BekArch converts disused bakery workshop into skylight-topped apartment

Architecture studio BekArch has converted an old bakery building into an apartment in Prague, Czech Republic.

Located in the city's Vršovice neighbourhood, the studio space was originally a neglected workshop, located in the inner courtyard of a bakery.

"We saw hidden potential in this space," BekArch architects Jan Bek and Martin Kříž told Dezeen. "We aimed to transform this 'invisible' and overlooked area into a fully functional and high-quality part of the residential building."

"The inspiration came from the opportunity to give new life to an old, distinctive structure and to turn it from a storage-like void into an inspiring place," they continued.

The resulting one-bedroom apartment measures 58 square metres.

In the centre of the living area, the studio installed a metal mesh bicycle display as a "symbol of the inhabitants' lifestyle".

The exposed concrete beam ceiling and skylights of the old workshop were retained, while rebar was repurposed for custom door handles, maintaining the building's original industrial features.

The interior is arranged into zones rather than enclosed by solid walls and includes a bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom with a walk-in shower.

The studio replaced the doors with large windows and installed new skylight glazing, which allowed the room to be filled with daylight.

"The skylights essentially drew a map of the interior. We positioned the main living areas in the spaces flooded with overhead light, while the areas in between serve as circulation or quieter zones", the architects explained.

"The intensity of the light then naturally defined the zones: under the skylights and near the window, active living areas emerged, while the less illuminated corners became service spaces", they continued.

"In this way, the layout was shaped not by walls, but by light".

The architects opened the space to the courtyard by installing a large sliding door, which leads out from the living area.

"The lift-and-slide portal allows the studio's living space to extend onto the terrace during the summer months", BekArch said.

The studio finished the floor in Cemflow, a cement-based flooring system, to "reference Prague's historic apartments".

Spruce bioboard, a wood‑based material, features in several areas of the space, including in the kitchen, where it's paired with a stainless steel backsplash and countertop, and in the bathroom on the vanity top and washbasin.

"The spruce bio-board brings natural grain and warmth to the interior, visually softening the rawness of the concrete ceiling", BekArch said.

"In contrast, the polished Cemflow cast floor, with its uniformity and visual clarity, unifies the entire space and provides a neutral, yet technically perfect, canvas that allows the furniture pieces to stand out."

Other conversions recently featured on Dezeen include the conversion of a London police station into rental apartments and an industrial site in Latvia turned into a residential complex.

The photography is by Ondřej Holub.

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