Located in the historic Palác Akropolis in Prague’s Žižkov district, this 470 m² renovation transforms a previously enclosed and fragmented floor into a contemporary shared workspace. The interior atmosphere of the building was shaped in the 1990s by artist František Skála, who established a distinctive cultural character within the space. This renovation does not replicate that language, but translates its presence into a calm, legible and easy-to-use environment suited to contemporary work.
The design centers on a generous hub that functions as both a social core and a circulation spine, bringing visual and spatial continuity across the floor. Natural light enters from both façades, defining the main axis through the hub and reception areas and lending the interior a sense of depth.
The interior continues this clarity with a calm yet inviting palette of materials. Formerly dark corridors were reimagined as softly curved passages clad in red ceramic tiles, which have become one of the defining elements of the project. The same ceramic surface appears in lighter tones in the restrooms, softening the palette and establishing a quiet continuity across the floor.
These ceramic surfaces are balanced by natural oak flooring, furniture and window frames, which bring warmth and a grounded feel to the interior. Custom walnut meeting tables introduce a subtle tactile contrast in the shared areas, reflecting a focus on durability and well-made details. Lighting highlights the curved forms and surface textures, guiding movement through the space in a quiet and unobtrusive way.
The floor brings together workrooms and meeting spaces with different levels of openness. The teams sharing this level work around common themes of space, property and decision-making, which require both collaboration and focused individual work. For this reason, the design alternates between communal areas that encourage encounter and quieter rooms that support concentration. Glass partitions provide acoustic comfort while maintaining visual continuity, resulting in a cohesive and composed atmosphere.
In this way, the offices at Palác Akropolis reinterpret the cultural spirit of the building within the context of contemporary work. History is present here not as a focal motif, but as a quiet layer accompanying the experience of space. The result is an environment that balances productivity and ease, offering a warm, understated and enduring place to work.
Team:
Architects: Marco Maio Architects
Author: Author Marco Maio
Co-author: Kadir Sönmez
Design team: David Pesek Muller, Mylana Sydorenko, Kateřina Zapletalová
Client: Realitní Fond Praha, Advokacie Praha, 2OPF
General contractor: Eterno plus
Carpentry works: Bétrojka
Electrical installation: Filip Leixner
Photographer: Alex Shoots Buildings
Materials Used:
Red ceramic tiles: wall finish in hub and reception areas
Oak – flooring, fixed furniture, and glass partition frames
Terrazzo – flooring in the main hub and restrooms
Solid walnut – custom meeting tables
Textiles – upholstered furniture and curtains
Metal – lighting fixtures, furniture legs, and detail accents
Floors — Valen&Masar
Textile elements — ARCO Interier
Chairs and armchairs — FormDesign
Sanitary ware — Laufen
Glass partitions — Verti
Doors — Vekra
Radiators — Pars
Lighting fixtures — Brokis, Marset
Ceramic tiles — WOW Tiles
Tables — Arte Brotto
Coffee tables — Martin Foret, Kave Home
Lighting supplier - Light Works
Ceramic tiles supplier -Archtiles
Terrazzo flooring - OMEGA 99
