The Harrachov Apartments

Harrachov is a favourite winter recreational areal located in an old coal mine. It is here that a number of new apartment buildings have been built according to the architectonic proposals of the Kvalitář Studio. This architectonic solution fully respects the locality along with its history, fixing the entire project into the mountain surroundings with great care. The architects have attempted to sensitively incorporate urban concepts with city-forming elements, creating places for both rest and sport for the residents. In addition to the apartment buildings, the areal also includes a sport center, spa and restaurant. The apartment buildings themselves conceal several luxurious apartments whose realization once again involved the Kvalitář Studio.

The apartments are used by their owners for weekend stays, sport recreation and, above all, seasonal use. Architect Jiří Dohnal worked on both loft apartments found in the last floor and in the attic, managing the apartments’ overall composition and the connections between the apartment floors.

Although the apartments are modern constructions offering everything contemporary technical possibilities have to offer, they have retained a pleasant, mountain atmosphere. The walls, covered in wood, evoke the locality’s typical half-timbered construction systems. Naturally, the interior has been considered with an eye towards quality with the use of high-quality materials. The materials forming the interior of the apartment have been assigned various attributes with a distinctive material solution defining the space and allowing for easy orientation within it. While the architect has made use of predominantly natural materials such as wood (brushed oak, spruce, recycled timber from old buildings with patina and specific colours), steel (natural steel, stainless steel and surface treated, black steel) and concrete (fiber concrete shells, cemented trowel), creased leather and OSB boards also make an appearance. In the resulting realisation, natural materials contrast with monochromatic materials such as lacquered surfaces and glass used in the handrails and bathroom. In the end, the relationship between minimalism and rusticality make an impression of informality, creating a cosy atmosphere.

The architect has accented the central living space and allowed its generous spatiality resonate. An emphasis has been placed on creating an abundance of light, not only through the use of daylight but also with top notch light fixtures. In the main areas modular lighting systems have been utilized (spot reflectors with variable optics in a system of suspension rails). Within the interior several sanitary objects such as sinks and kitchen surfaces atypically built out of made to order concrete or glass cement make a strong impression.

APARTMENT I. is highly distinguishable due to its bathroom, where large-format ceramic tiles have been used in combination with concrete fixtures and the floors have been treated with casting terrazzo. In other rooms oak lamella has been used on the floors, preserved by hard wax oil.

APARTMENT II. is a characteristic acknowledgement of several construction materials such as, for example, concrete or OSB boards. In contrast to this, the bathroom surface has been done in tempered glass into which an authentic UV print of large format photographic reproductions has been placed. Similarly, the monochromatic lacquered surfaces with their distinct colours and industrially epoxy floors in the bathroom also provide another striking contrast. The other rooms have been outfitted with an oak, industrially produced mosaic.

This project was undertaken and executed by the architect Jiří Dohnal from the Kvalitář Studio. Dohnal was involved in all aspects of the project’s realization, from the concept to study to the implementation of documentation as well as the supervision and coordination of the project itself. The apartment building project was executed by engineer and architect Marek Habr in collaboration with Petr Horák MgA working for the Kvalitář Studio.