ABOUT
The hotel is located in Lviv, Ukraine. It was designed in a Neo-Baroque style, opened in 1893, and was most recently reconstructed between 2014 and 2018. The Replus team won the Ukrainian architectural contest with the project of the Grand Hotel Extension.
We aimed to fit the new object harmonically into existing street space in the city centre. It is crucial to keep the facade as close as possible to its original form, but at the same time, ensure the functionality of the building for modern use.
THE BASIS
The basis of our concept is the visual and constructive combination of the historical building from the side of Svoboda Avenue with the object of modern architecture on Doroshenko Street. The reconstructed building will ensure an organic flow of one into the other and, at the same time, will become a delicate accent that fits into the square around the Shevchenko monument. That is why they rejected the idea of a contextual form.
Our object on one side repeats the corner of the roof of the building on Doroshenko Street. And on the other — the corner of the top of the Grand Hotel. This avoids visual dissonance along both streets. Structurally, the building merges with the main body of the Grand Hotel, providing transitions on all levels.
THE CONCEPT
The new volume of the roof is “detached” from the historic facade. Sparyna symbolizes a careful attitude to an authentic project. It also adds lightness to the building and is advantageously emphasized by the evening illumination. We suggest illuminating the rest of the historic facade using the most traditional methods possible, installing lamps on the railings of the balconies and sconces at the level of the first floor. We suggest closing the windows of hotel rooms with horizontal movable slats. This is how we preserve the number one panoramic view in Lviv, but from the pedestrian level, the superstructure will look like a roof.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Our team’s approach is based on preserving and reinterpreting authenticity without losing historical value. Therefore, in terms of volume and construction, the superstructure should look like a “roof” rather than an extra floor or a separate superimposed form, but without losing the functionality possibilities.
Also valuable, in our opinion, is the return of the original proportions of the arches of the first floor. In this way, we propose to pay the historical debt of the building in order to strengthen it as a component of the architectural ensemble of the street.
COURTYARD
The courtyard is filled with natural light and, at the same time, protected from precipitation. Therefore, we cover this area with cold glass. The windows of individual rooms overlook the courtyard. This space will be a chamber green oasis. Here we are designing an additional open lobby.
THE VIEW
The superstructure will create a new overview perspective of this part of the street. A two-level facade space with extensive terraces becomes an effective solution. This gives guests a great view and closeness to the road at arm’s length, which is not found in many other Lviv hotels with scenic areas. This rational use of the corner site distinguishes the building from others and creates new functional possibilities. The task of a kind of anti-tower on the corner is to balance the building visually, filling the corner with life
HIDDEN
Upstairs, on the level of the superstructure on the side of Doroshenko Street, we propose to place a public space. It can be a restaurant, bar or lounge area. It is also possible to provide a transition to the building on Doroshenko via the terrace.
PLANING SOLUTION
This space’s multi-functionality allows to make it common for the whole building level or to divide into separate terraces of hotel rooms without changing the concept. This solution maximizes the life cycle of the finished object.
