Soffa 30 / CHANGES, English version

design | fashion | people | travel | food | science

issue theme

CHANGES

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JOY FROM THE HEART OF EUROPE Discover the best of Czechia and the rest of Central Europe right here: exquisite design, inspirational stories, unknown interiors, and hidden gems...

ISSUE THEME: CHANGES Change is inevitable, as the saying goes. In this issue of Soffa, we will show you that to change is to improve, even if at first it may not seem like it. Progress is impossible without transformation.

Change is what gives life meaning and makes it fun.

SOFFA PARTNERS Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners. Thank you!

Název článku

POSTER GIFT SET Treat your loved ones or yourself to these original posters by Soffa. Each presents a story that will liven up your home or office, complement your furnishings, and cheer up your days.

Poster size A2, paper 140 g/m2 Available at www.soffamag.cz | Worldwide delivery

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Welcome

THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO

CHANGES

In this 30th issue of Soffa, we show you that change is the spice of life.

You might want to start by transforming your living space, as we did with Canapé, a project that involved jazzing up the historic premises of Obecní dvůr in Prague’s city centre. Meanwhile, ORA built a country house in South Moravia, successfully combining the demands of a contemporary lifestyle with traditional rural architecture. We’ve also ventured northwards to show you the best of the Moravian-Silesian region.

Devastated by centuries of coal mining, the area possesses unexpected poetics, industrial and natural. Our fashion editorial explores a traditional theme in a not-so-traditional manner. Throughout history, makers of Nativity scenes have dressed the figures in period garb – so why not have our Nativity protagonists wearing outfits by young Czech fashion designers?

To change your image, we suggest you consider donning new eyeglasses, turning a chunk of ginger into probiotic lemonade, or closely observing how iconic designer items have evolved over time.

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Contents

Editorial 30 Strong

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Interior Canapé by Soffa

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Photo Essay ∞

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Prague Quadrennial The Magic of Scenography

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Travel A Land of Contrasts

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Utterly Czech Racing Ahead

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Interior Clever and Charming

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Trends Old Stuff, New Twist

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Holiday Homes Only The Best for The Guest

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Fashion Silent Night, Holy Night

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Decor A World’s of One’s Own

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Designblok Czech Christmas

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Design Not Only A Chair

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Photo Essay Optical Reality

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Architecture A New Country House

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Creative People Making Things Better

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Food Personal Ecosystem

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Editorial

30 STRONG At Soffa, we are not much in favour of retrospection. We prefer looking into the future. This time, however, we’ll make an exception. Here you are holding the magazine’s 30th edition, which means it is high time to look back at the last handful of years and perhaps even celebrate a little. This issue is about transformation in all its forms – perhaps an apt moment to reflect on the ways Soffa has evolved over time.

It was five years ago, on 16 December 2013, when I first clicked on PUBLISH and sent my new digital baby out into the world (via the Issuu platform) – full of expectation yet with very little idea of what lay ahead. I had a clear vision of how the magazine should look and my reasons for creating it, but I still had no idea if we could find enough like-minded readers in Czechia and abroad, and whether advertisers would take the new lifestyle-magazine format on board. At the time, printed media was considered as good as dead, and even I believed that Soffa’s future would be exclusively digital. As soon as the first issue came out, however, it was clear that people still desired printed magazines. When the seventh edition – published a year into our existence – came out in print, it was as if Soffa had passed through the adolescent stage and had suddenly become an adult with style. We always knew what we wanted – but now, with 30 issues under our belt, we are perhaps more ambitious and somewhat more stubborn – in a good way, wanting to create even better content that you, our loyal readers, find thought-provoking.

Over these five years, we have published an incredible number of texts, photos, and illustrations. This beautiful collage, which includes content from our back issues, was created by Barbora Hrubá (@selphine18), an amazingly talented graphic artist and designer. Be inspired! Browse through our previous issues at www.soffamag.com.

Adéla Lipár Kudrnová | Editor-in-Chief PS It’s always gratifying to know that Soffa is appreciated. We are very proud of winning the Outstanding Achievement Award for our Canapé project at this year’s Designblok. You will find more on both the project and the event in this issue.

