The Stepped Volumes Apartment, a gut renovation project of a unit in Prague, highlights just how the pandemic has upended the norm. Not being able to physically visit and experience the site, the entire renovation process from conceptualisation to completion was carried out remotely by Alepreda Architecture. A daunting task which the studio, from the images below, passed with flying colors.
Apart from the logistical restraints, the studio had to work on a modified layout, an update on fixtures and a solution to bring more light on a tight budget.
A number of stepped volumes were introduced into the space, creating thresholds and housing the en-suite bathroom in a sculptural manner. “The reason for using a stepped geometry for these inserted elements is two-fold,” Alepreda Architecture explains. “Visually, the steps differentiate the new volumes from the existing fabric. Pragmatically, the formed shelves provides-ace to showcase objects or for additional storage.”
Adhering to the client’s minimalist preferences, a neutral material palette consisting of sanded oak wood floors alongside the traditional herringbone parquet and plain white walls were used for the bigger volumes. The smaller spaces – powder room, bathroom and kitchen – are more playful, kitted out with colorful cabinetry, tiles, grout and paint. The apartment’s modern atmosphere is tempered by the presence of traditional Czech furniture, including a vintage Czech media console and the metal and bent plywood chairs commonly used in schools throughout the country. The apartment has been longlisted for the 2021 Dezeen Awards’ Interior Category.
With offices in New York and Italy, Alepreda Architecture is an international practice working across architecture, interior, product design and research. Follow them on Instagram.
Photography © Studio Flusser for Alepreda Architecture