Czech architecture studio ORA has renovated a Renaissance-era house in the town of ?eský Krumlov, preserving original features like its carved wooden beams while adding free-standing contemporary furniture.
Local entrepreneurs Petra Hanáková and Radek Techlovský purchased the dilapidated house in the town centre in 2016 and asked ORA to oversee a modernisation process that retains the interior's historical character.
Masná 130 is a renovated home by ORA in ?eský Krumlov
The 500-year-old building, now called Masná 130, had been neglected for decades and was not even connected to the town's sewage system. It also had flood-damaged foundations and a roof in need of major repairs.
Despite its issues, the owners saw potential in the property and spent two years transforming its ground floor into a cafe that has become a gathering place for the local community. The architects added bespoke furniture made from dark-stained birch plywood
The latest phase of the project involved renovating the first-floor living spaces. The original intention was to redevelop them as rental flats, but Hanáková and Techlovský eventually decided to create a single apartment that they could occupy themselves.
ORA's design for the apartment reveals aspects of the building's past while introducing modern features that reflect the owners' love for contemporary design and minimalist style.
The building's original carved wooden ceiling beams are left exposed
"We did not want to create a histo...