Borek Sipek (1949-2016) studied interior design in Prague before focusing on architecture in Hamburg, Germany at the Kunsthochschule. In 1983, he opened his design office after moving to the Netherlands. Sipek was known for his bold and colorful furniture and glassware designs, which he created for companies such as Driade and Lasvit. These stunning projects earned the designer a number of awards during his career, including the Croix Chevalier Dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1991) and the Prins Bernard Fons Prize for Architecture and the Applied Arts (1993). In addition to these honors, Borek Sipek served as court architect of Prague Castle, the official residence of Vaclav Havel, the former Czech president. In his obituary it was reported that “fellow Czech designer Maxim Velcovsky described Sipek as 'a global postmodern star' and said he played a key role in saving the Czech hand-made glass industry.”