Zahrádky castle - conference hotel Spark

Project idea

The project focuses on the revitalisation of Castle Zahrádky, located in the Czech Republic near the town of Česká Lípa. Our goal was to give the castle a new life and attract visitors to its surroundings. We aimed to create an exciting destination, whether for attending events in a multi-purpose hall or enjoying a stay in a hotel. The main functions we envisioned for the project include a multi-purpose hall with retractable seating—allowing for a wide variety of events—and a hotel featuring a rooftop restaurant, a café, and a fitness center.

Project description

Our aim was to preserve the structure of the castle while giving it a fresh and exciting new appearance. To achieve this, we used perforated steel as the main material for the curtain wall, which also functions as a support system for the hotel room balconies and the exterior of the café. On top of the original structure, we designed a two-storey superstructure, its height corresponding to the original mansard roof. What was once the courtyard has been transformed into a foyer with a glass ceiling, allowing natural light to flood the interior. A significant part of the north wing was replaced by the new multi-purpose hall, whose interior façade is made of red perforated steel. The space between the load-bearing structure and the perforated steel cladding is used as a staircase leading to the fourth and fifth levels (where the areas open to public - conference halls, restaurant, café - are situated). The inner walls of the courtyard have been preserved, with the former windows now serving as doors to the individual hotel rooms, which are accessible from the courtyard gallery.

Technical information

The roof and curtain wall are made of steel, either solid or perforated. The same material is used for the interior façade of the multi-purpose hall. The new floors—adjusted to fit different structural heights (adjusted so that the windows could be used for doors) —are made of reinforced concrete, as is the floor of the courtyard gallery. The ceiling of the courtyard is composed of glass panels, supported by steel beams.