Amanda Levete facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Levete
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1955 (age 69–70) Bridgend, Wales
|
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Architectural Association |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), for services to architecture. Jane Drew Prize, Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Royal Academician, The Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize |
| Practice | AL_A |
| Buildings |
|
Amanda Jane Levete (born 1955) is a famous British architect. An architect is a person who designs buildings. She is the head of her own company, AL_A.
Levete is known for designing unique and futuristic buildings. One of her most famous early projects was the Lord's Media Centre in London. This project won the important Stirling Prize in 1999. She has won many other awards for her creative work.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Amanda Levete was born in Bridgend, a town in South Wales. She went to school at St Paul's Girls' School in London. After that, she studied art and then architecture at the Architectural Association.
Her career started at a company called Alsop & Lyall. She later worked for the Richard Rogers Partnership, another famous architecture firm. In 1985, she was recognized as a promising young architect.
Career as an Architect
Levete has worked on many exciting projects throughout her career. She first became well-known while working at a company called Future Systems. Later, she started her own successful firm.
Working at Future Systems
In 1989, Levete became a partner at the company Future Systems. She worked there with her husband at the time, Jan Kaplický. Together, they designed some amazing buildings.
One of their most famous creations is the Lord's Media Centre. It looks like a sleek, space-age pod overlooking the cricket ground. Another is the Selfridges Birmingham department store. It is covered in thousands of shiny aluminum discs.
Their buildings often had smooth, curved shapes. This style was made possible by new computer design tools. Some people called this style "blobitecture" because of its blob-like forms.
Starting Her Own Company: AL_A
In 2009, Levete started her own architecture company called AL_A. The company quickly became famous for its innovative designs.
One of AL_A's biggest projects was for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. They designed a new entrance, courtyard, and gallery. The courtyard is special because it is covered in beautiful handmade ceramic tiles. This was the museum's largest project in over 100 years.
AL_A has designed buildings all over the world. Some of their other projects include:
- The Spencer Dock Bridge in Dublin, Ireland.
- The MAAT in Lisbon, Portugal. This museum has a flowing roof that you can walk on.
- The Central Embassy, a futuristic shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand.
- A new building for Wadham College at the University of Oxford.
- A center for the Maggie's cancer care charity in Southampton.
.jpg)
In 2025, Levete and other top UK designers signed a letter to the government. They asked for rules to protect artists' work from being used by artificial intelligence without permission.
Awards and Recognition
Amanda Levete has received many awards for her work. In 2017, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a high honor in the United Kingdom, given for her services to architecture.
In 2018, she won the Jane Drew Prize. This award celebrates women who have made a big impact in architecture. She has also been honored by groups in America and was elected a Royal Academician, a title for top artists and architects in Britain.
Personal Life
Levete was married to Czech architect Jan Kaplický from 1991 to 2006. They worked together at Future Systems and had one son.
Since 2007, Levete has been married to Ben Evans. He is the director of the London Design Festival.
See also
In Spanish: Amanda Levete para niños
