Ceramics Gallery

Year1995

CategoryInterior

LocationČeský Krumlov

StatusCompleted

The Ceramics Gallery was created for our long-standing friend, the ceramicist and sculptor Miroslav Páral, in the historic core of Český Krumlov. The project works with the small scale of the original house and its sensitive integration into the townscape, placing the main emphasis on the art itself and the way it is presented.

The renovation transformed the original building into a raw, open two-storey space with a minimum of distracting elements. Here, the architecture steps back in favour of the works on display, creating a calm, neutral backdrop that brings out the material, texture and character of the ceramics and sculptures.

The gallery’s relationship with the street is also an important part of the design. Generous glazing opens the interior towards the public space, allowing the life of the gallery to be read from outside. The space thus functions not merely as an enclosed exhibition venue but becomes a natural part of everyday life in the historic centre.

Client	Miroslav Páral
Design team	Martin Krupauer

A Dialogue Between Old and New

The character of the interior is defined by the timber of the exposed roof truss, the uncovered original masonry and the web of steel tie rods of the staircase. These elements set up a direct dialogue between new and old and allow the authentic character of the original building to stand out.

The dominant feature of the interior is a timber staircase suspended on cables reaching high up into the roof truss. Yet the whole space remains a modest backdrop for sculptures, paintings and the process of artistic creation itself.