Ivan Rijavec

Ivan Rijavec (born 1951)^[1] is a Slovenian-born Australian architect. He studied architecture at the Western Australian Institute of Technology in Perth, the Architectural Association in London, and RMIT in Melbourne, graduating in 1979.^[2]

Emerging as a solo practitioner by 1990, his work frequently included complex curving geometries in three dimensions, and was nominated for various awards.

In 1992 he designed a new facilities and entry building for the Fitzroy Pool, which was a finalist in the AIA awards the next year. Notable projects include the Alessio house, Templestowe (1997),^[3] which won the Dulux Colour Award in 2000, and the Chen House, Kew (1998), which was a finalist in the AIA awards that year, both featuring complex curved planning and surfaces.^[4]

About 2001, Rijavek was the architect for a large apartment project in Fitzroy bounded by Napier, Kerr, Young and Argyle Streets known as NKYA, and also known as 'the cheesegrater' after the cone-shaped element on one corner.^[5] The project was controversial for its scale, opposed by the local Council, publicly supported by the architect,^[6] and subject to challenges and delays.^[7] It was not finally completed until about 2012.

Along with photographer John Gollings, Rijavec was one of the Creative Directors for Australia for the 2010 Venice Biennale of Architecture.^[8]