Minimalist living with an industrial soul
A sensitive renovation transforms a former industrial building in the area of defunct factories in Kukleny, Hradec Králové, into modern small-scale housing with an active ground floor. The three-story building is located in the middle of a brownfield site that is gradually being transformed into a residential urban district. Several residential complexes will eventually rise around the Green Building, a new town square will be created nearby, and a new natural park will flourish along the Elbe canal. The Green Building is the last preserved industrial structure in this extensive brownfield and will serve as a significant and sole reminder of the site’s industrial past within the future district.
The main idea behind the design was to create a building with a welcoming ground floor that would form a natural center for the wider neighborhood. The rounded windows on the ground floor echo the original architectural language of the historic factory windows. A newly created passage through the building connects the park and the future square with the upcoming residential buildings of the Nové Kukleny Neighborhood. This gesture of creating a new passage redefines the future public space and supports a multi-directional orientation of the public functions on the ground level. The aim is to foster neighborhood connections within the broader area of this emerging residential district. Through the green arched windows, the ground floor opens to the public space, where brick paving defines terraces for outdoor seating or small community events.
The remaining floors will offer apartments ranging from studio to one-bedroom units (1+kk to 2+kk), with interiors that reflect the ever-present industrial aesthetic. Exposed original brickwork, visible concrete ceilings, and steel railings are softened by wooden kitchens and finishes. Thanks to the original high ceilings, the smaller apartments include built-in lofts that residents can use for separate sleeping areas or as generous storage space.
The Green Building got its name from its existing green façade. We decided to restore the façade to its original neutral character while highlighting the pilasters. In return, green is used in smaller color accents—such as window frames, metal cladding, and also within the building’s common areas, where it appears in elements like the apartment entrance doors, green terrazzo on the internal staircase, or the painted ceiling.
The Green Building retains its original character and appearance; the renovation respects the original window openings, their shapes, and typical divisions. The façade’s composition is honored and emphasized through varying shades and textures of plaster. However, the new windows and the passage through the building hint at its new, modern use.
