded as notable number 8: Baťa's Skyscraper, Hotel Zlín, Kostol Povýšenia svätého Kríža, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Partizánske, Obchodní dům Baťa (Liberec), Protestant church in Zlín, Malá scéna and Obchodní dům Centrum. Connected to 1 other published record in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
Within the Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Design
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