The project builds on more than a century of the site’s history and was created as a family collaboration led by architect Dan Merta of MA Studio, with contributions from Matyáš Merta, Mgr. Dan Merta, Anna Mertová and Irena Mertová. The two buildings, courtyard and garden form a compact yet richly layered ensemble that has been part of the family estate for over 150 years – a fact that shaped the level of sensitivity with which the reconstruction was approached.
The main building, originally a painter’s and decorator’s workshop, is accessed from the street through a new gable that replaced the former hipped roof. It leads into a small entrance lobby from which visitors enter directly into the main gallery space with a bar and open kitchen.
This space is conceived as the heart of the entire complex: a high ceiling with exposed trusses, views into the mezzanine and generous industrial lighting create a setting suitable for exhibitions, social events and everyday use. The bar consists of a recycled steel body from Prague’s Point Gallery, bringing a strong technical element with its own history into the interior.
From the main hall, a direct entrance leads to the courtyard that connects all parts of the property. Its granite paving and vine-covered façades form a calm outdoor living room that acts as a natural extension of the interior.
It is the most characteristic exterior space of the project – intimate, enclosed, with an atmosphere reminiscent of small courtyards in Italy or Austria. From the courtyard, steps descend to the garden with a terrace facing the quiet part of the plot, used in summer both as seating for gallery visitors and as a private outdoor area for the family.
The layout of the main building is divided into two functional zones. The front part facing the street accommodates the gallery, bar, mezzanine and toilets with kitchen facilities.
The rear part, accessible both from the interior and directly from the courtyard, contains a small wellness area with a sauna. Here, a two-storey steel structure with wooden slatted infill was inserted into the space, giving the intimate programme an industrial framework and appearing almost like a technical object slid into the original building.
In this zone, the original terrazzo flooring was uncovered and carefully restored; today it stands among the most striking details of the entire conversion.
A staircase along the side wall of the gallery leads to the mezzanine, which opens up into the roof structure. The original roof trusses were cleaned and left completely exposed, allowing visitors to experience the full height and rawness of the space.
The mezzanine serves as a second exhibition level, as well as a quieter area during openings and cultural events.
The ensemble of two buildings works in dialogue: the main building is intended for public use, while the second building serves the family and will later be expanded with guest apartments.
Both houses are connected by the courtyard, yet each has its own identity and rhythm – the gallery is open and permeable, while the residential house is more closed and tranquil. In this phase of the project, the refurbishment of the second building focused mainly on the façades to align them with the main building and the overall visual language of the complex.
Technologically, the site was unified through a KNX Smart Home system that allows control of heating, security and, crucially, lighting – an essential component of gallery operation.
The Smart Home installation was carried out by Voix.cz, and lighting was supplied by Halla.
The conversion emphasises the industrial character, exposed structures, precise work with light and preservation of original elements identified as valuable.
The visual identity of the project is based on a combination of restoration, recycling and clean new technical details, together forming a contemporary yet quietly respectful whole.
The result is a space that honours its history, highlights technical aesthetics and functions as a vibrant cultural and social centre that naturally connects with the family’s daily life as well as the wider context of the locality.
