Page 81 - AIT0625_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design SMLXL s.r.o., CZ-Prag
Bauherr • Client Restaurant Polepšovna
Standort • Location Dělnická 32, CZ-Prag
Nutzfläche • Floor space 314 m 2
Fotos • Photos Petr Kopal, CZ-Prag
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More info on page 134

RESTAURANT AND BAR

IN PRAGUE

The art of brewing beer has always been deeply rooted
in the Czech Republic and encompasses much more than
the drink itself: visiting pubs plays an important role in
everyday culture and is considered an integral part of the
national identity. Even more than the institution of the
pub in Great Britain or the Kneipe in Germany, the hospo-
da is primarily seen as a meeting place.

S imple, sociable, honest – this is how the concept of traditional Czech
pubs can best be described by using just a few words. In a revita-
lized industrial area in Holešovice, which is definitely one of Prague’s
most dynamic districts, SMLXL has cleverly transferred this principle
into a new context. For the new meeting place Polepsovna (meaning
reformatory), architects Klára Valová and Tereza Podouzková used the
effective principle of contrasting intriguing opposites: the premises are
divided into two areas which are clearly separated by a stainless-steel
portal. The main area of the beer hall is kept entirely in white, whereas
a lounge area immersed in deep black opens up behind it. Large com-
munal tables offer a variety of seating options for the guests, providing
the perfect setting at any time of day. Only on closer inspection do the
bar tables surprisingly reveal themselves to be inspired by metal bed
structures as they were once used in reformatories! The atmospheric
lounge, on the other hand, offers space for quieter conversations in
smaller groups away from the hustle and bustle. Exposed brickwork
sprayed white and generous skylights bear witness to the past of the
bar- and the restaurant area as a former factory hall. The ceiling has
also been left unclad; the concrete has simply been cleaned and left
visible in its original form – with exposed ventilation ducts and elec-
trical installations that further contribute to emphasizing the industrial
look. The raw, authentic materials are complemented by flamed wood
used as wall cladding, behind which the open kitchen is located. The
interplay of materials creates a multi-layered sense of space that is sup-
ported by different haptics and textures. Humorous details repeatedly
refer to the new use of the space with a wink, such as the wall lined
with beer bottles next to shimmering furniture fronts whose structure
is reminiscent of foaming beer. The signal-yellow staircase breaks with
the consistent monochrome colour scheme, cutting into the space like a
striking joint. In keeping with the barrier-free design, a guidance system
with yellow lines on the concrete floor intuitively also takes guests safe-
Grundriss Erdgeschoss • Ground floor plan ly to their destination even if they are in an exuberant mood.

AIT 6.2025 • 081