Student Housing K Botiči

Context
The existing building is located in Prague 10 on K Botiči street, at the edge of block development and expansive park areas. The boundary of these areas is defined by the Botič stream. The building is situated in the southeastern part of the street at a corner position, with the eastern facade oriented directly towards the park. K Botiči street connects to Vršovická třída, which is a main route to the center of Prague.

Original State
The building was constructed in the 1970s as an office building with a central corridor, along which individual offices are placed. The floor heights are very low, and the building has no parking spaces. In the 1990s, the building underwent renovation for use by Komerční banka, but it was completely inadequate for the current demands of office buildings. Therefore, the client decided to reconvert the building into student housing.

Concept
The basic concept of the building is divided into two parts. The facade and the connected rooms create the 'skin' of the building. It is a neutral, black-and-white covering. In contrast, the hallways and staircases are the 'arteries' of the building. They represent a vibrant communication core with rich colors. The corner position of the building is accentuated by a new two-story bay window on the upper floors, which houses the building's knowledge center with study rooms.

Disposition
We placed double rooms with private facilities, namely a bathroom and separate toilet, into the existing span of reinforced concrete columns. Single and quadruple rooms are designed in the end positions and at the corners, including rooms for disabled students. Each floor has a shared kitchenette for meal preparation. The ground floor features a reception and restaurant. The basement contains a student club, fitness area, laundry, and technical facilities of the building.