Kafka's Bookstore and Kafka's Library

The bookstore, reference library, and study room of publications about Franz Kafka is located in an apartment building in Prague's Josefov, where according to the original design a shop was intended to be accessible from the street, with facilities in the basement. We attempted to restore this original design; however, historical preservation did not allow us to implement a storefront to the street in any way other than in the original, conservative style. We enter two narrow and high rooms, lined with bookshelves and steel galleries. The entrance area is also designed as a potential future literary café, hence the mirrors behind the sales counter and a possible bar. In this part, there are retractable shelves and future tables for seating. Both spaces are connected or separable through a steel grid at the request of the investor.

Because we do not share the depressive and introverted essence of Franz Kafka's work, we attempted to approach the design without these emotions, at least a bit with perspective, as we think Franz Kafka wrote some of his works. The spaces were not meant to be dark, but rather somewhat normal. The libraries are made of stained wood, the steel is exposed. The spaces with galleries are connected by two staircases and create at least a hint of an endless space with several access points. The floor features cast terrazzo and from the preserved original tiles, an ornament of two squares. Hidden symbolism. A memory of the original cast iron staircase to the basement as a circle in the floor with the preserved original two steps of the cast iron staircase - still unplaced - with the possibility of restoring the staircase in case the basement is used without construction interventions. The restrooms are designed in black with seemingly glowing white fixtures.