BRIEF:

The project focuses on the design of a new building within an infill site at Soukenická 18–16, Prague 1, including the integration of the original historic house No. 16. The aim is to find a new use for the plot within the context of the city centre and to propose an appropriate architectural and operational structure.

 

The main theme of the project is the creation of a student coworking centre intended for interdisciplinary interaction among students of Prague art and technical schools – FAMU, DAMU, AVU, UMPRUM, and CTU. The building provides facilities for work, study, consultations, and the presentation of creative work outside the institutional framework of schools.

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CONCEPT:

The design is based on the metaphor of a beehive – a place where “bees” (students of different disciplines) return, bringing experiences and knowledge gained both at school and in practice. The aim is to create an open, informal working environment that supports interdisciplinary inspiration, collaboration, and sharing.

 

A key principle is the symbiosis of old and new. The original historic house No. 16 is reinterpreted as the heart of the entire complex – a library carrying memory, continuity, and shared knowledge. The new architecture builds upon this layer, forming a living organism whose core value is the exchange of information and collective creation.

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OPERATIONAL CONCEPT:

Ground floor – passage, design shop, café

The covered passage functions as a smooth transition between the street and the inner courtyard, extending the public space of the building. The ground floor contains the entrance to the coworking centre, a design shop with a bookshop, and a café, which together with the courtyard serves as a place for meetings, exhibitions, and cultural events. Both the passage and the courtyard are conceived as spaces for the installation of artworks.

 

Library and study rooms:

The library is located in the original historic house and forms a vertical open space running through multiple floors. It acts as the central point of the complex and works with the idea of shared knowledge. Adjacent study rooms are intended for quiet individual work, writing, and research.

Studios and meeting rooms:

The building includes flexible interdisciplinary studios equipped with modular furniture and sliding panels, allowing variable spatial arrangements. Meeting rooms are used for consultations, client meetings, and teamwork.

Lecture hall / multifunctional hall:

The two-storey hall is designed for lectures, theatre rehearsals, and screenings of independent films. The space is conceived as multifunctional and connects directly to the rooftop terrace.

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Rooftop drawing studio and lounge:

The upper floors contain a drawing studio with a workshop, offering optimal daylight and direct access to the terrace. The building is complemented by a shared lounge space supporting informal meetings between students and teachers.

 

ÚL is designed as an open working house for students of artistic disciplines, combining work, study, presentation, and public space.