Černá Residence

The intent of the study was to propose a comprehensive restoration that preserves the valuable spatial principles of the historical building, while fundamentally increasing the quality of living and layout efficiency. The key objective was to create the maximum number of small-scale apartments and at the same time meaningfully utilize the previously inactive attic in the form of maisonette units.

The passage from the street towards the courtyard in the right part of the building is retained. The space of the glazed access balcony is connected to the adjacent apartment. The entrance hallway opens into the inner courtyard, which is partially roofed by a light pergola structure. The entrance to the staircase and elevator lobby is located in the opposite corner of the courtyard. The elevator is designed in the place of the courtyard annex, and the access balcony is completely glazed. The enclosure of the access balcony is of great importance for the layout of the apartments; in this case, an entrance vestibule does not need to be established.

On the 1st floor, two apartments are designed – a 1+kt (studio) and a 2+kt (one-bedroom), with an extension for a dining area in place of the original hallway. On the 2nd and 3rd floors, a pair of apartments is designed on each level – a 2+1 and a 1+1. On the 4th floor, three maisonette apartments are proposed. Each apartment features a spiral staircase leading to the attic space from the main living area. The attic conversion is designed to preserve the shape of the roof truss towards both the street and the courtyard. The street-facing part of the attic spaces is illuminated by skylights. In the basement, social spaces for residents to gather, storage units for each apartment, and the necessary technical facilities are designed.

An important part of the project was also to transform the inner courtyard from a mere circulation area into a shared recreational space for residents, to add an elevator, and to refine the circulation along the access balconies. At the same time, the design incorporated a sensitive enclosure of the access balconies using a wooden grid with glazed panels, which improves the building's comfort and operation without suppressing the legibility of the historical courtyard layout.