Prague-based practice Denisa Strmiskova Studio has unveiled Konvikt, a new bar and cafe concept opened within a 17th century Jesuit chapel in Olomouc, Czech Republic. Paying homage to the heritage of the site with a modern but baroque design, the design balances the structure’s religious references with contemporary moves.
The frescoes are reinterpreted with an overhead rendering by Czech painter David Minařík in the bar, which is detailed with striking configurations like a statue of the Virgin Mary backlit with a pink LED. Handmade tiling wraps the bar as well as the floors, as dark brown tones are evoked by elements such as a large wood nosing desk and pew-like seating.
Beneath the building’s dome, an embedded inner floor is home to the bottom layer of the café, which is cast in earthen tones. Accented with suspended greenery, the vertical positioning of the space is executed to recall the form of a tree. Immersive natural light instills a divine element into the setting, while round light fixtures are arranged in a circle like a halo.
