esté architekti: Maisonette in Prague's Letná, a six-month road trip with children around the United States and a passion for the Czech graffiti scene and art in general. From the simple assignment of minor layout adjustments for easier functioning of the family, in which the children will start going to school one by one after the "last" holidays, the overall facelift of the apartment crystallized during the design and preparation.
The first reconstruction took place together with the purchase of part of the high-rise apartment building from the late 1930s several years ago in cooperation with investors and Majaq architects. From this time comes the solution on the principle of open layout of the lower part of the apartment around the central chimney wall. The floors were connected by a straight steel staircase with a partially glass railing. The upper bedroom was connected by a roof built-in neck, from which it is possible to enter the terrace facing west to the courtyard.
Distinctive personalities and temperaments of our long-term friends reflect not only the color paintings and installations that gradually filled their living space, but also the chosen concept of interior adjustments and shifts. We entered the variety and relative habitability with new materials and other colors hidden in the carpentry elements of wardrobes and built-in wardrobes. The color of the interior thus constantly changes with its daily use. The original concrete screeds on the walls and oak parquet floors have been preserved, which have been renovated with toning into their natural shade. The kitchen has been upgraded, there is no need to get rid of things that work unnecessarily. The new geometry of the stair railing, on the other hand, defended the new glass. All other areas and elements were maximally simplified, illuminated and harmonized so that the elevated space of open layout still stands out and at the same time the colors of the paintings and the added furniture dominated against the background of clean walls with a minimum of details. The wings of the inner doors with hidden door frames are therefore made in a repainted white painting of the adjoining walls.
The entrance hall closes the entrance hall with a large-format mirror wall with integrated doors to the bathroom and toilet. The original separate loggia to the courtyard was glazed at the level of the façade, creating an illuminated niche extending the corridor with padded seating and at the same time another exhibition area. Point. The color accents are closed by a light and dark gray cement trowel in the bathroom with a small-format anthracite mosaic shower.
The rule of working with empathy for specific people, their lives and needs has been confirmed. To step outside our comfortable minimalist design zone, the investors themselves inspired us with their distinctive taste and the investor's non-conforming wardrobe. The whole process was not easy thanks to remote communication, but we definitely thank you for the opportunity.
About esté architekti studio
With each new job, it catches us. It's not about space, scale or money. We have learned to perceive space and the surrounding world through its potential, thus moving every task, our investors but also ourselves. Whether it is a housing, public or commercial project, we always base the design process on close contact and involvement of the investor, team of designers and suppliers. They are an essential part of the journey from the first sketch to a good result. It should not just be about fullfilling the assignment, it should push the boundaries, cultivate, open new horizons, fulfill dreams, enjoy and make an environment in which we live in a slightly better place.
