The Corner Apartment by Prokop Hartl, transforms an apartment in a late-1930s building in Prague, defined by direct views of the Vltava River. The renovation adapts the original layout to suit a young family while retaining key spatial qualities of the existing interior. The design team focused on improving functionality without losing the character tied to the building’s period. A clear requirement guided the process: the integration of dedicated storage for family bicycles within the apartment.
INTERIOR DESIGN
The material palette relies on clarity, referencing the building’s era through straightforward choices. Circulation routes run through the apartment and take visual definition from built-in wardrobes finished in oak veneer. In the hallway, these storage elements sit precisely along the line where new poured polyurethane flooring meets restored oak parquet. This junction marks a shift between surfaces and establishes a clear spatial transition. Two original doors remain in place and undergo careful restoration, while new transoms above them allow natural light to extend further into the interior. Dark-stained timber details appear throughout the apartment.
The renovation removes a partition between two original rooms, opening up a larger living area that fully engages with the river views. This change establishes a central zone for daily activity and social use. The kitchen, once located in a separate rear section next to a former maid’s room, now occupies this main space. Its relocation shifts the apartment’s organization and brings cooking and gathering into a shared environment. The kitchen centers on a dark blue-stained island paired with natural granite countertops and oversized handles. These elements introduce a strong visual presence and define the space with clarity. A custom dining table made from hot-dip galvanized steel and bleached pine plywood connects the kitchen to the living area, providing a functional link between the two zones.
Structural elements play a central role in shaping the interior. Exposed concrete beams converge at a corner column that stands as a key point within the apartment. What once presented a structural constraint now serves as a defining feature of the design. This column anchors the open-plan layout, marking the point where different functions meet. The design emphasizes this junction through the placement of mirrors and the continuation of oak veneer surfaces, which draw attention to the column and organize movement around it.
The former kitchen area at the rear of the apartment takes on a new role as a private zone for the parents. This section includes a bedroom arranged with a large storage wall that addresses practical needs without interrupting the spatial flow. A walk-in shower, separated by glass blocks, introduces a distinct yet connected bathing area within this zone. The use of glass blocks allows light to pass through.
Built-in furniture defines much of the apartment’s organization and supports everyday use. The design incorporates bespoke objects from anýz alongside refurbished original elements, maintaining a link between past and present conditions of the space. The renovation adapts the apartment through precise adjustments, aligning it with family needs while preserving its original character.
Author: Prokop Hartl
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Project year: 2025
Completion year: 2026
Usable floor area: 115 m²
Photographer: Radek Šrettr Úlehla
Collaborators and suppliers
Paintings: Lukáš Koubek
Construction works: Stamoplast
Carpentry: Zlatý řez
Stonework: Bruno Paul
Glazing works: Alfaglass
