‘Above the Horizon’: A Yachting‑Inspired Smart Apartment with Skyline Views in Prague

Breaking: Horizon-Inspired Redesign Transforms Prague Panel Apartment into Serene Sea-Scaled Retreat

In Prague, a compact 71-square-meter panel apartment has been reborn as a horizon-inspired living space. The bold conversion marries concrete honesty with oceanic blues, offering a calm, city-ready sanctuary amid the metropolis.

Architects and Concept

The redesign is led by Ivana Hájková and Kateřina Šmardová of Iva Hajkova Studio. They drew their muse from the horizon itself, naming the project Above the Horizon. The owner’s passion for yachting influenced the home’s atmosphere, creating a residence that echoes the open sea, steady winds, and distant ships while maintaining a refined urban vibe.

Key Renovation Highlights

architects preserved the building’s structural character but transformed the interior into a shining, airy plan. The original 3+kk layout was converted into a generous 2+kk,now featuring a seperate dressing room. A large shower and wall-mounted toilet surround practical storage solutions in the bathroom, and a cloakroom includes a bicycle niche with charging capabilities as well as space for charging an electric vacuum cleaner.

Material Palette and Mood

The designers chose to reveal the building’s concrete elements rather than conceal them, pairing them with a deck-like wooden floor that spans the living areas. Blues—varying in shade across kitchen accents, shelving, and lighting—evoke the sea’s depths and energy, while a clay trowel motif in the bedroom evokes the seabed and coast. The overall affect blends energetic detail with a calming, minimalist ideology.

Smart Living and Sound Comfort

Modern conveniences abound: a smart home system, a security setup, and motorized blinds guard privacy and comfort. The transition from plastic windows to wood-aluminum units with triple glazing significantly dampens city noise, creating a quieter interior that still enjoys panoramic urban views.

A Quiet, Inspiring Urban Home

The result is a peaceful, inspiring space that supports daily life in the metropolis. The design demonstrates how a city-dwelling can balance dynamic exterior views with a carefully curated interior that prioritizes function, craft, and tranquility.

Quick Facts Table

Aspect	Details
Location	Prague,Czech Republic
Original size	71 m2
Original layout	3+kk converted to 2+kk with dressing room
key design motif	Above the Horizon; horizon and maritime influence
Materials	Visible concrete,wood deck flooring,blue accents,clay motifs
Bathrooms	Large shower with integrated storage around wall-hung toilet
Storage innovations	Bicycle niche with charging,space for electric vacuum charger
Systems	Smart home,security,blinds,triple-glazed wood-aluminum windows

Evergreen Insights for Urban Living

Urban residences can benefit from revealing structural honesty while introducing calm,nature-inspired palettes. Integrating flexible spaces—such as a dressing room or multi-purpose storage—maximizes small footprints without sacrificing comfort.Smart-home features and robust sound insulation remain essential for city living, enabling residents to enjoy open views while maintaining privacy and energy efficiency. The Above the Horizon approach demonstrates how contemporary design can fuse function, craft, and a sense of escape within dense urban fabric.

Reader Engagement

Would you trade a busy city vista for a calmer, horizon-inspired interior? What feature would you prioritize in a compact urban home: a dedicated dressing space, enhanced soundproofing, or integrated smart-home controls?

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which element of this Prague redesign you would most want in your own home.

Illed aluminum panels that mimic the sleek ribs of a hull. The result is a fluid silhouette that reflects the movement of water,while the building’s orientation maximizes daylight and river breezes.

Project Overview

‘Above the Horizon’ is a premium high‑rise advancement situated on the Vltava waterfront in Prague’s Smíchov district. Completed in late 2024, the 22‑storey tower delivers 68 luxury apartments, each positioned to capture unobstructed panoramic skyline views of the Charles Bridge, Petřín Hill, and the historic Old Town. The building is marketed as a “yachting‑inspired smart apartment” and has quickly become a benchmark for contemporary urban living in Central Europe.

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Architectural Concept: Yachting Inspiration

Design Element	Yacht Equivalent	How It Translates to the Apartment
Curved façade	Bow of a sailing yacht	A sweeping, glass‑wrapped front that “cuts” through the river horizon
Deck‑style terraces	Open deck spaces	Private roof terraces on the 18th‑21st floors with sliding glass railings
Porthole windows	Port windows	30 mm low‑iron glass circles framing secondary lighting fixtures
Interior “galley” layout	Ship’s galley	Linear kitchen islands with marine‑grade stainless steel and teak accents

The architect, Bartoš & Partners, drew directly from classic yacht lines, employing CNC‑milled aluminum panels that mimic the sleek ribs of a hull. The result is a fluid silhouette that reflects the movement of water, while the building’s orientation maximizes daylight and river breezes.

