Hotel Residence The Julius in Prague

Prague rightfully maintains its position as a historical gem featured on the list of almost every contemporary traveler. And with the newly opened residence The Julius in the city center at Senovážné náměstí, Prague now gains a completely new concept of modern hotel and apartment-style accommodation. The combination of a great location, a historic building, a sensitively executed reconstruction, a thoughtfully designed concept, and all the latest technologies adds another experience for modern nomads during their wanderings in the city of a hundred spires.

The residence building has a rich past. The neo-Renaissance house "U Bílého koníka" was built in 1891-1892 according to the design of architect Josef Blechy. The property was gradually expanded with additional floors and buildings in the depths of the lot. The most extensive modifications took place between 1921 and 1923 under the direction of architect Max Spielmann. At that time, the building was owned by the firm C. T. Petzold, which used it as offices and warehouses. The street-facing part was fitted with a mansard roof, the eastern courtyard wing was raised with a gallery, and a completely new western wing was added. The origins of C. T. Petzold & Co. date back to 1892, when Karl Herrmann Petzold from Nejdku and Michael Ignaz Knips from Vienna established a public trading company that engaged in the sale of products from non-Czech foundries and sheet metal mills, as well as the purchase of raw materials and semi-finished products. The company was initially based in Nejdku, later in Vienna, and then in Prague. From 1951 to 1991, the building housed the steel company Schoeller - Bleckmann. In the 1990s, the building underwent another significant reconstruction, during which almost all historically valuable elements were removed. Today, only the neo-Renaissance facade facing the street is subject to heritage protection.

A new beginning for the building began with its transition to the ownership structure of the Austrian family company Julius Meinl. “We created The Julius because we identified a metaphorical gap in the market for accommodation services for modern travelers. We are glad to be the first to offer this type of first-class accommodation in Prague,” says Julius Meinl VI, adding: “The Julius is an apartment-type residence offering a feeling of homeliness in the heart of the city.” It represents a new concept of short- to long-term residential designer living that underscores the uniqueness and exceptional nature of the location, respect for the city’s traditions and history. Guests can choose from 168 rooms of various sizes, featuring very high standards of workmanship, mostly equipped with a living area and kitchen, a separate bedroom, and the functional installation of modern technologies of the 21st century. The interior design, with elements of art deco, was created by the Italian architectural studio Matteo Thun & Partners from Milan. The world-renowned team of architects, holders of several prestigious awards, including the Iconic Awards 2022, was chosen by the investor to bring a perspective and a touch of worldliness to the Julius project. The unifying element for the entire interior of The Julius Prague is inspiration from the style of Alphonse Mucha. The color palette from his works has been transferred into the interior, and both the designer functional furniture and the chosen accessories reflect the art deco period. A pleasant palette of autumn colors, natural materials, and brass details permeates the interior. Top-quality furnishings are accentuated by oak wooden floors, modern bathrooms, and fine fabrics and bedding. All of this together creates an elegant space with a sense of detail, where it is cozy and becomes a natural home for its guests.

Italian designer Matteo Thun, who prepared the interior designs with his team, explains: “House of Julius Meinl is one of the most famous Austrian brands with a history dating back to 1862. We have been collaborating on similar projects with Julius Meinl for 15 years.” Matteo Thun further emphasizes: “Only a thorough knowledge of family traditions and history helped us create the entire brand The Julius, where the connection of traditions and modern lifestyle is essential. We wanted to transform a historic palace in Prague into a temporary home for its guests.” In the historic and monument-protected part of the building stands the masterpiece of designer Tereza Drobné. According to her design, the world-renowned crystal product manufacturer Preciosa created a 16-meter-long chandelier. “When designing the lighting throughout the residence, we had complete freedom. The designers of Matteo Thun & Partners devised chic, modern, and diverse interiors. The basic requirement was to convey the genius loci of Prague into the interior design concept. Therefore, I decided to introduce elements of cubism into each light fixture. In the hand-blown and cut rods, this iconic style for Prague is captured. Through light, it is an exploration of the shapes and patterns of cubist Prague.”

The interiors of the Julius residence were designed by the design team down to the last detail. At the same time, all the equipment serves one purpose: to connect luxury and modern design with technologies that provide greater comfort, convenience, and satisfaction for their guests. One of the elements fitting this mosaic is the switches, sockets, and other electrical control elements. The choice fell on round modern-looking berker R.classic rotary switches from Hager. “These robust switches do not hide their inspiration in the iconic classic rotary switches from the Bauhaus school, but they elevate their appearance into the third millennium,” explains Thomas Grund, managing director of Hager in the Czech Republic. “However, for the interior of the Julius residence, we did not choose any of the standard colors in which berker R.classic switches are manufactured. To complete the overall tuning of the interior, switches with a bronze feeling were needed. A task perfectly suited for our custom production program Hager Manufaktura,” adds Thomas Grund, continuing: “Thanks to close cooperation with the Prague concept store MONOBRAND located in Karlín, we met even the most demanding customer requirements. We had to first think of and mix a special shade of the switch color that would reflect the design team's specifications for the overall interior tuning. We went through several rounds of designs and color adjustments and selected from a whole range of samples before we finally achieved the desired appearance,” explains the process of developing custom switches Thomas Grund. In the final appearance, you will find in the interior of The Julius not only switches and power outlets but also all other electrical elements of modern installations, including, for example, blind switches or USB sockets for conveniently charging mobile phones. “Collaboration on the The Julius project was more than just a business case for us. Because just like House of Julius Meinl, Hager is also a family business, still owned and managed by the descendants of the founding fathers. The philosophies of our companies are similar: respect for traditions, a sense of responsibility towards future generations, and a strong customer orientation, because for the services provided, you effectively stand by your name,” reflects Thomas Grund.

Whether for a weekend or for a month or more, all guests will enjoy their stay here thanks to the freedom that the concept of The Julius residence offers. Each reservation is tailored to the requirements and wishes of the guest, from individual delivery of packages to organizing tours of historical monuments. A simple and self-service check-in and check-out, co-working spaces, a fitness center, and a rich offering of conference and meeting rooms are standard. The bistro and restaurant offering not only premium products from House of Julius Meinl are an integral part of the concept and invite not only accommodated guests but also all passersby to a gastronomic experience. A perfectly mixed cocktail of architecture, thoughtful design, modern technologies, sustainability, and attention to every detail promises an unforgettable experience for everyone who crosses the threshold of The Julius residence.

www.hager.cz/vypinac
www.monobrand.cz
www.thejulius.eu
www.juliusmeinlliving.com
www.matteothun.com