© KOGAA / Photography: Alex Shoots Buildings

Adding to Karlín’s growing reputation as the coolest neighbourhood in all of Prague is an artisanal coffee parlour called Grounds. Founded by René Královič, a hospitality entrepreneur and owner of coffee roasting company Rusty Nails who wanted to set up a coffee parlour which would also feature an in-house roasting facility while also creating a new platform for baristas and coffee experts. Grounds occupies a lofty 120 sqm. (1,292 sq.ft.) unit in an inner courtyard of a residential building, and features an interior design by Brno-based architecture and design studio KOGAA. The venue may have been done on a budget, but it’s high on style, ticking all of the required boxes that make a cool hangout. Four large skylights allow in plenty of daylight, adding to the spacious feel of the premises. A duplex wooden structure has been erected in the middle, accommodating pretty much all of Grounds‘ facilities. Upon entering, coffee aficionados find themselves in the café section, featuring a service station and sales counter clad in corrugated steel on one side, and a seating area, comprising of an elongated wooden bench alongside the wall, round concrete tables and chairs. Right next to wooden shelving, a bright orange steel staircase leads to the mezzanine floor which is home to a working space. Encased in an organically shaped corrugated plastic floor-to-ceiling wall while also lined with lush potted plants, it’s furnished with a conference table and a comfy sofa. Right below, situated behind the sales counter, Grounds‘ roasting facility can be found. No less than 80% of the materials used, is construction waste from a previous KOGAA project, and both the suspended lights and industrial lamps have been sourced from a disused factory.

Grounds
ulice Šaldova 419/16 (Karlín)
186 00 Prague
Tue-Sat 8-6

© KOGAA / Photography: Alex Shoots Buildings