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Canapé by Soffa

text: Patrik Florián and Hana Janišová photos: Lina Németh, Adéla Havelková, and Róbert Kováč

ENCHANTING ENCOUNTERS

DESIGNBLOK, PRAGUE’S ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FESTIVAL, IS THE LARGEST SUCH EVENT IN CENTRAL EUROPE. AT THIS YEAR’S 20th EDITION, WE PREMIERED CANAPÉ BY SOFFA, A UNIQUE CULTURAL POP-UP, WITH SOME 100 BRANDS, DESIGNERS AND COMPANIES SHOWCASING THEIR WORK IN A NEW AND UNUSUAL CONTEXT. VISITORS WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE DESIGN AND ART IN A RESIDENTIAL CONTEXT AND IMAGINE HOW THE OBJECTS COULD WORK IN AN ACTUAL INTERIOR. CANAPÉ ALSO COMPRISED A GALLERY, BOOKSTORE AND CAFÉ, ALONG WITH A VARIETY OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. SEE HOW THE SOFFA TEAM MANAGED TO LIVEN UP A NEWLY RENOVATED BUILDING IN PRAGUE’S OLD TOWN.

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Canapé by Soffa

THESE PAGES: Canapé inhabited a newly-built duplex apartment with terrace in a modern residence designed by Ricardo Bofill and TaK.Architects. This served as its base during the exhibition.

Canapé by Soffa was unquestionably a great contribution to this year’s 20th Designblok. Not only did the project win the Outstanding Achievement award but it was enthusiastically received both by visitors and the media. Presenting a newly-completed building by way of various exhibitions and events proved a truly excellent concept. It reminded us of Designblok’s early years. I was excited to attend the amazing presentation of Achille Castiglioni’s film and a brunch with the authors. The Soffa team showed tremendous spirit, invention, and a love for design. I am very much looking forward to next year’s offering. Brilliant work!

JANA ZIELINSKI director and co-founder of Designblok

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Enchanting Encounters

LEFT: In furnishing the space, designer Janka Murínová let her imagination soar, utilising bold colours and furniture from local and foreign brands, along with student artworks.

The Soffa exhibition ran from 25 October to 8 November 2018 and occupied a special space in the centre of Prague, allowing visitors to experience design with all their senses. People could enjoy viewing art while having a cup of coffee, practising yoga, or engaging in interesting debates on culture or other issues. The project was a follow-up to Canapé – The Room, Soffa’s offering at last year’s Designblok, which featured the work of Czech designers in the confines of a pop-up café. This year, we decided to think bigger: in collaboration with Sotheby’s International Realty Czech Republic, we commandeered the newly renovated Obecní dvůr for a while, before the arrival of its new residents.

The premises known as Obecní dvůr date back to the 15th century. By a sheer miracle, most of the buildings managed to survive the radical redevelopment of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the mix of architectural styles, from Renaissance to Baroque to Neoclassical, beautifully demonstrates Prague’s architectural evolution over time. The premises had been used for a variety of purposes in the past, amongst which were a school and a fire station. Their quaint charm even provided inspiration for the prominent Czech author of young adult fiction, Jaroslav Foglar. This architectural gem was recently converted into 12 luxury apartments. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill and Czech architectural studio TaK.Architects, it combines historic ambience with state-of-the-art living.

The pop-up itself encompassed a variety of events and experiences. We created a showcase duplex apartment, implemented by our designer Janka Murínová, which displayed furniture from top design brands and artwork by both established and young artists. Photographs by BoysPlayNice were exhibited in the upper-storey space. The terrace was used for barbecues, enjoying the autumn sun, or lounging in the Jacuzzi on chilly evenings. A number of meetings, discussions and parties took place in the apartment, including an interior styling workshop with Arki and a medical herbalism course by Hænke.

The former fire station was turned into a place for students. The Glass Studio at Prague’s Academy of Art, Architecture and Design, led by Rony Plesl, showed part of its Colours of Transparency exhibition. In collaboration with the Swedish Embassy, we also presented a fashion collection by students from Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm. Our pop-up bistro and café served as the venue for a number of informal meetings and talks with various designers and artists: jeweller Janja Prokić, designers Zdeněk Vacek and

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Enchanting Encounters

THESE PAGES: The sunny late-autumn days allowed us to make the most of the vast 170 m2 terrace and display the latest in outdoor furniture – barbecue and Jacuzzi included.

For me, Canapé by Soffa was mainly about connecting people from various fields, interest groups and professions. My students from the Glass Studio were thrilled with the attention their works attracted. As for myself, I very much enjoyed the brilliant lecture on Achille Castiglioni. Last but not least, I’m glad I will no longer be the only one who knows which places in Prague served as inspiration for my favourite author, Jaroslav Foglar.

