Hello Hive!
In light of today's World Architecture Day, I'd like to create this feature paying tribute to the industry of #architecture and the role it plays in the world.
Are you a coffee lover and design fan looking for a sheer cubist experience? What about heading over to Grand Café Orient in Prague's Old Town?
Grand Café Orient
Grand Café Orient was originally designed by Josef Gočár, a Czech architect. He was one of the founders of the Czech Cubism movement in 1912 and modern architecture in the Czech Republic. This cubist café sits on the first floor of The House of the Black Madonna.
The House of the Black Madonna
"Cubist architecture meant utilizing simple geometric shapes juxtaposed without illusions of classical perspective." - Tracy A. Burns, Josef Gočár: a prominent Czech Architect
The Original Cubist architecture could only be found in the Czech Republic (formerly Bohemia). The House of the Black Madonna is a great example of that since it was built before World War I just before Art Deco came out in the 1920s.
The House of the Black Madonna: Spot the statue at the corner protected by grilles.
The 5-story reinforced concrete building was designed by the same architect, Josef Gočár, and it sits at the corner of Celetná Street and Ovocný trh in Prague. Its ironwork, angular bay windows, pilasters show its distinct style while it surprisingly blends well with its neighboring structures.
The House of the Black Madonna is currently the Czech Museum of Cubism and it became a national monument in 2010.
The Cubist Café Interior
The interior was recreated based on its original design as seen on old photographs and remaining surviving plans and was re-opened in 2005. The ironwork of the staircase that led up to the first floor greeted guests providing an interlude of what they might expect.
Everything in the interior from the seating layout, wallcovering, lighting, and, down to the last detail of coat hooks has a cubist style. The furniture and stunning chandeliers designed by Gočár lure one's attention while sipping coffee served in cubist style cups.
The ground floor features a boutique-like gallery showcasing various cubism designed furniture, artwork, and accessories. Cubist style t-shirts and cups could be purchased as souvenirs.
My Takeaway
I came here alone for lunch during a solo trip to Prague. I chose a table in the middle of the room and enjoyed my salad in silence with a good cup of coffee after my meal. I couldn't help snapping away because of its distinct style and understated opulence.
I highly recommend sitting by the angular bay windows on the striped banquette seating and watch the busy street of the old town. The coffee experience within a unique cubist ambiance inside an architectural gem was unlike any other.
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Happy #WorldArchitectureDay!
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References:
Inspired by my original post
Private Prague Guide: Josef Gočár: a Prominent Czech Architect by Tracy A. Burns
Cubism in Architecture
Grand Café Orient in Prague–the only Cubist café in the world