Prague

Old Town, renewed

A Prague apartment with a contemporary response to its functionalist architecture

Words / Karine Monié Images / BoysPlayNice

Previous page A sliding glass partition separates the kitchen from the dining space Above Bespoke lighting was designed by Studio Dechem for the project

In the Old Town quarter of the Czech Republic capital, this 250 sqm apartment is home to many visual surprises. Extending over a full floor, it was inspired by the late 1920s building in which it lies. “The architecture suggests a stylistic shift from an art deco style to early functionalism, which became the inspiration for our interior concept,” explains Lenka Míková, who has helmed Prague-based practice Lenka Míková Architects since 2014.

Despite the rough state that the apartment was in when Míková first visited it, she was immediately convinced by the generosity of the space as well as by the openness of the homeowners – a young married couple – to her ideas. Ideal in many aspects, the project, however, came with a particular challenge. “The only trouble of the otherwise smooth process was the pandemic and the restrictions it brought,” she says. “The clients were abroad during most of the construction period so we communicated online…but I believe they had an even nicer surprise when they finally arrived and saw everything finished.”

Fortunately, every decision could be made quickly and easily due to the parties’ shared vision. The brief was straightforward: to create a space for unpretentious, contemporary living with timeless materials, which would make reference to the style and the historic location of Prague’s city centre.

“The original layout had a very articulated shape that we wanted to resolve and simplify,” says Míková. The process took a total of 16 months to complete, from the first meeting to the handover of the keys. Refined details and many bespoke and built-in furniture pieces – including the dining table, basins and windowsills, among other elements – were introduced, creating a one-of-a-kind interior. Míková re-envisaged the apartment as three zones: a “social” zone with the main living areas, a “private” zone for the bedrooms and finally a “threshold” zone connecting the two, containing the bathrooms and corridors.

Accessed from the entrance hallway, the main social area is filled with natural light thanks to its large windows, complemented by bespoke lighting fixtures designed and produced by Bohemian glass specialists Studio Dechem. Here, there is an airy living room furnished with a Mags modular sofa by Hay and a contemporary black granite fireplace that contrasts with the rest of the palette; a dining area with burgundy Betty chairs designed by

Above Materials are repeated to form a rhythm: the kitchen’s black granite worktop echoes a fireplace within sight in the living area

“The clients were abroad during most of the construction period so we communicated online…but I believe they had an even nicer surprise when they finally arrived”

Facing page The guest bathroom, with blue tiles wrapping both the bath and walls to create a monolithic effect Above A splash of yellow in the office. Built in cabinetry streamlines the look of the whole apartment

Right Míková plays with a tone-on-tone scheme in the WC, mixing fiery travertine with red painted walls

Facing page Brass accents have been used throughout, used for lighting, door hardware and inside a hidden bar

Thau & Kallio for &Tradition; and a kitchen area separated by a sliding glass partition wall. There is also a separate office. “Some details were very demanding [here], such as the precise connection between the oak parquet that runs through all the living area as a unifying soft texture, the pattern of which continues in the kitchen with custom-cut marble floor tiles,” says Míková.

At the rear of the apartment, the bedrooms – including the main bedroom, which features wall cladding, an adjacent walk-in closet, bright blue Louis Poulsen wall lights and a brass and glass Molecola pendant light by Il Fanale – are more intimate and peaceful.

Míková’s use of multiple types of stone stands out in this project. There are six different ones, with black granite and red travertine joined by four types of marble, and they’ve been mixed with brass accents throughout, for example inside the hidden bar and on the door handles. “This rich material scope is balanced by a minimalistic design with clean lines, so the final feeling is modern yet warm,” says Míková.

Colour also plays a key role, helping to emphasise the layout and create a different feel between each zone. Several hues of grey were chosen for the corridors and the private areas (darker for the guest and children’s bedrooms, and lighter for the main bedroom). Each of the bathrooms has a distinct colour: neutral and bright in the beige and white main bathroom; intimate in the guest bathroom with its dark blue walls and tiles combined with brown marble and walnut; and energetic in the red powder room with its travertine basin and floor. In the office, a wall incorporating hidden doors and cupboards was painted in mustard yellow for an added eye-catching touch.

The idea for Míková was to play with a variety of materials and colours, creating a mix of interrelationships and distinct areas with their own character, “while keeping some unifying elements or principles in order to stay coherent.” She has focused on intentionally shaping unexpected moments through the interior design: “I like to use the parallel to an advent chocolate calendar, where opening some doors leads to a different taste or mood each time.”

Facing page A statement bed in the master bedroom, with a fluted upholstered headboard and decorative timber joinery Above The master bedroom’s light grey tones, contrasting with a pink Gubi Beetle chair, mark a calmer atmosphere