Iconik: a modern building in a former industrial district of Prague

In the heart of one of Prague’s best-known areas stands Iconik, a residential complex designed by Czech studio Edit! The site is on the main avenue of Karlín, a district that has seen major architectural and social changes over recent years.

Following the 2002 flood, the area was the focus of an urban regeneration project that transformed it from an industrial area into a community hub, animated by offices, restaurants, and other venues.

Edit!’s brief was to create a building for both short- and long-term rentals that efficiently uses its urban space while complying with the local regulations and building code.

 

Iconik: two volumes that dialogue with their setting

Iconik comprises 48 apartments divided between a tall, narrow block with nine floors, and a wider block with eight floors, both seamlessly integrated into the urban context. The complex is distinguished by its twin frontages, one facing the street and the other facing an internal courtyard.

The street façade features ceramic cladding in a grid pattern that frames the windows and terraces, recalling both the 1930s style of residential architecture and the industrial buildings that once dominated the area. To help preserve the identity of the place, the base of the tallest volume is finished with aluminum slats, recalling the shapes of the pre-existing building.

The arrangement of the balconies and windows – some fixed, others operable – allows natural light to reach every corner of the apartments, illuminating both the living room and bedroom via the balconies.

 

Distribution of spaces

The interior layouts reflect the distinctive personality of Prague’s building stock. There are three underground floors used as cellars, equipment rooms, and car parks. At street level, there are two restaurants facing onto the internal courtyard, making them accessible to both tenants and the public.

Occupying the second to ninth floors, the housing units have from one to four bedrooms. The top two floors have an exclusive two-level penthouse that includes a roof terrace with a swimming pool.

The interiors are distinguished by a neutral color palette, ranging from warm timber floors to pure white walls, giving occupants the freedom to personalize their homes as they wish.

 

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