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Horse stable refurbishment

In Czech Republic 3+1 architekti trasformed a 1870 horse stable into a large, versatile exhibition space using simple design and material solutions.

The building of the former stables is part of the farming complex founded around 1870. Size and location of the building is the key to the layout of the whole farm.

Along with similarly large barn on the southern edge of the property it defines large yard area and establishes the complex scale, which is larger compared to the surrounding residential development. The house was not used during last twenty years and stood without roof for a long time. Damage to original constructional structures was therefore huge.

3+1 architekti intended to rescue and fix as much as possible, believing that there was no need to add any additional volume to the original which was already quite generous. The goal was large, versatile exhibition space with some necessary facilities, used seasonally from spring to autumn. The original spatial concept was retained, only its function changed.

Main intervention to the building was the necessary fixation of the peripheral walls by massive concrete frames and new roof design. Roof is hipped as the original one used to be. The upper ridge glass lighting enhances a new content of the space and in principal connects stables to the neighboring newly designed training center (former barn).

3+1 architekti, Horse stable refurbishment, Předlice, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

The stone perimeter walls were manually cleaned, and repaired locally. Similarly were repaired brick architraves around the windows. Original openings were barely touched.

The project features a simple design and material solutions. It also keeps clear sense of what used to be original because of potential future more sophisticated remodeling. Essential was investor’s will to save the object which majority of people took for totally destroyed and with absolutely no value. In addition, this building stands in the area that is today considered uninteresting and unimportant thanks to the absence of meaningful social and urban policy.