<Villa Bianca>

The residential complex is located on a triangular plot that is part of the Prague diplomatic district near the city center. The site is dominated by Villa Bianca by Jan Kotěra. The house was built in 1910-11 and is an expressive representation of modernism with a delicate sense of historical architecture. After 1920, it was remodeled in a neo-baroque style, losing the expressive power of the original design. Ninety years after the villa's inception, it came back to life when it became the central element of a new residential development. The building is the centerpiece of the entire project and offers six luxurious apartments. It is surrounded by four new buildings, which contain a total of sixty-four apartments ranging in size from 1+3 to 1+6. The composition is framed by two corner units with a triangular floor plan, providing space for forty-seven apartments of various sizes. In the center of the complex, an English garden was created, where the designers preserved many original mature trees, complemented by extensive new park greenery. Another opportunity for peaceful reflection in nature is offered by a small intimate Japanese-style rock garden. High-quality traditional materials harmoniously connect with modern materials. The plaster surfaces are combined with white marble, used as cladding for the ground floor sections, and polished Těšín sandstone has been used for the floor of the entrance areas; the roofs are made of pre-patinated titanium-zinc. The historic building was renovated with respect for its original creator, and all authentic architectural elements have been preserved. The expression of the new buildings is modern, yet it resonates agreeably with the original Kotěra language and fully respects the classic architectural elements of the villa. The result can be understood as a truly contemporary interpretation of historical expression.

In our constantly changing world, where the pace of life is rapidly increasing, an apartment no longer merely serves as accommodation. We perceive a house more as a personal space that offers us comfort, where we can experience happiness and security, where we feel at home. As more and more people turn away from mass production in search of individualized spaces tailored to their personal needs, we are faced with the necessity to direct our attention in new ways. Throughout the last century, we have tried to find a final functional solution, but this century demands that we be able to offer the freedom of choice and enrich the apartment typology with diversity and flexibility.
In the network structure of contemporary society, in a world of globalization, cultural identity is increasingly asserting its claims. Being an architect today and having the opportunity to work anywhere on the planet requires a deep understanding and awareness of the specifics of different cultural environments. Individual interpretations should always respect cultural differences and strive to unify them through the life experiences and thought processes of specific individuals.
Despite the fact that we live in a network-structured society, we cannot rely solely on digital communication. Direct human contact face-to-face will never lose its fundamental value for us, and therefore public space still plays such an important role, perhaps even more important than ever. Because public space determines the quality of our immediate surroundings, an architect or urban planner is in a very responsible position: they must find the balance of all elements of the system - business, trade, transportation, sustainability, and last but not least, aesthetic criteria. Not only is public space where the life of the city emerges, which necessarily includes housing, but it is also a great tool that enables the flow between it and individual units.
We believe that the quality of our immediate surroundings has a direct impact on our lives. If we can create diversity, if we can create places full of uniqueness and distinctiveness, then we feel that we will be able to contribute positively to the improvement of the world on a global scale. Our goal is not to postulate, but to seek relationships, not to judge, but to seduce, not to provoke anger, but to convince and surprise - to create places full of beauty.