Life between the buildings

The term "housing" usually refers to space between four walls. This is often reflected in residential projects, the success of which lies in the efficiency of the square meters created, rather than in the satisfaction of the people who live there.

Public space with an open-air library near the Elča and Emča villas in Modřany.

The city is not made up of houses, but of people. Coexistence ceases to function when the city begins to prevent people from using public space.

— Czech-Japanese architect Osamu Okamura —

Our home should not be a place that isolates us. It should be part of a whole that includes its surroundings. It should provide us with space for relaxation, entertainment, meeting friends, enjoying a nice view from the window where we wake up every day, and building good neighborly relations. Moreover, it should provide amenities as well as a high-quality, joyful, quiet and clean space we will enjoy passing through to go to work and take our children to school.

Source: Czech Industry magazine

Something to look at

The city should be a place where we encounter new and diverse stimuli, where we have the opportunity to look around and be pleasantly surprised. Not only to see anonymous faces through the windshield of your car, but to capture a fleeting smile on the street or enjoy the greenery around the house and the life associated with it.

To be among people

Humans are social creatures, so for us to lead a happy life it helps to be among people, to see and listen to others and to receive feedback from them. As architects Adam Gebrian and Jan Gehl note, we don't have to know the people around us directly; we just need to be close to them. We need a public space that we can freely use and share with others, somewhere we can relax without great demands. Take an occasional walk and bump into someone incidentally on the way, sit on a bench, or meet someone whom we never would have otherwise had the opportunity to get to know.

Image from a distance

100 m

We recognize a person

25 m

We perceive feelings and mood

2 m

We notice a fleeting smile

Outdoor activities

To make us want to spend our free time outside our home, our surroundings must motivate us to come out of our front door and choose from a variety of activities that the space around us offers. Space for our children to play, a piazza for meeting together, benches, a barbecue area, a park for relaxation and sports, with access to drinking water, all provide incentives to get us outside.

Plenty of public spaces lead to more frequent meetings between people from the local community, allowing them to get to know each other and establish closer relationships, which in turn contribute to warmer communication and a more pleasant atmosphere around their home. Generations and cultures are intertwined and become a good example for children, who grow up in a living environment and can make new friendships there.

Children's playground in the Emil Kolben residential area.

Community garden in Modřany near the Rarach project.

Skanska brings
the space between buildings to life

We are aware that the quality of housing does not only lie in the dimensions and dispositions of the apartment, but is also affected by the space around it. We are adding extra square meters to homes in the form of shared, public and semi-public space. We pay attention to the common space inside the building; the corridors, staircases, elevators and entrance halls of our apartment buildings have a unique visual identity that is also transferred to the areas around the buildings. We build multipurpose parks, playgrounds, workout places. We also support and install works of art in public spaces.

Children's playground in a public space near the villa Elča and Emča in Modřany.

Gemma, by sculptor Michal Trpák, adorns the public space at the Gemma Residence in Prague's Chodovec.

Like buildings, public spaces are designed for us by renowned architects and studios to encourage inhabitants to want to spend time together. On the roofs of our houses you will find shared terraces, community buildings with composters right next door, and even a shared workshop. Technology (in the form of an app) also helps neighbors communicate more effectively.

Respect in the neighborhood

Each place has its own history, qualities and unique feel. Its own story. New developments should build on those things, blend into the area where they are built, and respect the people who already have an established relationship with that place.

Více

Respect for natural resources

A respectful society can manage resources efficiently and sustainably, thus creating a space where future generations will be able to live happily and for a long time. Thoughtful use of natural resources, recycling, new technologies and care for biodiversity represent the future of our homes and residential construction.

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Lasting value

Good quality architecture can be extravagant, but only where it serves a higher purpose. Investing more up front in acquisition costs ultimately reduces operating costs. Good architecture is not afraid to choose high-quality materials even in places that are not so visible, preferring a higher standard of design.

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We are here for those who want more than a square meters from their home.