16.9.2011
Rounded Loft in Prague, Czech Republic
A principios del año 2010 comenzamos el diseño de un gran ático tipo loft en Praga. Fue un nuevo reto tener que hacer frente a un espacio para vivir "ilimitado", ya que nuestra experiencia previa se centró principalmente en la pequeña escala. Lograr un espacio "ilimitado" se convirtió en el leit-motiv del trabajo. Los espacios privados, como las habitaciones, están separados, pero el resto de las salas para las actividades comunes están conectadas dentro de un espacio fluido. Todo se inicia en el hall de entrada con armarios-vestidores y sigue hacia el espacio de estar y cocina-comedor, abierto a la galería superior, que se dispone para los huéspedes. Para lograr esa fluidez decidimos redondear algunas de las esquinas interiores, lo que finalmente le da al espacio un carácter suave y único. Debido a estos rincones “suavizados”, uno se mueve sintiéndose “libre” al lograr simplemente que las paredes de alguna manera “desaparezcan”. Incluso la escalera con la chimenea y la biblioteca integrada sube por una esquina redondeada. Su baranda está hecha de una fina red de acero inoxidable, segura y a la vez transparente.
At the beginning of the year 2010 we had started designing grand attic loft in Prague. It was a new challenge for us to deal with almost «boundless» space for living according to our previous experience focused mainly on small scale.
The issue of «boundless» space became the main motif of our work. The private spaces such as bedrooms are ofcourse separated, but the rest of common activities rooms are connected within one fluent space. It starts at the entrance hall with dressing wardrobes and slightly continues towards living space and kitchen with large dining table, the space is also opened to upper gallery which is meant for guests. To reach specific fluency of space we decided to round off some of the interior corners, which finally give the space its unique smooth character. Due to these softened corners one moves and feel simply free and the bounderies of walls somehow disappears. Even the staircase with integrated fireplace and library climbs up in rounded corner. The railing is made out of thin stainless steel net, so it is safe but even smooth and transparent.
Next to the main continuos living space there are three bedrooms and one study room, and some storage spaces integrated mostly as built in furniture. The issue of materials was another important part of the project. Their main atributes are touchableness and pure naturalness. We chose carefully many of them together with clients at stone workshop and joinery. Most of woden furniture were tailor made pieces. Beige large format tiles are used on all attic floors to support the feeling of continuity. We exposed as much of the wooden bearing structure as we could. The kitchen counter is made out of black granite stone which is next to bright marble on the wall behind. There is used walnut wood for the dining table and ash veneer for the light above. The living space is connected with the kitchen by raw grey plaster.