Savarin
Savarin is an urban palace whose present form was created between 1739 and 1752 to a design by the architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. It was the product of an extensive remodelling and merging of several older buildings, the origins of which date back to the late 14th century. The palace served a residential function until the end of the 19th century, under the ownership of the Piccolomini, Nostitz and Silva-Tarouca families. From the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, it was used predominantly for commercial and social purposes, and it has been a listed cultural monument since 1958.
At the outset of the project, the building was in a severely neglected state, its historic value concealed beneath layers of haphazard alterations from recent decades. The aim of our design was to respect all the values of K. I. Dientzenhofer's work, to restore the significance of this building, and at the same time to adapt it to the needs of the 21st century.
Elements designated for preservation were restored in accordance with the conservation plans prepared, with their patina retained and clearly differentiated from newly inserted elements such as service cores, new staircases and lifts.
The restoration of the palace encompassed four principal areas: the repair and renovation of the façade, the redesign of the inner courtyards, the revitalisation of the roofscape, and the reconfiguration of the internal layout.
As the authors of the restoration, we trust that following its painstaking renewal, this palace will be used in a manner befitting its exceptional architectural significance. We understand that historic buildings must often find new uses; however, it is essential that such changes respect their dignity and cultural value.
