Workshop for Architects and Visualizers

This realization is the result of a design by a studio for architects and visualizers. The design was carried out by the users of the studio themselves, who devoted special care to the spaces. The object also serves as a showroom for individual materials, furniture, and lighting. These are used by architects and visualizers in their projects. Clients of the architects—who come here for meetings or presentations of architectural designs—can verify the reality of the elements and see how to work with the spaces of their homes or commercial areas.

Thanks to natural lighting, the upper floor contains spaces where creation and design take place daily. The lower spaces represent the background—common restrooms with a shower for all colleagues, a conference room, a storage room, a server room, and a garage for motorcycles.

Since architects and visualizers spend many hours a day in the studio, the work desks are adjustable. The kitchen on this floor also has a hidden shaft for installations, as well as a small storage room for material samples and catalogs. Of course, there is a relaxation area with lounge chairs and a dining table for shared working lunches.

The interior of the studio was designed collaboratively by colleagues and reflects their personal style. Existing materials and exposed concrete were utilized in the design. Decorative wooden elements were minimized. Nevertheless, the space feels very cozy, bright, and spacious.

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• As part of the construction modifications, the removal of all drywall ceilings and partitions was proposed. This increased the clear height and deepened the space. Below the materials lies a monolithic ceiling and a wall holding the slope in which the building is located. This measure also contributed to reducing the temperature in the spaces—the building is oriented to the south and often overheated. An important part was the careful work of the construction company in installing the cladding. These were designed to fit the individual products or to be precisely placed in the center of the room. Stone corners were used everywhere, and it was important for each object in the room to correspond in position and size to the grid of the cladding.
• Given the presence of exposed concrete in the interior and the use of various types of objects and furniture, the decision was made for a minimalist appearance of the floor. A polyurethane screed was chosen, which is easy to maintain. Its appearance can be adapted for "spotting," allowing for the selection of an exact color according to the NCS color chart. At the same time, it is pleasant to the touch. This soft material was also used in the shower stall and poured into the shower drain, so the material is present in both floors of the studio.
• To minimize construction modifications on the façade, the original form of the windows, as well as their arrangement and decoration, was preserved. The sills were replaced with carpentry elements made of laminated plywood. This decor is also found on the standard furniture of both open and closed libraries. For this reason, we wanted to reuse it in the interior.
• Great attention was paid to lighting, both in the design and during the realization itself. It is indeed a daily component of the working environment. The architects considered that artificial lighting should not only be directed downwards but also utilize reflective surfaces. A large three-meter luminaire above the work desks lights upwards and downwards and can be dimmed. In this way, the authors aimed to create the most pleasant environment for the creation of architecture and visualizations. They also focused on different types of lighting in the conference room. Here, a circular pendant light with diffusers is designed to emit light upwards or downwards as needed for the given event. When presenting on the television, ambient lighting under the ceiling is used. Here, the false ceiling is lowered by 15 centimeters, and a hidden LED strip provides a source of light that is not visible.
• To enlarge the space and improve lighting, we proposed the removal of a non-load-bearing partition on the upper floor. This partition also served as a railing for the spiral staircase. We newly designed a metal tubular railing above the staircase that corresponds to the design of the existing part of the railing.
• Glass partitions also help acoustically separate individual activities on the upper floor, as no partition with a door is needed between floors. This way, the rooms do not feel cramped, and meetings are not separated from the happenings throughout the entire studio.
• Attention is paid to details. For example, metal holders have been placed for toilet paper, a WC brush, and a towel rack. Metal elements appear on both floors of the studio, taking the form of white or black furniture and lighting.
• A large ceramic sink with a faucet is installed in the restroom. This was designed by Czech designers Vrtiška & Žák. The architects aimed to use furniture and products from local Czech production.
• Another unobtrusive but very interesting and minimalist detail is the entrance door to the restroom. Constructively, their hidden frames were considered, so when descending from the staircase, the door leaf set in the partition is visible, but without a frame.
• Switches and sockets form an integral part of every interior. Furthermore, they are touched daily. They were selected in white with a minimalist frame. This matches, for example, with the hidden frame of the toilet door leaf.