This Historic Prague Apartment Packs a Punch in a Small Space
Globe-spanning studio Formafatal took on the renovation of this Arbes Square apartment.
How do you pack style and function into a loft with less than 1,000 square feet of living space? Just ask architects Katarína Varsová and Petra Dagan of Formafatal, a globe-trotting studio with offices in the Czech Republic and Costa Rica and a focus on residential, commercial, and cultural projects. The two-storey attic space in a historic building in Prague’s Arbes Square neighbourhood was initially portioned into four units. In 2021, the owner approached Formafatal with the goal of opening up the space to create a “timeless yet unique” rental property. The renovation was completed in 2024.
The architects began reimagining the layout by placing a cube-like mass with its own roof structure inside the open floor plan. Its purpose: to contain the kitchen, hallway cladding, and a wardrobe from the adjacent bedroom. Perforated metal sheets with a grid pattern envelop the space in front of the cube—from the mezzanine and handrail to the wall behind the dining table—to introduce an element of texture while protecting the flow of light.
Varsová and Dagan allowed the building’s original wooden beams to remain a key feature by selecting a matte white finish for the walls and bleached wood and concrete for the floors. This serene base of white, grey, and blue is punctuated with terra cotta, both sun-baked and neon in tone. These lively hits of colour are introduced through furnishings and fixed elements (such as tile grout and towel bars), and accessories to keep the mood playful throughout.
The team made use of the loft’s sloped ceilings by tucking custom, built-in wardrobes and closets under the angles to ensure every inch of space could be used. Skylights reveal the cityscape and historic rooflines that surround the building—a reminder that past and present can cohabitate with ease.
“The result is a harmonious contrast between the modern inserted elements and the old story told by the beams and original roof structure,” Varsová says. “This dialogue between the historic and modern gives the space a unique character and creates an engaging environment for its inhabitants.
