Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Exterior Photography, Windows, Door, FacadeKunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Exterior PhotographyKunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography, Stairs, WindowsKunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior PhotographyKunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - More Images+ 30

  • Architects: Schindler Seko
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  1650
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Filip Šlapal
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  JOKL STEEL, OPIRSTAV INVEST, Sollus metal, TERACO LITÉ, Vipax
  • Lead Architects: Jan Schindler, Ludvík Seko, Zuzana Drahotová
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Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Exterior Photography, Windows, Door, Facade
© Filip Šlapal

The electrifying past and present of Kunsthalle Prague. Originally, the Zenger building was filled with technological equipment for transforming electricity into the direct current used to power the trams of Prague.

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Exterior Photography
© Filip Šlapal

The modernization of the converter station means that all technology is now located in a small part of the underground only. As a result, virtually the whole building has been freed up for new functional use. The neo-Classicist converter station from the 1930s, located in the Lesser Town across from the Old Castle Steps, was in disastrous technical condition before conversion work began, the main problem being the use of concrete made of aluminous cement, which, after 80 years, showed critical strength parameters, especially in the columns, which had to be removed. There were also significant problems relating to contamination by oils and mercury.

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography, Kitchen
© Filip Šlapal
Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Image 27 of 35
Situation

Conversion to a gallery. The conversion of what was originally a technical building into a museum of art aims to preserve the original external shape of the building and its facade to the maximum possible extent. The fundamental idea is to rid it of insensitive and inappropriate interventions from recent years and allow characteristic elements that have been professionally restored to come to the fore.

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography, Stairs, Windows
© Filip Šlapal
Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography, Windows
© Filip Šlapal
Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Image 28 of 35
Plan - Ground floor

A new entrance to the Kunsthalle has been built, over a footbridge with Prague mosaic paving. At the same time, this conceals the air-treatment technology exhaust pipe needed by transport companies, which has in recent years been entirely inappropriately located in front of the main western facade. In the central section, in the place of the original technological terrace, a one-story extension with a surface finish of sanded terrazzo has been added, whose simplicity does not compete with the original building and at the same time supplements the principle of the retreating segmented facade. Light enters this superstructure through a large window, the proportions of which are derived from the dimensions of the facade.

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography, Windows
© Filip Šlapal
Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography
© Filip Šlapal

Another source of daylight is a long, atypical skylight on the western ridge of the roof and locally an upper skylight above the lower part of the superstructure. The new design for the central section retains a flat roof, which is segmented by material. Most of the original filling structures of the facade were professionally dismantled and removed before construction work began and returned during conversion. Others were replaced by new structures in the original position and in original shape. For museum purposes, gates for the transport of objets d'art have been added from the north.

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography, Windows
© Filip Šlapal

The building retains all the fundamental elements in the original design – roofing, gutters, ledges, facades, foundation walls, and certain modest elements of decoration. The material and color design is very sober. The facades have been returned to their original, grey-beige, derived from the sandstone facing.

Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko - Interior Photography
© Filip Šlapal

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Project location

Address:Prague, Czech Republic

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Kunsthalle Prague / Schindler Seko" 20 Oct 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/990843/kunsthalle-prague-schindler-seko> ISSN 0719-8884

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