Old Czech Slaughterhouse Transformed into a Contemporary Art Gallery

The Czech architectural company KWK Promes has transformed an old slaughterhouse into a contemporary art gallery named Plato. It stands out with its blend of ancient architecture and modern design solutions, such as carousel walls, as reported by De Zeen. 

The former slaughterhouse is located in Ostrava and is a 19th-century architectural landmark. Due to long-term disuse, the building started deteriorating.

For the restoration of the structure, architects utilized concrete inserts that contrast with the old brickwork yet replicate its rhythm and window imprints. These inserts also serve a functional purpose by reinforcing the building's structure.

The expansion includes six large carousel walls, three of which serve as entrances to the Plato contemporary art gallery, while the other three "open up the exhibition space to the city."

"The main idea of the project is based on preserving the functionality of openings as pathways connecting the building to the city. This allowed art to literally 'spill out' into the city," noted the architects.

On the ground floor of the gallery, there are four exhibition halls located along the edges of the building, allowing the spaces to utilize natural lighting and blend with the park.

While some of the old brickwork remains visible outside and inside, the walls of the gallery's exhibition halls were again plastered with lime plaster, featuring deep cuts designed for numerous small arched windows in the building.

"At first, we envisioned a paved surface for artistic events, but as we got to know Ostrava better, we realized that this place needed more of an attractive green space for the city's residents," explained the studio.

The architects also mentioned that the adjacent park was cleaned of pollution and restored, with flower beds planted and water features created.

It's worth noting that The Gaze reported on the 98th birthday of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the UK, her first statue was unveiled. Queen Elizabeth II was known for her love of her corgis, and wherever she went, the dogs followed her, with Princess Diana once describing the sight as a "moving carpet." Now, the tender relationship of the late Queen of the United Kingdom with her dogs is immortalized in bronze: a seven-foot statue of Elizabeth and her dogs, created by London sculptor Hazel Reeves, was unveiled on Sunday, April 21.