OFFICE 396

Breda is an adaptive reuse of a former department store to create a new public space and creative hub in the city of Opava, Czech Republic. The former Breda & Weinstein department store, built in 1928 by Leopold Bauer and disused since 2012, is an important city landmark. The aim of the project was not only to reopen the building, but to redefine its public role in the city. While the historical six-storey reinforced concrete building, with a domed glass hall at its centre has been carefully restored, the project comprises two pointed interventions: a vertical promenade within the existing structure, and a public square in front. The aim of the simple gesture was to ensure maximum flexibility for any future use of the building. The public square makes a large pedestrian zone as an extension to the building’s ground floor, making a porous threshold between the interior and exterior. The choice of materials further underline this transition. The vertical promenade starts from the front square, and contains multiple interconnected routes. The project envisages the revitalised building as an inclusive space that can enhance a vibrant public life, with a mixed-use program that includes offices, a market, a restaurant and a café, rental studios, as well as a green roof. Anticipating diverse activities that can change according to the needs of the local community, this projects inscribes itself in the rich history of Bauer’s building.