To See and Honour the Genius Loci
56 ǀ POSITIV 2/2025
ARCHITEKTURA
The third layer is the building’s significance—cultural,
historical, social, and even personal. Perhaps
an important event took place there. This is the genius
loci of the site. It’s about seeing not only the tangible
aspects, but also preserving the cultural memory
and spirit of the place, embedding its past story into
the transformation.
For example, in the club space at Rudolfinum, we kept
the original leather seats and the illuminated ceiling
panel as a trace of the earlier reconstruction led
by Karel Prager. These elements bore his distinctive
touch, and we felt it was important to retain that
presence. Moreover, we’d heard that the Philharmonic
musicians tend to be quite traditional and had grown
used to those seats—so we deliberately kept the original
Thonet chairs as well.
In another case, a client asked us to renovate a small
cottage that held deep sentimental value for his family.
As part of the brief, he even sent us a poem. Though
it was just a simple wooden cabin, the emotional
and nostalgic significance was profound, and we tried
to honour that in the design.
Can we say that the budget determines which
historical elements are preserved and which are not-
and to what extent?
Preserving old buildings—or parts of them—isn’t
necessarily more expensive or cheaper. It really
depends on the demands of the future use and what
the client expects from the outcome. If they
want the building to meet the standards of a new
construction, then the adaptation becomes more
complex, which is reflected in the cost. On the other
hand, retaining parts of the original structure can
actually save money—demolition and new materials
cost something, so preserving the old can sometimes
be the more economical route.
It depends on the building’s technical condition
and whether its structure can handle the necessary
changes—whether the roof, for example, can bear
the extra load of new insulation if the original one
wasn’t insulated. This can completely shift the cost
balance. Certain reinforcements or improvements
might be needed to help the building function better
for its new purpose—such as insulating the walls,
damp-proofing from below, or even cutting into
the foundations, which can end up being more
expensive and complicated than simply building a new
insulated wall.
Therefore, it’s always a matter of careful consideration.
We assess it individually, based on operational needs,
budget, historical value, and aesthetics. It helps to define
what gives the building its character or uniqueness—
certain details or construction techniques, for example.
From the perspective of both designers and investors,
it’s often easier to tear the old down, but doing so also
means losing the innate uniqueness and authenticity
that a well-considered adaptation can preserve.
That adapted result might not be flawless—but does
everything really need to be perfect? I don’t think
it does.
Thank you for the interview.
It’s about seeing not only the tangible
aspects, but also preserving the cultural
memory and spirit of the place.