Set within the historic Palác Akropolis in Prague’s Žižkov district, this 470 m² renovation by Marco Maio Architects reimagines a once fragmented office floor as a contemporary shared workspace. Anchored by a central hub that acts as both social core and circulation spine, the project translates the building’s cultural legacy into a calm, legible interior. Rather than mimic the past, the design carries its spirit forward through light, material warmth and spatial clarity.
Located within the historic Palác Akropolis in Prague’s Žižkov district, this 470 m² renovation by Marco Maio Architects transforms a previously enclosed and fragmented office floor into a contemporary shared workspace. The project engages with the building’s strong cultural identity—shaped in the 1990s by artist František Skála—not through direct replication, but through a quiet reinterpretation that supports present-day working patterns.
At the core of the design lies a generous central hub, conceived as both a social nucleus and a circulation spine.
This spatial axis organizes the entire floor, establishing visual continuity and intuitive orientation while encouraging informal encounters between teams. Natural light enters from both façades and flows through the hub and reception areas, reinforcing depth and clarity while structuring movement across the workspace. The intervention prioritizes legibility and spatial calm.
Formerly dark corridors are reimagined as softly curved passages clad in red ceramic tiles, now one of the project’s defining elements.
Their tactile presence introduces rhythm and warmth, while lighter ceramic tones in the restrooms extend a subtle material continuity throughout the floor. Lighting is carefully integrated to accentuate curvature and surface texture, guiding circulation in a discreet and atmospheric manner.
Material choices balance robustness with warmth.
Natural oak flooring, furniture and window frames ground the interior, while custom walnut meeting tables add a refined tactile contrast within shared areas. Together, these elements create an environment that feels durable, inviting and quietly expressive, without resorting to overt gestures.
The workspace accommodates a range of working modes, alternating between open communal zones and enclosed rooms for focused work.
Glass partitions provide acoustic comfort while maintaining visual permeability, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the plan and reinforcing a cohesive spatial experience. This layered openness supports both collaboration and concentration for teams operating within shared thematic fields related to space, property and decision-making.
Rather than foregrounding history as a stylistic motif, the project treats it as an underlying presence.
The renovation reinterprets the cultural spirit of Palác Akropolis through atmosphere, material continuity and spatial clarity, aligning the building’s legacy with contemporary workplace needs. The result is a balanced and enduring environment where productivity, encounter and ease coexist within a warm and understated architectural framework.
Facts & Credits
Project title Palác Akropolis Offices
Typology Office Design, Workspace Renovation
Location Kubelíkova 1548/27, 130 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Architecture Marco Maio Architects
Author Marco Maio
Co – Author Kadir Sönmez
Design Team David Pesek Muller, Mylana Sydorenko, Kateřina Zapletalová
Project Year 2024
Completion Year 2025
Build-up Area 470 m2
Client Realitní Fond Praha, Advokacie Praha, 2OPF
Photography Alex Shoots Buildings
Text provided by the architects
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