Stepped Volumes Apartment, Prague

The stepped-volumes apartment is a gut renovation of a unit in Prague, Czech Republic. The kitchen was shifted South to free up the windows for the new study. The Fit-out was done by Euroedil  and the Architecture by Preda Architecture. The new galley kitchen is compact but functional and receives natural light from an interior window overlooking the new study/guest bedroom. A stepped tall cased-opening links the living room to the kitchen, further bringing in light. The step reconciles the lower datum of the study door with the taller opening that leads into the foyer. Simple cabinetry from Ikea is elevated by a handmade backsplash subway tile and palladiana floor–a hint to the Italian heritage of the architecture studio.

The oversized foyer was reduced with the introduction of a sculptural stepped volume that houses a walk-in closet and creates a threshold to the main bedroom. Here, another stepped volume houses an en-suite bathroom that receives natural light from a round window, whose height is set to align with the head of a person taking a shower.

The reason for using a stepped geometry for these “inserted elements” is two-fold. Visually, the steps differentiate the new volumes from the existing fabric. Pragmatically, the formed shelves provide space to showcase objects or for additional storage. The use of color reinforces the distinction between existing and inserted geometries, which are left white.

The material palette for the main spaces is purposely neutral. The existing oak wood floor was sanded and refinished wherever possible. The foyer required a new wood floor, which was installed at an angle to differentiate it from the historic herringbone parquet. The interior of smaller spaces, such as the powder room, the bathroom, and the kitchen, is more playful and uses colorful cabinetry, tiles, grout, and paint to provide each small space with its own character.

The apartment is sparsely furnished meeting the minimalist sensibility of the client. Several of the furniture are traditional Czech pieces. The media console is a vintage Czech design with new metal legs. The metal and bent plywood chairs around the dining table are a conventional Czech design found in schools throughout the country. Most millwork is off-the-shelf but integrated into niches to look built-in.