Responding to topography

Also known as the Lesser Town of Prague, Malá Strana is a hillside district with great views across the Vltava River and the Old Town. Woven into this historic fabric, a new apartment building responds to its sensitive context. The house occupies a plot in the upper part of Tržiště Street near the American Embassy, within an area under strict monument protection. The renowned architect Ladislav Lábus created a contemporary building while meeting the requirements of the protected area.
 
Completed in 2024 and awarded the Public Prize in the “Building of the Year of the Capital City of Prague 2024,” the project demonstrates how contemporary architecture can engage in dialogue with history. “We were looking for contemporary means of expression while drawing on traditional forms of building elements, used in a contemporary sense,” the architects explain. Its resulting shape reflects not only the urban and architectural uniqueness of Malá Strana, but also the specific geometry and topography of the plot.

Following the street in a convex D-shape along the southern and western edges, the house merges into the streetscape. At the northern edge of the site, the top floor is crowned with a hipped roof. From this point, the building cascades downward into terraces, naturally copying the descent of Tržiště Street. Large wall surfaces, distinct openings, double windows, and deep loggias echo the palace façades of Lesser Town.
 
The house contains two apartments on the upper floor and a public gallery on the ground floor, cleverly utilizing natural light on each level and ensuring independent operation of both functions. Open areas like loggias and terraces are concealed from direct contact with neighbours through the closed street-facing façade and recessed terraces – preserving the aesthetic parameters of the protected environment.