Praha Penthouse with Scandinavian Atmosphere

The Finnish sauna, ubiquitous wooden elements and light shades in contrast with black details have breathed true Scandinavian atmosphere into the duplex apartment on the sixth floor of an apartment building in Prague.

It is never too early to invite an architect for the renovation of a property. The owners of the duplex apartment in an old apartment building in Prague's Letná know this well—they first approached the architect and only then purchased the apartment, which they renovated to their satisfaction with her help. “With the clients, we first clarified what they expect from their dream future apartment and what demands and requirements they have for it. We subsequently adjusted the selection of the apartment accordingly,” says architect Hana Novotná from the architectural studio 2MAD and continues: “Before contacting me, the clients first went for two viewings of other apartments. However, given their specific requirements, which included, for instance, the placement of a sauna, it was necessary to select a suitable property with regard to technical matters, so everything would work smoothly. Therefore, they ultimately decided to seek professional help.” The duplex apartment, originally measuring 140 m² with a terrace of 8 m², was the first they visited together. And at the same time, it was the last, as the decision was made.

Change of Layout

The apartment was in poor condition, and its layout was not very functional. Additionally, the terrace, which was a crucial condition for the clients' selection and purchase of the apartment, felt very cramped. After mutual agreement and a year-long planning process, extensive construction modifications ensued. “The clients were open to new possibilities, which allowed us to propose radical changes and bold solutions. Practically nothing original remained in the apartment—there was a fundamental adjustment of the layout in both floors,” describes the architect. Two children's rooms and a bathroom with a shower were newly created on the lower floor. The originally separate kitchen was relocated to a spacious central room in the form of a kitchen nook, where it, together with the dining area and the living room, created a place for the whole family to gather.

On the upper floor, where the so-called master studio is located, modifying the layout was more challenging due to the search for an optimal solution for the junction of the bathroom, sauna, and dressing room. “The new layout of the upper floor included one completely fundamental modification, namely the enlargement of the terrace, which thus opened up more to the space. The master bedroom was supplemented with a dressing room, a bathroom with a separate toilet, and a custom-made Finnish sauna heated by electric stoves, which, through a small window, offers a view out onto the terrace through large-format glazing,” describes Ing. arch. Hana Novotná, the author of the entire renovation design. Since the terrace is oriented to the west, it offers a view of the setting sun in the evening hours.

Complications as a Challenge

It was the sauna and terrace that were the key elements of the entire renovation, which needed to be addressed especially from a technical perspective. For example, it was essential to resolve the heat and moisture extraction of the sauna, which was achieved through forced ventilation. Structurally and legislatively, the biggest challenge of the entire conversion was the terrace. As architect Novotná describes: “To connect the terrace with the interior as much as possible, we proposed an intervention into the roof of the attic and created large-format corner glazing for the bedroom. However, since the apartment building is located in a heritage zone, this proposal had to be consulted with heritage protection authorities, where it had to go through an approval process. It was also complicated that the upper floor of the duplex apartment was part of the attic, and its rafter structure could not be altered in any way.” The space of the terrace was thus almost doubled, but adjusting the roof plane, creating a dormer, and large glazing was the greatest challenge during the course of the renovation. “The problem arose with the question of how such large glazed areas would be transported to the sixth floor without using an elevator, which was too small for such purposes,” says Ing. arch. Hana Novotná and continues: “The new glazing for the terrace, which was manufactured for this realization by Janošík, was ultimately carried up by hand along the stairs. The dimensions of some glass panes were adjusted to make it realistic to get them to the spot and to facilitate manipulation with them.”

A series of complications arose in other stages of the renovation as well. Contrary to initial expectations, it was necessary to completely redo the floor structure on the lower floor, newly insulate the roof, and soundproof the elevator shaft machinery, which had not been accounted for during planning. These deficiencies appeared only during the renovation process itself.

In Scandinavian Style

The Scandinavian atmosphere in the apartment is reflected not only in the installed sauna but also in the overall tuning of the interior. According to the clients' wishes, it features elements of Nordic countries, which they regularly visit for vacations. “At the time the apartment was created, this style was not as widely spread in the Czech Republic as it is today. Regarding the interior furnishings, the client and I completely agreed, and the selection of furnishing elements went without any conflicts,” describes the collaboration of the architect. The apartment’s color palette is entirely minimalistic. Large white areas are complemented by black details, which include door and window handles MINIMAL from the Czech manufacturer M&T, which the architect chose for the project in a black matte titanium finish. “When I suggested these handles to the apartment owners, with whom I had experience from previous projects, they immediately became enthusiastic about them. They were particularly attracted by the fact that the same handle design can be used on both door leaves and sliding HS portals, which is definitely not a norm among hardware manufacturers,” says Ing. arch. Hana Novotná. “The MINIMAL hardware offers a complete collection that includes elements for doors, windows, HS portals, as well as door stops. The individual elements are thus visually coordinated and provide the interior with a cohesive expression,” adds Roman Ulich, the chief designer of M&T, the only Czech manufacturer of design door and window hardware in the Czech Republic.

The black-and-white combination is visually softened and made cozier by wooden elements in oak finishes, such as the floor, a staircase with oak treads, and custom-made solid oak furniture from Czech manufacturers Stylishrooms. The puristic color scheme of the apartment has been maintained even after it has been inhabited.

Reflection on the Renovation

Despite all the pitfalls, the apartment was realized to the maximum satisfaction of its owners. “We perceive the completely changed layout of the apartment into a 4+kk family unit very positively, as well as the construction of the sauna and the resolution of the issue of the excessive slope of the upper duplex part of the apartment with the reconstruction of the adjacent terrace,” say the apartment owners, and when asked if they would change anything in their apartment, they answer: “Thanks to the always problem-free communication with the architect and her excellent work, we are really satisfied with our apartment. But if we had a chance to change something in retrospect, perhaps only the large window in the sloping part of the living room facing the street, which remained original for the purpose of improving thermal insulation.” The satisfaction of the owners is also reflected in the fact that they are now working with the architect on the renovation of their cottage in the Krkonošsko mountains.

Technical Data:

Study: 2015
Year of Implementation: 2016 - 2018
Usable Area: 135 m² apartment + 13 m² terrace
Layout: 4+kk

Subcontractors:

• Construction: Ianuss
• Glazing of the terrace: Janošík
• Floor: wooden, supplied by Ianuss
• Doors: Sapeli
• Door and window hardware: M&T, MINIMAL collection
• Furniture: custom-made, Stylishrooms
• Kitchen cabinets: Gorenje
• Lighting: Scandinavian Light

Architect: Ing. arch. Hana Novotná, architectural studio 2MAD, www.2mad.cz
Photo: Ing. Jiří Beran for M&T, www.jberan.com