transparent grid façade completes parking house by malý chmel in czech republic

malý chmel introduces the ‘parking house’ proposal into the historic center of ostrava, czech republic. the project settles next to the ‘bachner’ department store by architect erich mendelsohn, which serves as a significant modernist monument of the city. designed as a monolithic reinforced concrete skeleton, the proposed volume fills the existing empty plot.

all images courtesy of malý chmel

the main column raster draws influence by the traffic scheme, while the supply yard and the steam compensator on the ground floor create the need for a different grid system. in an attempt to respond to these aspects,  malý chmel used inclined columns that are located as close as possible to the façade, adding spatial rigidity to the structure. the composition of straight and leaning columns generates a key element for the concept with a seemingly irregular ‘forest’ of reinforced concrete supports.

the architects aimed to integrate the building’s outer shell into its surroundings, specifically the ‘bachner’ department store built in 1933. glass blocks complete the façade’s main motif, enclosing the parking house and providing a finer scale with a shiny and elegant touch.

the translucent façade adds a visual depth to the structure while folding large windows penetrate the walls for fire safety and natural ventilation. another important aspect is the subsequent horizontal division of the façade by a cornice in the form of thinned reinforced concrete slabs. the ground floor of the parking house remains completely transparent with rental spaces.

project info:

name: parking house ostrava, cz

architect: malý chmel

cz team: petr malý, miroslav malý, zdeněk chmel, miroslav chmel, daniel struhařík, natálie ivkovičová

vizualizer: monolot studio

location: ostrava, czech republic

year: 2020

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