The Plato Art Gallery in the Czech Republic by KWK Promes

In the Czech city of Ostrava, KWK Promes have transformed an old slaughterhouse into an art gallery. The dilapidated condition of the exposed-brick building represented both challenge and inspiration for the planners.  

Soot-blackened and lily-white facade 

The Polish architecture team have preserved the soot-blackened, derelict facade. In doing so, they consistently distinguish between historical and contemporary elements. Smaller flaws in the exposed brickwork have been mended with artificially patinated blocks. The new window glazing appears matte and dark; it is coated with a ceramic silkscreen print. Visitors recognize reconstructed and added building components by their surfacing of white microcement. The same can be said of the enormous pivoting walls that fill the large gaps in the brickwork. Over the years, these holes were made in the building’s outer shell without consideration for the rhythm of the facade; they were intended to serve as gateways. One might take them for massive concrete walls, but their microcement surfaces conceal insulated sheet-metal modules on steel constructions.  

Completely replaced

The planning phase revealed that the southernmost of the four buildings that form the old slaughterhouse stood on unstable ground, meaning that its foundation could no longer provide the required stability. Therefore, the planning team decided to demolish this building and rebuild it with new materials. To ensure a harmonious overall concept the replacement structure, an insulated edifice of reinforced concrete, has also been surfaced with microcement.  

A concordant interior concept

The material palette continues inside the building as well. The new single-flight stairway in the atrium leads to both the upper level of the new structure and the long gallery. Like a bracket, it connects the formerly free-standing buildings. This can still be discerned from the facades of exposed brickwork on the two west-facing and east-facing building portions, which are now indoors. The exhibition spaces present themselves as classic white cubes with white-plastered walls and flooring with visible screeds.

Pivoting wall elements in the facade

When the pivoting wall elements in the gallery are opened, the exhibition space extends to the outdoors. Robert Konieczny, director of KWK Promes, describes the intention behind this idea: “This literally allows the art out of the building and into public space. It thus becomes accessible to a new audience and takes on a democratic character.” In collaboration with landscape architect Denisa Tomášková, the 9000-m² plaza in front of the art gallery has been designed with lawns, mixed meadows and a biotope. Bearing the name Garden of the Present, it is itself part of the exhibition.  

Read more in Detail 10.2023 and in our databank Detail Inspiration.