Staycation spotlight: A design gem reopens in central Prague

Design enthusiasts are expected to flock to the newly renovated Mosaic House Design Hotel when it opens to the public this week. After a decade of welcoming guests to its popular hostel-style accommodation, Mosaic House has recently undergone a complete renovation, reinventing itself as an upmarket four-star hotel. The transformation, which took months to complete, was overseen by Austrian firm Unykat Interior Design in collaboration with Swiss studio atelier oï.

Located just off Karlovo Náměstí in Prague’s New Town, the Mosaic House has long captured the attention of Prague residents for its whimsy artwork, notably an installation of large mushrooms that spring from the pavement in front of and the balconies on the building, and a group of elegant figures that gently descend on umbrellas from the sky above  – both conceived by Czech artist Michal Trpák – hinting to passersby that the Mosaic House offers something beyond the ordinary.

The hotel is housed in a seven-story functionalist building that dates from 1935. It offers 94 rooms, including two spectacular penthouses, each fitted with modern designer furniture.

At the heart of the refit is the new Café Mosaic, which serves as the main meeting point of the hotel. Guests of the café, which is open to the public can admire bespoke light fittings, designed by atelier oï, in partnership with Spanish lighting specialist Parachilna studio.

“The Café Mosaic with its library is the perfect place for private business meetings, casual catch-ups with friends. It’s also a perfect space for individuals looking for a quiet place to work during the day,” says Mosaic House’s Silvie Cindričová. 

Cindričová is excited by the hotel’s secret garden, an enchanting space in the courtyard of the hotel, where guests and visitors can chill out amongst lush greenery and the calm of a large goldfish pond: “Locals are very welcome to visit, and enjoy a cup of coffee with some delicious cake, or homemade lemonade, a glass of wine or even a cocktail.”

The hotel also offers modern conference space that can accommodate up to thirty guests and allow digital conferencing, as well as a spa and wellness, and an in-house restaurant – QQ Asian Kitchen. Local designers Jan Hodan and Jan Hedrych, who trade as Czech Hans Design, also collaborated on the cafe and other public areas of the hotel, including the spa and wellness.

When Mosaic House opened in 2010, it was the first green hotel in the Czech Republic. It boasted a gray water recycling system, as well as an innovative method for recovering heat from waste water. Now, to add to its green credentials, the hotel has just installed a Tesla car charging port, as well as offering residents the use of complimentary bicycles for the duration of their stay. 

As well as super stylish interiors, Mosaic House also boasts some neat ecologically-minded features: the windows are equipped with sensors, which when open, ensure automatic switching off of heating and cooling, while sunny areas of building are monitored by a clever system of automatic blinds which ensure that residents stay comfortable instead. Also, water from showers and wash basins (so called gray water) is harvested, filtered and reused as water for flushing toilets, and the hotel roofs and terraces are planted with rich greenery which naturally cool the building.

With many flights still grounded due to the pandemic, and as travellers become ever more carbon-conscious, perhaps it is fitting that this ecologically friendly building expects to welcome visitors who don’t need to fly to get to Prague this year. “We expect mainly travellers from the Czech Republic, and surrounding countries like Germany, Poland, Slovakia, France and Italy,” says Cindričová. 

It may be a while yet before we see large groups of foreign visitors in Prague, but in the meantime, locals can enjoy the lull to make the most of all that Mosaic House Design Hotel has to offer.

This article was written in cooperation with Mosaic House Design Hotel. Read more about our partner content policies here.