The project was carried out in Řevnice in the Czech Republic. The former railway station buildings from the 19th century used to serve as a warehouse. The Czech railway stopped using it in 2010. The building was taken over by the city, which decided to create a cultural centre inside.
The Sodomka Sodomková Architekti studio was entrusted with the preparation of the redevelopment project. The hidden potential of the building was discovered by the director of the local art school, who began to use it as a space for exhibitions and recitals. The originality of this wooden ‘railway hut’ charmed the locals, and the so-called ‘Drevak’ was given a second chance. In order to use the space for cultural events, the necessary facilities had to be provided.
The problem was that the facility needed to be enlarged to include a toilet, a kitchenette, an office and a business area. How to introduce these new functions and at the same time provide space for the exhibition area? It was decided to place the new functions outside the building in the form of re-used shipping containers. In this way, the atmosphere of the old warehouse was preserved and at the same time reinterpreted.
Drevak stands on the first track, with wooden ramps on the sides and a monolithic stone ramp at the front. The building is an archetypal simple one-piece wooden structure topped by a gabled roof with prominent eaves. The aim of the reconstruction was to preserve the character of the original building, including its spacious interior space. Several easily recognisable interventions have enhanced the original architecture. The insertion of a refurbished shipping container at the front created a new entrance, adding a new dominant feature to the interior, as well as providing space for a small bar and a small gallery under the roof. Another prominent new element in the interior is the curved steel fireplace.
In total, the architects chose to position three containers outside. Their corrugated sheet metal on the one hand is a stark contrast to the original wooden warehouse, but the former transport function itself is a reminder of the historic purpose of the site. The containers have been insulated and windows have been added, rounded at the edges, so that they resemble windows typical of trains. Each container has its own distinct colour scheme.
The wooden building, in turn, has been enriched with a long bench where residents can spend time each day. The location of the building itself is very favourable, right next to a working railway station and close to a regional bus interchange.
The former station buildings are owned by the city and are in the care of the local art school. In addition to exhibitions, concerts and panel discussions, it has hosted weddings, fairs and masses. Warehouse_13 has become a new centre for local culture and community.
design: Sodomka Sodomková Architekti
photos: BoysPlayNice
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