APARTMENT BUILDING IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

The renovation of the apartment building follows on from its preserved historical elements and sensitively connects them with new materials and contemporary living. The project works with natural light, a muted palette and the principle of “nothing extra” – everything has its function and its story. The house will offer comfortable family living, four rental units and a creative studio in the attic.

Area 500 m²
Project year 2019 – 2020

Lead architects Zuzana & Jan Kurz

Completion year 2021 – 2022

Area 500 m²
Project year 2019 – 2020
Lead architects Zuzana & Jan Kurz
Completion year 2021 – 2022

They had been searching for their dream apartment for such a long time until they came across a three-story apartment building with the most charming garden in the area. They decided to breathe new life into it with our help.

As we explored each floor of the house, its unique history gradually unfolded before us. We found an old tiled stove here, the housekeeper's room there, etched glass door panels elsewhere, brass fittings, and newspapers from the First Republic hidden under the floor. All these fragments served as inspiration for the sensitive reconstruction of the entire house. We are preserving as much of the original as possible and making sense for the lives of the new residents. We are enriching these original layers with new ones and carefully adding fresh elements and materials that will complete the new story of the house without disturbing the beauty of its ordinariness.

There are no elements in the building that serve only an aesthetic purpose. The interplay of light and shadow is important. The southern rays of the sun fill the individual apartments with playful images on the walls, complementing the muted natural color scheme of the interior, which consists of various shades of grey, brown and cream. The renovated apartment building will provide its new owners with the comfort of their own home. Moreover, four residential units of various layouts (3+1, 2+1, 1+1, 1+kk) will be available to rent. Over time, the spacious attic will also house a studio for the creative work of its owners.

Materials

Moroccan stucco • Stone slabs • Ceramic tiles • Original painted ceilings • Cassette doors • Ceramic switches • Cast iron railings • Opal lamps • Brass • Terazzo

Materials