Brouk a Babka

Brouk a Babka is a modern five-story residential house in Moravská Ostrava with a reinforced concrete frame and ceramic tile exterior cladding. Large windows punctuate the facade and flood the interior with natural daylight.

The building was designed by architect Karel Kotas and constructed between 1928 and 1929 as a department store, opening in 1929. Its construction introduced functionalist architecture to Ostrava and marked a shift toward modern design in the city.

The building carries the name of its original department store and now functions as a bookstore, serving as a gathering place for readers and literature enthusiasts in the city. This use has given the structure particular significance in Ostrava's cultural life.

The building sits on Smetanovo Square in central Moravská Ostrava and is easily accessible on foot from the surrounding area. Its current use as a bookstore makes it a welcoming place to visit and explore during a walk through the city.

Belgian opaxite glass was installed in 1931 between the window pillars, creating an optical effect that makes the windows appear to merge into continuous horizontal bands. This specialized glass type was an advanced design technique that distinguishes the facade.

Location: Moravská Ostrava

Architectural style: modern architecture

Address: Smetanovo nám. 222/8

GPS coordinates: 49.83200,18.28990

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:23