Studio acht has reworked a neglected neo-Gothic provost residence in Prague Castle, Czech Republic, improving visitor amenities and opening up a new view over the city.
Photos
Tomas Slavik
Studio acht has reworked the New Provostry – a neo-Gothic building located adjacent to St Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle – adding to a pair of stone and glass clad annexes around a restored courtyard. Originally intended as the provost’s residence, the 19th-century building was confiscated in the early 1950s and had largely remained abandoned since then. During the communist era, the courtyard and its associated outbuildings were destroyed and the main building was used as barracks for construction workers. In 2016, the New Provostry was returned to the Church under the restitution law.
The reconstruction scheme focuses on reopening the inner courtyard to the public and offering unique views over the lower Deer Moat. Occupying the sites of former outbuildings, the new extensions respectively accommodate a cafe and flexible commercial unit. Another commercial unit is located inside the existing building. A narrow skylight connects the roof to the north façade of the extensions, creating an interplay of light and shadow in the interiors. Another key detail is the corner of the west extension, where the glass extends almost to the edge of the plan, emphasising the delicate support of the massive roof.
Key materials used include sandstone cladding from the Vyhnánov quarry, patinated copper, tiled and wooden floors, and glass facades with slender steel frames.The latter are used to expressive and functional effect with those in the west-facing unit being more open and vertical to suit the cafe space, and those in the east unit more compact and closed befitting the retail application.
The renovated courtyard incorporates a new fountain made from Mrákotín granite and cast bronze, and granite paving from the Březinka quarry.
The existing façade has been meticulously restored to evoke its original appearance at the end of the 19th century. Inside, the spaces have been sympathetically restored to their original design, as well as carefully renovated to meet modern performance standards. This approach is exemplified in the main staircase, where a delicate, hollow circular lamp harmonises with the strict geometry of the painted wooden ceiling.
Elsewhere, the renovation works are characterised by the use of durable timeless materials and a symbiosis of original and contemporary color schemes. Faux-grained surfaces have been meticulously restored on historic doors and windows; tiles laid in corresponding formats and patterns; and wooden and parquet floors either refurbished or reconstructed. New additions, including glass partitions, have been designed to provide a contemporary yet timeless appearance.
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Source: Architecture Today
