New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti
21/01/2022.
[Prague] Czech Republic
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
Architecture firm Kuba & Pilař architekti was commisioned to renovate the original canteen and dormitory buildings by the architect Karel Prager in an unfinished university campus into the new Faculty of Humanities of Charles University, on the banks of the Vltava River, in Prague, Czech Republic.
The 1980s building itself was never fully used as intended. The canteen, built using a demanding lift-slab construction method with a central square disposition, had an indisputable architectural quality at the time of its construction.
The 1980s building itself was never fully used as intended. The canteen, built using a demanding lift-slab construction method with a central square disposition, had an indisputable architectural quality at the time of its construction.
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
Original building, second floor plan. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Original building section. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Original building. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
Site plan. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Ground floor plan. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
First floor plan. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Second floor plan. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Basement floor plan. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Section. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
Section. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
South elevation. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
North elevation. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
East elevation. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
West elevation. New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti.
The conversion project designed by Kuba & Pilař architekti preservers the external shape and proportions of the original building, however, a profound transformation was necessary to accommodate the new program.
The main change was the creation of a generous central hall, - heart and the social center of the faculty which spatially connects all three floors of the building, illuminated from above, with daylight coming in between the trusses of the skylights.
Double-skin façade allows for natural ventilation and regulated sun shading of the interior space and its structural glazing is designed as an effective acoustic protection against the noise from a six-lane ring road.
The main change was the creation of a generous central hall, - heart and the social center of the faculty which spatially connects all three floors of the building, illuminated from above, with daylight coming in between the trusses of the skylights.
Double-skin façade allows for natural ventilation and regulated sun shading of the interior space and its structural glazing is designed as an effective acoustic protection against the noise from a six-lane ring road.
New Headquarters of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University by Kuba & Pilař architekti. Photograph by David Korsa
Project description by Kuba & Pilař architekti
The original canteen and dormitory buildings by the architect Karel Prager are only the torso of an unfinished university campus on the banks of the Vltava River. The canteen itself was never fully used as intended. The 1980s building, built using a demanding lift-slab construction method with its deep central square disposition, had an indisputable architectural quality at the time of its construction. However, a radical change was necessary to accommodate new needs of the Faculty of Humanities.
The conversion project preservers the external shape, height and proportions of the original canteen building. The main intervention is the creation of a generous central hall, illuminated from above, with daylight coming in between the trusses of the skylights. The hall is the heart and the social center of the faculty which spatially connects all three floors of the building. The entrance, located on the level of a raised plateau, enables a simple connection of all floors by two differently shaped one-flight staircases. Cantilevered galleries along the perimeter of the hall provide access to seminar rooms, teachers’ offices and two lifts with fire escape staircases. The lowest level of the hall accommodates large common lecture halls, auditorium, faculty’s library and the deanery.
Prevailing materials in the interior are exposed concrete combined with a fine metal ceiling mesh, black floor screed and white wooden elements and furniture. The space is dominated by a variably set seating furniture in orange.
The external structural glazing is designed primarily as an effective acoustic protection against the noise from a six-lane ring road in the immediate vicinity of the building. Double-skin façade allows for natural ventilation and regulated sun shading of the interior space. Rounded glass corners are a link to the original architecture.
The conversion of the canteen is a part of a large complex which includes two high-rise dormitory buildings sharing a common base. Completion of the outdoor areas, access roads and greenery will be a subject of the next stage of the construction.
More information
Architects
Kuba & Pilař architekti. Architects.- Ladislav Kuba, Tomáš Pilař, Martin Klimecký.
Collaborators
Construction and technical solutions: AED project.
Area / Dimensions
Built-up Area.- 4,974 m².
Usable Floor Area.- 13,350 m².
Plot size.- 11,900 m².
Volume.- 69,060 m³.
Usable Floor Area.- 13,350 m².
Plot size.- 11,900 m².
Volume.- 69,060 m³.
Dates
Project year.- 2010-2017.
Completion year.- 2020.
Location
Kopečná 387/58, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Cost
€18,400,000.
Products and brands
Glass facade. Wicona.
Glass dividers. Glass system.
PU screed.- Remmers.
Chairs.- Vitra.
Atypical seating furniture.- Sixinch.
Glass dividers. Glass system.
PU screed.- Remmers.
Chairs.- Vitra.
Atypical seating furniture.- Sixinch.
Photography
Ladislav Kuba, Tomas Pilar. Kuba and Pilar architekti
Kuba & Pilar architekti is an architectonic studio founded by Ladislav Kuba and Tomas Pilar in 1996. The studio ranks among the most recognised ones in Czechia. Their buildings have been awarded several times in Grand Prix of Architects – the most prestigious national award for architects. In 2002, they won the main prize for the Library of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno.
Other recognised buildings by the studio include the St. Mary’s Chapel in Jestřebí, Residental Estate Na Krutci in Prague and the Omega Department Store in Brno. Designed by the studio, the building of the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Pardubice received the main prize in Grand Prix 2009. The Apartment House at Kostelní Square in Ostrava won the first place of Grand Prix 2011 in the New Building Category. In 2015, the Grand Prix certificate of merit went to the studio for the Iron Curtain Memorial. In 2020, the building of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague was completed.
The work of Kuba & Pilar architekti has been nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award several times and published in both national and international periodicals.
Other recognised buildings by the studio include the St. Mary’s Chapel in Jestřebí, Residental Estate Na Krutci in Prague and the Omega Department Store in Brno. Designed by the studio, the building of the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Pardubice received the main prize in Grand Prix 2009. The Apartment House at Kostelní Square in Ostrava won the first place of Grand Prix 2011 in the New Building Category. In 2015, the Grand Prix certificate of merit went to the studio for the Iron Curtain Memorial. In 2020, the building of the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague was completed.
The work of Kuba & Pilar architekti has been nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award several times and published in both national and international periodicals.
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