Thanks to early architects’ involvement and a highly cooperative developer, this apartment embraces an unconventional and striking interior across three floors. Exposed concrete structures form the spine of the interior, complemented by cleverly integrated systems, including concealed ventilation ducts, a laundry chute, and smart home technology. OOOOX, the architectural studio of Radka and Jakub Val, created a suspended staircase of steel blades with wooden cladding threads through the living space, while three “black boxes” — in the kitchen, bedroom, and study — anchor each floor with striking, moody volumes.
From the Architects | Thanks to the client approaching us in a timely manner and the developer being exceptionally accommodating to our extensive interventions, we managed to create something truly unconventional. Exposed concrete structures spanning all three floors became the central feature of the entire space. Throughout the construction process, we consulted with clients on whether leaving these exposed concrete structures would be acceptable. We were delighted that the clients appreciated the raw concrete, allowing us to introduce a very intriguing and distinctive structure into the interior.
Despite having many of the structures exposed, we cleverly rearranged the layout to place the ventilation ducts in the false ceilings of the lower floors, leading them to exit through the furniture base. An additional benefit is the laundry chute spanning all three floors. This was only achievable when the project was still on paper and not yet under construction. Furthermore, the entire apartment is equipped with smart home solutions.
Suspended staircase
The living room is dominated by a wall of steel rods with a suspended staircase. Each step is made of thin steel “blades” with wooden cladding. Installing the staircase required extensive coordination among three professions simultaneously, resulting in an entirely unconventional staircase.
To enhance the bathrooms, we opted for brass faucets to complement the dark, large-format tiles. Even in the case of bathrooms, the developer’s cooperative approach was crucial. This allowed us to use luxurious faucets, with the concealed parts installed by the developer during construction, avoiding the need for additional demolition. This enabled us to install one bathroom with a ceiling-mounted faucet.
Each floor has its own box — a feature where black is reflected in the floor, walls, and ceiling. One of them is a black kitchen with a striking stone and wooden cladding. The second black box is in the bedroom, where the bed itself features sophisticated storage spaces with a library at the head. The third box is in the study.
All furniture except the sofa is custom-made. The method of ammonia fuming is used on dark wood furniture and staircase cladding to ensure deep coloration, with scratches not revealing a light underlayer. The furniture is complemented by steel elements, including a vinyl stand and side tables. In the bedroom, a wardrobe combining steel and glass features glass cabinets displaying favorite items like hats and bags.
Photography by Martin Zeman.
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