Baťův dům obuvi, Functionalist department store in New Town, Czech Republic.
Baťův dům obuvi is a functionalist building in the New Town district with a striking glass facade and open-plan floors. The structure combines concrete, steel, and expansive windows to create bright, spacious retail areas.
The building was created in 1928 through the collaboration of four architects, including Josef Gočár and František Lydie Gahura. It was designed as a retail palace for the Baťa shoe company, which was expanding its operations internationally at that time.
The building became a symbol of modern shopping when it opened and showed how retail could be reimagined with light and space. Its design influenced how stores were built across Europe during this period.
The building sits at the corner of Wenceslas Square and Jungmann Square, both popular areas to explore. The location is easily reached on foot and remains open to visitors as a preserved landmark.
The ground floor with its oversized windows was revolutionary for its time, allowing shoppers to see products from the street outside. This transparency between inside and outside was a novelty that made the building a model for many later department stores.
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