THE OLD TOWN HALL ’ S GROUND FLOOR INTERIOR
The new interior of the Old Town Hall ’ s ground floor comprises distinctly contemporary elements that are strictly functional and , thanks to their toned-down visuals , do not compete with the historic architecture . The new elements are designed to age as little as possible , both technically and aesthetically .
The City of Prague together with the Prague City Tourism opened a new tourist facility on the renovated ground floor of the Old Town Hall - a symbol of the overall cultivation of tourism in the Czech capital . In addition to tourist information services and guided tours , it also offers the first brickand-mortar souvenir shop with cultivated souvenirs exclusively from local creators .
Studio Olgoj Chorchoj continued on the SGL ’ s structural reconstruction project of the Old Town Hall ’ s ground floor with the design of interior elements – builtin and freestanding furniture , lighting , and wayfinding elements .
The concept of interior design is essentially the materialization of simple function with a highly toned-down formal aspect . The newly designed elements are not intended to compete with historical architecture ; they are purely meant to serve their purpose and are therefore very simple , constructed with an emphasis on durability and precisely executed details .
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The interior design project of a part of the historic Old Town Hall ground floor includes the allocation of ticket sales , an information centre , a gift shop , and facilities for visitors and staff . The aim was to create a new unit for each of these functions that would meet the current visitors ’ needs and create a healthy and inspiring work environment . The layout and morphology of the new elements take into account the natural movement in space and do not disrupt the original architectural details of the Old Town Hall – the walls breathe , the elements touch them only minimally , and do not cover anything .
The main aesthetic concept is the clear differentiation of the new elements , reflected in the choice of materials , colours , morphology , and placement within the historic environment . The appropriate choice of materials allows the elements to have rounded shapes without visible joints , with the motif of rounded corners permeating throughout the interior – on benches , pedestals , showcases , and counters , including their details .
The lighting system was designed to allow the Gothic vaults , workstations , and items displayed in the showcases to be illuminated without the need for any new interventions in the historic masonry . It also allows for variability in the future , when some elements may be relocated .