Located in Prague, Smichov, between a former market hall and the National House of Smichov, the plot had been a botanical garden, an outdoor restaurant defined by an orthogonal network of trees and until recently it was used as a parking lot and service access.
With this history of lush green public spaces in mind, and learning from the intimate scale and proportions of passages in Prague, the project took shape. The plants returned to the courtyard and their presence guided our design, is as central to it as the various activities that the project had to encompass.
The proposal elevates a number of 11 containers on a new wooden platform that serves as a technical solution for plumbing and electricity, but also as a way to ensure that the entire area is barrier-free accessible. The platform offered the possibility of integrating a small pool within its height, a place that quickly became the most exciting place for children and adults alike.
In the evening, this vibrant courtyard is lit up by an array of custom made lamps. Their design relates to the art-deco lighting present inside the National House, reconnecting the inside and the new event space that inhabits its courtyard.