Renovation of a First Republic Terraced House

Each of us is gifted with intuition. Inner feelings and visions that guide us to certain decisions. Some of us are able to fully harness this gift. They trust their inner voice regardless of arguments or the prevailing opinions of those around them.

The house we want to present to you was purchased and reconstructed thanks to the inner prompting of its owner. The result of this intuitive approach is a timeless realization dressed in white, radiating complete tranquility and balance…

The Power of Resonance
The history of the reconstruction of a first-republic villa in Prague's Dejvice has, like people, its unique story. A new phase of "its life" began when it was offered for sale. The property was purchased primarily for its location by a married couple with a child. The lady took care of all matters related to the renovation.
Just like everything else, the choice of architect was intuitive. The lady of the house entrusted the design of the project and production documentation to Ivana Dombková and the Donlić studio in Prague (of which she is a co-owner with Rostislav Černík).

Based on the client's requirements, the architect prepared a study of the entire space for a family of three. This was developed to maximize the respect for the real possibilities and characteristics of the building while also accepting the pre-established feng-shui rules, which became a foundational element of the entire reconstruction.

No Wood, No Colors
The realization of the design was divided into two phases. The first addressed the construction modifications, which included an extension, window replacements, layout changes, and all subsequent work of individual trades. The next phase focused on furnishing the entire interior.
The interior layout is divided into two living floors and a basement. The basement of the house is equipped with a year-round wardrobe, storage spaces, a boiler room, and technical facilities.
On the first floor, there is an entrance hall, a dressing room, a living area connected to the dining nook and kitchen, a storage area, and a daytime toilet. The upper floor has an intimate character. It features the couple's bedroom, their daughter's room, a bathroom, and storage spaces.
The basic connecting element of the exterior with the interior is the color scheme and material solution. The dominant white is, in feng-shui, the color of metal, symbolizing strength and solidity. The shade itself represents new beginnings and purity. The colors are complemented by the materials.
Even their selection and mutual combinations were not random. The floors and some walls are resolved using the Pandomo system, through which the architect achieved an effect of unity. Deeply-colored exposed concrete is complemented by elements of glass and metal in minimal amounts.     

Flowing with Time
The furnishing of the interior took place gradually, in accordance with the inner feelings of the lady of the house. The open approach, meticulousness, empathy, and sensitivity to details for which Ivana Dombková is known brought order to the space and highlighted the omnipresent harmony. This is accentuated, in addition to the already mentioned color scheme and materials, by clear lines, soft transitions, views, and rounded shapes, which are so typical of the philosophy of wind and water.
The house is furnished in a minimalist style. All the furniture, which is custom-made, comes from the workshop of the Donlić studio. Most of the furniture blocks in the space serve not only as storage spaces but also "wrap" the load-bearing pillars of the building. The house's statics were addressed during the study phase along with the interior; any other procedure, according to the DOŃLIĆ philosophy, is erroneous. This also applies to the built-in wardrobe block, which serves not only as a refined storage area but also as a library located under the stairs.
The furniture is suitably complemented by lighting fixtures that the client chose herself based on the aura of each room. Crystal, as one of the most popular feng-shui amulets, is used immediately in the entrance area in the form of a chandelier, which represents an interesting contrasting element.
Both bathrooms, also in white, are equipped with Duravit sanitary ware.

Total Purification in First-Republic Style
Every centimeter that Ivana Dombková worked with is maximally utilized and designed to not disrupt the new identity of the building while preserving its first-republic character.
This was achieved by preserving the unchanged original perimeter of the structure, which was discreetly supplemented by an extension in the front garden area, round windows, large divided aluminum windows, and full glazing on the upper floor – the daughter's room.

The philosophy of the space is carried through to the smallest details, such as the austerity in decorations, the minimum of built objects, or the presence of rounded details in the form of a rounded hood or a small round mirror in the living area.
An essential element of the furnishings is the element of fire. Its presence is ensured by gas fireplaces in every room. For practical reasons, the fireplaces are complemented by unobtrusive floor convectors under the windows.

The villa is built on a gentle slope and boasts a beautiful view of the garden and the nearby chapel. Generous glass surfaces offer an effect of a living cinema, which is a pleasant colorful enhancement to the white interior.

The garden belonging to the property has not yet been landscaped. However, in time it will represent another harmonious part of the home – spaces providing its inhabitants with ample energy, inspiration, and quality regeneration...