Ivar Otruba

Biography
Professor Ivar Otruba was a Czech landscape architect who significantly influenced the development of his field in the Czech Republic - his importance is practically impossible to overestimate. He was the author of many landscape architecture designs both at home and abroad - he designed and implemented spa parks, restorations of historical gardens and parks, botanical gardens and arboreta, cemeteries, and family gardens. He also dealt with horticultural exhibitions. He made a significant mark with his teaching activities and as an author of professional publications, and he was also a prominent popularizer of European garden and landscape architecture. He was a founding member of the Czech Chamber of Architects. Examples of his work include the timeless architecturally designed Botanical Garden and Arboretum of Mendel University in Brno, the spa of Karlova Studánka, the botanical garden in Štramberk, the spa of Bardejovské Kúpele, the Kamencové Lake area in Chomutov, the restoration of the castle garden and park in Mikulov, the Brno Trade Fairs and Exhibitions area, as well as many projects such as the castle area in Jezeří and the cemeteries in Most and Chomutov, which stand out significantly in terms of artistic quality from both Czech and international standards. Between 1990 and 2000, he developed the education of future landscape architects at Mendel University in Brno.