Excerpt: Baranova Apartment by Markéta Bromová architekti features the refurbishment of an existing compact home into a functional two-bedroom space. A central bookshelf divides the bedrooms while maintaining openness, and a multifunctional living area combines the kitchen, dining, and lounge. The design prioritizes efficiency, comfort, and natural light, creating a harmonious and practical home for a family of three.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect]The main goal of the renovation was to transform the existing apartment layout into a two-bedroom configuration. Given the limited size and original layout, creating fully separate rooms was not possible, but the priority was to design a comfortable and functional sleeping space.
Concept: The existing layout included an entrance area, bathroom, living space, and one bedroom with balcony doors. The design focused on maximizing the use of space through built-in furniture, which not only separates different parts of the apartment but also provides storage solutions. A key feature is a long bookshelf that adjoins the original partition wall. This bookshelf contains two openings: one leads to the children’s room, which is wider, and the other to the parents’ bedroom, which has a standard width and offers greater privacy. Between the two bedrooms, a longitudinal window was designed to ensure natural lighting in the parents’ bedroom.
Parents’ bedroom: The parents’ bedroom is smaller than the children’s room, but thanks to cleverly designed furniture, it provides ample storage space. Storage is integrated not only under the bed but also into the dividing wall between the bedrooms. In addition to custom carpentry, a Ytong masonry wall was added between the bedrooms, ensuring better sound insulation and stability for the built-in cabinets.
Children’s room: The children’s room functions as a fully-fledged living space. Thanks to wide sliding doors, the room is visually connected to the main living area, which includes the kitchen, dining corner, and living space. This connection allows for flexible use of space while maintaining the apartment’s sense of openness.
Main living space: The main living space is designed as a multifunctional room combining the kitchen, dining corner, and living area. With minor adjustments, the kitchen is arranged along one wall as in the original layout. The dining corner, located between the kitchen and living area, forms the natural center of the room. The living area is furnished with a comfortable sofa placed opposite the bookshelf with an integrated television. This bookshelf serves not only as storage for books and decorations but also as a visual divider between the living space and other areas of the apartment. A coffee corner was incorporated within the bookshelf, featuring white marble, which adds elegance to the space while serving as a practical surface for preparing the best coffee.
Flooring: The original parquet flooring in the main living area was restored and continues seamlessly into both bedrooms. This unified surface creates a harmonious appearance throughout the apartment. In the hallway and bathroom, the original tiles were preserved, complementing the new interior elements with their color tones.
Technical solutions: A ventilation system with heat recovery (recuperation) was installed, hidden within built-in cabinets and ceiling panels. This system ensures a sufficient supply of fresh air, particularly for the rear bedroom, which does not have an openable window facing the façade. The recuperation system significantly improves indoor air quality.
The renovation has transformed the original space into a functional apartment for a three-member family, meeting the demands for comfortable living despite its limited size.
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