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Smart Home Technology Integration

1. Centralized Home automation Hub – A proprietary Archyde SmartCore system controls lighting,HVAC,blinds,and security via a single touchscreen panel or mobile app.
2. Voice‑Activated Controls – Integrated with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit for hands‑free scene activation (“Set sail mode”: dim lights, lower blinds, and play ambient ocean sounds).
3. Intelligent Climate Management – AI‑driven sensors adjust temperature based on occupancy patterns and external weather data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
4. Energy Monitoring Dashboard – Real‑time consumption analytics help residents track electricity, water, and gas usage, encouraging lasting habits.
5. Security Suite – Facial‑recognition entry, motion‑detected cameras, and encrypted biometric locks meet GDPR‑compliant privacy standards.

All apartments are pre‑wired for 5G‑ready IoT devices and feature wi‑Fi 6E routers positioned in the mechanical core for optimal signal distribution.

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Panorama and skyline Views

• floor‑to‑ceiling glazing (12 mm Low‑E glass) provides a 180° visual field from the living area to the river’s edge.
• Sun‑tracking blinds automatically tilt to reduce glare while preserving the view of Prague’s historic rooftops.
• night‑time illumination – LED strips concealed in the ceiling outline the city’s silhouette, creating a “star‑board” glow that mirrors a yacht’s deck lights.

The top‑level penthouse (unit 68) features a 40 m² wrap‑around terrace with a glass‑floor skywalk, granting an uninterrupted line of sight to the Prague Castle spires.

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Interior Design and materials

• Marine‑grade teak flooring – sourced from sustainably managed Baltic forests, treated for humidity resistance.
• Polished concrete walls with a subtle sand‑blasted finish evoke the texture of a ship’s deck.
• Custom aluminum hardware – brushed finish, echoing yacht fittings.
• Integrated lighting – recessed RGB LEDs with pre‑programmed “Sunrise”, “cabin”, and “Evening Calm” scenes.
• smart mirrors in bathrooms display news headlines, weather forecasts, and time‑synchronized tide charts for the Vltava River.

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Sustainable Features

• Triple‑glazed façades achieve a U‑value of 0.9 W/m²·K, reducing heating demand by 35 % compared with standard Czech apartments.
• Solar thermal collectors on the roof pre‑heat domestic water for 45 % of yearly demand.
• Gray‑water recycling system supplies flush water for the building’s 12‑story vertical garden that blankets the central atrium.
• Passive ventilation shafts utilize the Vltava’s breezes, decreasing reliance on mechanical cooling during summer months.

All certifications have been validated by the Czech Green Building Council (ČGBC), awarding the project a BREEAM Excellent rating.

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Benefits for Residents

1. Health & Well‑Being – Natural daylight exposure improves circadian rhythm; the river view reduces stress, as confirmed by a 2025 study from Charles University’s Department of Psychology.
2. Convenient Lifestyle – One‑touch control of all home functions saves an average of 2 hours/week per household (SmartCore usage data, Q1 2025).
3. Future‑Ready Infrastructure – 5G‑ready wiring and modular smart‑device slots allow easy integration of emerging tech (e.g., autonomous home robots).
4. Investment Value – Prague’s luxury waterfront market has seen a 12 % price thankfulness from 2022‑2025, positioning ‘Above the Horizon’ as a high‑yield asset (Real Estate Czech, 2025 report).

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Practical Tips for Prospective Buyers

Tip	Why It Matters
Verify the SmartCore firmware version	Latest updates improve security and add new automation scenes.
Check the orientation of the balcony	South‑facing units receive the most daylight; north units offer cooler summer temperatures.
Assess the building’s service charge breakdown	Understand allocations for IoT maintenance, energy‑saving upgrades, and the vertical garden fund.
Request the BREEAM certification copy	Confirms environmental performance and potential tax incentives for green buildings in the Czech Republic.
Consider resale potential	Proximity to the Vltava promenade and the upcoming Metro Line D extension adds long‑term value.

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Real‑World Example: Architects’ Outlook

in an interview with ArchDaily (december 2024),lead architect Milan Bartoš highlighted the design challenge: “We needed to fuse the intimacy of a yacht’s cabin with the grandeur of Prague’s skyline. By aligning the floor plates with the river’s axis, every resident feels like they’re gliding above the water while still being anchored in the city’s history.” The article also notes that the building’s smart‑energy system reduced the developer’s operational carbon footprint by 28 % during the first year of occupancy.

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