Villa OHNIVCOVA

Concrete as an expressive element

Probably the most striking part of the entire space is the living floor, which is glazed on two sides, creating a nearly functionalist space. We used monolithic constructions and left them exposed. In addition, we complemented the interior with dark oak floors and kept all the steel columns in a dark color. It might seem like there would be too much concrete in the interior, but the opposite is true. Imagine that instead of a concrete ceiling, the interior would be defined by a white drywall ceiling, and the columns would be covered with a drywall shell. Quite bland and cold, right? On the contrary, concrete adds flair to the space and, in open and minimalist interiors, it “makes the space homey,” giving it structure.

How to deal with outlets in a concrete ceiling

The charm of exposed constructions also comes with a few challenges that need to be addressed in advance, as they cannot be solved later. In order to keep the exposed constructions in the interior, we need to route all the wiring in the floor above the ceiling and only drill the outlets through. This approach requires careful planning of the lighting design, coordination with other outlets such as fire alarms, ventilation, and more. Unfortunately, it also limits any future modifications. But let’s admit, that’s actually a good thing because endless changes to the construction only extend and increase costs. An exposed ceiling is strict not only in appearance but also in execution and project preparation. We followed a similar approach in the renovation of the Hradební cottage, where the original vaults were exposed in the interior.

Spiral staircase

Similar to the realization of Lučiny, the solution for the staircase railing here became an incredible puzzle. The original design with a brick railing around the entire staircase and a wooden handrail seemed very closed off. We wanted the staircase to be a dominant element of the interior.

Therefore, we chose the option with a tubular rod structure around the entire staircase spanning three levels, and a glass railing in the open space of the living room. The entire staircase is cast in concrete, and it was extremely challenging to prepare the anchoring for the steel rods and the built-in lighting for the steps with such precision. Does anyone still think that interiors are about furniture? To enhance the impact of the staircase, we suspended light fixtures in its center and finished it with a fine plaster coat.

There’s never enough steel

Besides concrete, we also love raw steel, especially on furniture. In this project, we played around with steel hanging shelves and a specially shaped base for the dining table. That subtle bluish pattern of hot-rolled steel is incredibly sexy. And combined with concrete, it’s simply beautiful.

Wire glass only in the elevator?

We all probably remember the most vulgar wire glass in every elevator from our childhood. That was before all the elevators had to be replaced with solid doors. We rehabilitated wire glass and used it in the kitchen furniture. Since we design and customize all our furniture, we can experiment. We left the upper part of the kitchen by the wall partially open with thin shelves and panels made of wire glass. A bit unconventionally, we placed two range hoods next to each other above the wide cooking surface, because certainty is key. On the island, we played with an inserted wooden board, which subtly extends from the countertop into the cantilevered bar.

Contrasts

To avoid it being just industrial, we love combining rawness and delicacy. In this case, you’ll find small details in brass – such as on the light fixtures. The entire space is then framed by airy shading, which provides the open and glazed interior with the necessary privacy while beautifully waving in the summer breeze when the windows are open.

Are you curious about how we approach similar interior projects? Read more about it here in the INTERIORS section.

by Radka - 27. 1. 2025