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Vršovice Twins, Prague, Czech Republic by Studio Reaktor

Project name:
Vršovice Twins
Architecture firm:
Studio Reaktor
Location:
Ruská 568/34, 100 00 Prague 10 – Vršovice, Czech Republic
Photography:
Michaela Kociánová
Principal architect:
Jakub Heidler, Tereza Komárková
Design team:
Stanislav Heidler, Blanka Heidlerová
Collaborators:
Built area:
Usable floor area 20 m² per apartment
Site area:
Design year:
2022
Completion year:
2023
Interior design:
Environmental & MEP engineering:
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
Landscape:
Lighting:
Material:
Metal beams – bearing structure. Stainless steel – railing. Smoked glass – bathroom. Scratched paintwork – living area. Lacquered stucco – walls. Oak parquet – flooring
Construction:
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Client:
Private
Budget:
80 000 €
Status:
Built
Typology:
Residential › Apartment

Two Instead of One

Studio Reaktor: From the Vršovice apartment, twins emerged. The 40 m² floor plan was divided into two resembling units by architects. The interiors of each unit were inspired by the texture of the original plasterwork. The so-called "Blues" unit is overall darker, playing with black accents and smoked glass. On the other hand, the second unit, called the "Yellows" combines softer and lighter shades with translucent glazing.

The Split Reflected in Detail

Glass partitions between the kitchen and bathroom in both spaces allow light to penetrate into the depths of the floor plan. The kitchen counter seamlessly connects to the bathroom furniture, creating an optical illusion with the reflection of the sink, faucet, and cabinets. It represents a symbolic split, referring to the division of the whole.

Original Paintwork as Artwork

The old, scratched paintwork was preserved in the half of the layout. Small cracks give authenticity to the walls, turning the space into an artistic composition. Only linear marks from the electrician for switch placement, workers' notes, and a "vagris" - a horizontal line at a height of 1 m facilitating the precise installation of all reconstruction layers - have been added to the paintings.

Utilizing the Height

Built-in steel "I-beam" structures increase the usable area. The railing is woven with stainless steel cables, and each room has a different decor, reminiscent of the Secession railing of an apartment building. The sleeping area was plastered without painting, allowing the craftsmanship of the plasterers to show through a translucent matte lacquer.

Details and Accessories

The space is adorned with original stucco, casement windows, oak parquet flooring, and cleaned panel doors cut above the third hinge to fit under the sleeping loft. The main lighting is provided by a vertical bundle of fluorescent lights reminiscent of a lantern. Welds, scratches, and visible brushstrokes are welcomed throughout the entire apartment.

About studio / author

Studio Reaktor builds strong architectural stories! Our work is based on synergy and interdisciplinary relationships. New solutions emerge from long-term clashes of opinions. Graphics, landscape designers, construction engineers and other specialists essential to providing quality results and development are invited to our design process. Approaching standard briefs unconventionally and leaving the old and conventional ways behind, we think outside of the box to get to the core of each project. We discover ways of improving the environment we all live in.


By Liliana Alvarez

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