Waterfall Apartment by Iva Hajkova
The Waterfall Apartment in Prague, Czech Republic, has been transformed by Iva Hajkova in a project reflecting the unique balance between open interior space and elements of privacy. Designed in 2024, the project explores nature-inspired details and abundant greenery while connecting the different areas through the use of natural materials. The design manifests as “a unified whole” with flooring by tones of green, pink, beige, and gray, echoes of water throughout and thoughtful storage solutions.
Nature-Inspired Interiors
Initially, the clients intended to sell the apartment and buy an apartment in a “better” building than the panel house. However, thanks to its excellent location in the wider center of Prague, on the border of the old and new parts of Žižkov, the apartment was given the chance to be transformed. The basis was to create an open space for family life while allowing privacy for individuals. The only requirements for the appearance were natural materials, the creation of a dominant interior element, and abundant use of greenery. With the knowledge of the ideas and needs of the investor and the possibilities of the space, the story “At the Waterfall” began to emerge for us.
Structural Changes To Residence
We enlarged the main living space and partially connected it with another room. This is achieved by removing the partition between the two rooms. At the same time, in a new (shifted) position, a new, U-glass partition is created. Building glass panels connect the two rooms to a certain extent in terms of light and optics, but at the same time, they allow separation and shelter for the mentioned privacy, which serves as a study and a place for exercise. The principle of enlargement and ventilation is also applied in the hygienic background of the apartment.
Two comfortable bathrooms were created, one for women with a bathtub and a hidden washing machine, the other for men with a shower corner and a toilet.
Waterfall Effect Throughout
The natural appearance of the concrete panels, which we decided to show, connects with the natural greenish color of the U-glass blocks, and together they create the impression of water and rock, for us, a waterfall in the rocks. This impression of a “natural scene” is completed and enhanced by the use of an abundance of flowers, the range of colors, and the subtle shapes used.
We further support the intended atmosphere by using wood, stone, terrazzo flooring, mirrors, or flowing textiles.
Unified Color Concept
The color of the cast terrazzo floor depends on the color concept of the apartment and is based on green, pink, beige, and gray stones, so that everything is connected into a unified whole.
Privacy Elements
The hardness of the concrete is purposefully softened by interior textiles, both with a curtain along the U-glass partition (for the possibility of even greater privacy), and also with a curtain in the bedroom, where we use it to separate the newly created dressing room, separated by a curtain. We further refine the concrete with wall drawings and decorations.
Plenty of Spaces For Storage
A matter of course in the interior is the creation of a lot of storage space. In addition to the aforementioned dressing room, there are built-in wardrobes “circling” the bathroom (an interesting element is the hidden door to the bathroom integrated into them), storage space in the new, larger chamber, and also a wardrobe in the study, which includes a desk.
Photography by KUBICEK.STUDIO
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