No-Wall Apartment by RDTH architekti

The reconstruction of the apartment works with a radical opening of the layout. After the removal of almost all partitions, a fluid space organized by a single central furniture block was created. It defines individual functional zones without closing them. The apartment is balancing the logic of a studio and a multi-room layout, open, flexible and ready for future changes...

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From the architect: Removing almost all the walls and doors from an apartment would be foolish, unacceptable, or simply absurd for most people. It would mean losing the opportunity to close off and cut off from the outside world, at least for a while.

Work, sleep, food preparation, hygiene or leisure – these are basic human activities for which separate spaces are traditionally reserved in apartments. We adapt them so that these activities take place as efficiently and comfortably as possible. The specific solution is based on the characteristics of the human body, ergonomics, the need for light and fresh air, as well as individual personal preferences.

Apartments with a more traditional layout, where individual rooms – like grapes – connect to a central corridor, may not suit everyone. The fixed boundaries of the spaces and clearly defined possibilities for their use, lighting or ventilation may be limiting for some. Such an apartment can then feel cramped and unfree, regardless of the size of its floor area.

Removing some conservative rules opens up space for a new perspective on the layout and use of an apartment. Individual fixed parts of the interior can be assigned different levels of light, sound or movement permeability. Changing these parameters allows you to view the space from a new perspective – as an open, flexible and free whole.

The Thin Line Between a 1-Bedroom and a 4-Bedroom Apartment
With the exception of the installation shaft and the skylight, we removed all fixed partitions from the interior of the apartment. We then restructured the space in a way that no longer requires traditional brick walls or doors (except for the toilet door).

We placed a single compact furniture block in the center of the layout. By slightly rotating it, the individual functional zones of the apartment were created - as if it were a 4-bedroom apartment. At the same time, one continuous, fluid space is created - as if it were a 1-bedroom apartment, which does not need rooms with a clearly defined beginning and end to create a spatial hierarchy.

The basic building elements of the interior are built-in furniture, glass concrete blocks and curtains. Everything else consists of freely inserted elements of equipment, accessories and personal items. Time also plays an important role here. The apartment in this form responds to the current needs of its users and individual solutions take into account the possibility of future modifications or changes.

Two Kitchens
The apartment now contains two “kitchens.” The first, located directly in the living area, functions more like a home café. It is not intended for cooking and can easily be adapted in the future to another function that the apartment may need.

The second, fully equipped kitchen with all the appliances is located at the back of the layout. It is connected to a freestanding washer and dryer and a system of open shelves. This part is separated from the rest of the space by a curtain that can be moved aside in an instant and fully used according to current needs.

Hygiene Block
Behind the central furniture block are the sanitary facilities. The toilet, separated by an opaque – but light-transmitting wall made of glass concrete blocks, is the only space in the apartment with a classic door.

The raised part of the floor behind the furniture set contains the water and sewage distribution for the washbasin and sink. Some of the bathroom functions are deliberately moved outside the enclosed shower space, thanks to which the washbasin, for example, can be used much more universally and is not only used for hygienic activities.

Materials and Atmosphere
The visual character of the apartment is determined by several basic principles. First of all, it is the exposed concrete skeleton of the house, to which we have returned its natural materiality of raw concrete. Then there are the external walls with plaster, flexible blackout curtains allowing instant light regulation and improving acoustic comfort, the traditional oak parquet floor or the light-transmitting glass concrete blocks separating the sanitary areas.

The interior is complemented by white built-in furniture, several iconic pieces of freestanding furniture, indoor plants and personal items.

Light
The system of the lights is intentionally very simple. The entire apartment is connected to a single lighting circuit, the individual lights of which are controlled digitally – either directly from the apartment residents' mobile phones or from a home tablet. Some lights are also paired with their own digital rocker switches located in the usual places.

Apartment in the City
The apartment's equipment also responds to the immediate accessibility of city services. Within a ten-minute walking distance, there are grocery and other stores, restaurants and cafes, sports facilities, parks, cultural institutions, a large library and a metro station with a direct connection to the international airport.

In practice, this means that the apartment only needs basic storage capacity for groceries and can afford to remain spacious and open.

Openness as a Decision
A higher degree of openness is a conscious and informed decision. However, the future may bring new priorities and needs. The layout solution therefore, allows for easy adjustments – by replacing some elements of the equipment or adding other dividing elements, should they prove necessary in the future.

Architect: RDTH architekti
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Year: 2026
Lead Architect: René Dlesk, Tamara Kolaříková
Design Team: Kristián Vnučko, Kristýna Kopecká
Gross floor area: 101 sqm
Photography: Filip Beránek