Obchodní dům Baťa, Functionalist commercial building in Liberec, Czech Republic.
Obchodní dům Baťa is a nine-story reinforced concrete commercial building with alternating window bands and narrow plastered parapets along its curved corner facade at Soukenné Square. Lower floors contain retail spaces while upper levels house office areas and service facilities including shoe repairs and manicures.
Architect Vladimír Karfík designed this department store in 1931, replacing a classicist building from the 1850s that had been constructed by local builder Antonín Hollub. The new structure marked the transition from traditional retail architecture to modern functionalist design.
The building showcases a forward-thinking approach to retail with open floor plans and dedicated service areas that reflect modern shopping practices from the 1930s. Its functional design was revolutionary for the region at that time.
The building is easily accessible via Soukenné Square street with its distinctive rounded corner serving as a clear landmark. The facade is fully visible from street level, allowing detailed observation of the functionalist design elements.
The distinctive rounded corner and recessed upper floors create a stepped profile that stands out sharply in the city landscape. This design approach was a modern interpretation of functionalist principles from that era.
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