The conversion of the former Microna factory into the 150-unit Vanguard loft housing project by PSN is progressing well. The first owners are already taking possession of their shell & core apartments in Prague’s Modřany. For those interested, the developer has prepared two sample lofts whose designs are the work of renowned designers – Ivanka Kowalski and OOOOX studio. The luxury project, inspired by loft living in foreign metropolises, includes, for example, a car lift in the middle of the building, a roof terrace with a sauna or a spa & wellness zone with a swimming pool.
PSN is heading to the final stage with the Vanguard project in Prague’s Modřany. The project is being built by converting a former aeronautical device factory (known as Microna or Mikrotechna), where 150 lofts with an industrial atmosphere are being built, ranging from 41 sqm to penthouses with an area of 626 sqm. Almost every one of them has a terrace. Owners who have chosen to buy a unit in a shell & core configuration and thus arrange their new home completely according to their own wishes have already started to take over the apartments.
The 16,000 sqm building has a reinforced concrete frame and stands out for its superior strength. The former factory, which is associated with the very beginnings of aviation in Czechoslovakia, had to be designed as a bunker due to its focus on military supplies. At fourteen storeys high, this meant using a huge amount of concrete and iron. The individual walls and ceilings could bear extreme loads, allowing the new owners to do “almost anything” in the way of alterations. Therefore, a unique car lift could be built in the middle of the house, allowing the owner to park a luxury car or vintage car right at the door of the apartment.
The developer PSN is now developing loft apartments here, following the example of foreign metropolises such as New York, London or Berlin. These were the cradle of this unique way of living, when it was mainly artists who began to inhabit abandoned production and warehouse halls in the 1970s and 1980s. Since at that time there was no interest in using hundreds of square meters without heating, hot water and partitions dividing the space into individual rooms, it was very cheap to rent them. Even aces like Jackson Pollock or Donald Judd didn’t have money at first – they rented such halls for their studios, where they lived. This gave rise to a whole new style of living, unconfined by walls. And that was the inspiration for PSN’s Vanguard project. “The Microna factory was a dominant feature of Prague’s Modřany for many years, so when the opportunity to buy it came up many years ago, we didn’t hesitate. Our ambitious vision is to transform it into a unique loft project. We don’t want to limit ourselves to living here – in our opinion, the units are also perfectly suited as original spaces for work: for example, an office, an art workshop or a photography studio. After all, even before we started the conversion itself, we were looking for a temporary, meaningful use for the building. “In addition to offices, we have also rented it out to artists as exhibition space or studios,” says PSN Managing Director Max Skala, reflecting on the past, “We generally welcome such interesting acquisition opportunities at PSN. We are actively looking for properties with potential that we want to use to the fullest. Projects like Vanguard, in which we put not only a lot of progressive ideas, but also energy and work, then become our heart’s business.”
The Vanguard project is also a good investment opportunity to safely store money and make it more valuable. “The current economic and real estate market developments once again confirm that it is advisable to invest in real estate in the long term. The key reason is stability and value growth over a longer period. This is now especially true for those that are exclusive in location and quality of design, which is exactly what the Vanguard project is. In spite of the current 17% inflation and the decline in interest in buying standard properties, the luxury segment still holds its value,” comments Marek Padevět, PSN’s residential projects director, on the investment potential.
The lofts in the Vanguard project are characterised by impressive space and the incorporation of the latest technological equipment, thus meeting the highest standards of living. With generous ceiling heights of up to 4.3 metres, the interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows are airy and have a wide variety of uses. This is illustrated by PSN’s two designer lofts, the architectural design of which was provided by two renowned studios – Ivanka Kowalski and OOOOX. Architect Petr Drexler and studio ID_arch also participated in the project.
Loft by Ivanka Kowalski, an interior designer with extensive experience of living in London and New York, combines the original raw industrial space with comfort, elegance and cosiness. The decadent neutral colours of the furnishings are enlivened with extravagant accessories. Ivanka Kowalski says of the design, “The biggest challenge for me was the roughness, which I had never actually worked with before Vanguard. But I really enjoyed it and I’m so glad I had a free hand from PSN. I based the interior design concept on contrasting the furnishing style of the apartment with the industrial spirit and architecture of the building. In a very rough concrete shell with admitted wiring, I put minimalistic and elegant furnishings in neutral tones. This allowed me to allow for extravagance in accessories such as bold art and exceptional light fixtures. I also paid great attention to the combination of colours and textures, which is key to creating a cosy interior. As for the layout, I turned the originally planned two-bedroom apartment into an oversized studio. Apart from the toilet and bathroom, there are no interior doors in the entire apartment. The bedroom is only symbolically separated from the living room by wardrobes, so that you can’t see all the way to the bed from the lounge area.”
The design of the second loft, in which the industrial style is used to the full, was done by the renowned OOOOX studio of Radka and Jakub Val. Co-owner Radka Valová describes the model apartment. In addition, PSN was receptive to the idea of using the original construction as much as possible. In the interior, we left the monolithic structures exposed and only coarse core plaster was applied to the partitions. We decided to go for a very bold design and therefore chose black. We complemented this with gold, yellow and orange in the form of brass, for example, which creates a subtle detail to contrast with the rough concrete. This small accent elevates industrial to luxury.”
On working with open space, one of the greatest benefits of loft apartments, the architect of Studio OOOOX adds: “Due to the generous height of the apartment, we decided to place a ‘cube’ in the centre of this smaller loft, which cleverly hides the bathroom and storage spaces, and also functions as a sleeping floor. In this way we achieved a great view and maximum use of the apartment’s floor space. Perhaps the biggest specialty is the pull-out stairs, providing access to the sleeping area. These are hidden during normal daytime use, so the bedroom is not visible at first glance even in the open space.”
The architects from OOOOX have also put their signature on the design of the entrance lobby and wellness facilities of the Vanguard project. “We were impressed with the basement on our first visit. We decided to again make the most of the rawness of the structures and contrast them with the relaxing spirit of the entire space. As for the reception area, it should be made of concrete. This is a challenge because it is a completely unique bespoke piece and we are currently fine-tuning its design. Since this is the first space you see when you enter the house, it must become the calling card of the house, not just a ‘gatehouse’,” explains architect Radka Valová.
PSN plans to prepare two more model lofts, again different in style. One of them will be taken care of by Skull studio, the other by architect Michaela Záhorovská.
The Vanguard project will offer its new residents great facilities with the possibility of spending leisure time. The original concrete civil protection shelter in the basement will be replaced by a wellness area with a gym and a 20-metre glass swimming pool. Roof terraces accessible to all residents will be used for gatherings and barbecues in the summer shared kitchen, and there will also be an outdoor sauna with views of Prague. There will also be a fitness and cinema room, and of course a concierge reception.
The location in Prague’s Modřany district is also an advantage. The Vanguard project is located in the formerly industrial part of the district, which, however, has been transformed into a sought-after residential area in recent years. This is due not only to the necessary amenities, including shops, a polyclinic and schools in the wider area, but above all to the nice environment with lots of greenery. Just a few meters away, the forest park or the quiet zone along the Vltava River with a beach volleyball and children’s playground and a popular bicycle path attract people to relax and play sports. Nearby there are also tennis courts or the Hodkovičky golf course. The centre of the metropolis can be reached in 15 minutes by car and public transport.