RONY PLESL glass designer & lecturer

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Canapé by Soffa

RIGHT: The bare walls of the upper level were adorned with photographs by Jakub Skokan and Martin Tůma, jointly known as BoysPlayNice. The images depict contemporary Czech and Slovak architecture in an unusual context.

Daniel Pošta (Zorya), illustrator Michal Bačák, artists/designers Dechem, designer Zuzana Kubíčková, choreographer/director Viliam Dočolomanský, Designblok founders Jana Zielinski and Jiří Macek, and glass designer Rony Plesl. Visitors could browse through a variety of books on design, architecture, fashion, photography, and graphic design in the Book Therapy bookstore or enjoy a six-course meal consisting of local and seasonal produce, compliments of the Thir Wine Bar. Sotheby’s provided its own lounge area, together with an expo on the history of Prague architecture.

Over these two weeks, Prague’s Hauch Gallery (from the Karlín district), presented two exhibitions: The Flowers, which explored the symbolism of floral art throughout history and Mr. Pokerman – Kunstkabinet 21 [21st-century cabinet of curiosities]. The second floor of the building was made into a model apartment for Canapé’s partners and VIP guests, furnished with pieces by exclusive designers and displaying beautiful attire by fashion designer Zuzana Kubíčková. The former classrooms on the third floor were transformed into a lecture hall for various talks and events. Discussions took place between Piero Gandini, CEO of Flos, and designer Michal Froněk; lecturers from the Polish Institute in Prague prepared a talk on travelling in Subcarpathia (read more about this in Soffa 29); Cestovečery (Travel Nights) was dedicated to travel and adventure; and, as a finale, we organised an inspiring brunch with designers Eva Eisler and Michal Froněk.

Members of the #HolkyzMarketingu group provided speed-mentoring to local fashion and design brands and artists and organised a public discussion on PR and marketing in the fashion industry. The loft space was dedicated to all lovers of fun and games, as well as to fans of author Jaroslav Foglar, complete with an exhibition of comic books, creative workshops for children, and live music.

At Soffa we believe that only by joining forces can we create something truly unique. Canapé was not just about beautifully furnished interiors: it allowed Czech and foreign designers and brands to connect with their customers, local artists, and the general public. The two-week-long marathon was appreciated by visitors and exhibitors alike, and won us an Outstanding Achievement award from the organisers of Designblok 2018.

Follow Soffa online if you don’t want to miss out on any of our future events and experiences! ■

More information and photos can be found at www.soffamag.cz/canape

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Canapé by Soffa

THESE PAGES: The second floor of the former school was made into a model apartment, furnished with pieces by exclusive designers and displaying beautiful attire, jewellery, and accessories by fashion designer Zuzana Kubíčková. The space was also used for different acitivities, such as a scarf-tying workshop provided by Hermès.

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An outstanding project organised in an outstanding location where the works of Czech designers found an appreciative audience. For us at Bomma, this was a unique opportunity to present our light fixtures in such a beautiful space and in such great company. The Soffa team made sure to liven up the place with a number of interesting events. Well done.

MARTIN WICHTERLE CEO of Bomma and Rückl glassworks

Enchanting Encounters

THESE PAGES: Canapé is very much about art. The palatial historic rooms were ideal for an exhibition organised by Hauch Gallery. Also presenting their works were students from the Glass Studio at Prague’s Academy of Art, Architecture and Design and from Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm.

PARTNERS OF THE 2018 CANAPÉ BY SOFFA PROJECT: 440 Audio, Academy of Art, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM), Advantage Cars, AEG, Albatros, Arki, Aurosa, Bang & Olufsen, Beckmans College of Design, Bomma, Book Therapy, Boucheron Paris, BoysPlayNice, Bulb, Catness Design, Creative Mornings Prague, Czech Design Map, Deelive, Designblok, DOX, Dreamhouse Textile Agency, Eye-Eye, The Finnish Embassy in Prague, Forbes, Gravelli, Haenke, Hauch Gallery, Hermès, #HolkyzMarketingu, Ikea Czech Republic, Innex, Jaroslav Foglar Scout Foundation, Julie, Karlovarské minerální vody, Kolektiv 318, Konsepti, Ladislav Musil Winery, Le Patio Lifestyle, Ligne Roset, Llev, Lugi, Marks & Spencer, Meadows, Meyto, Modernista, Moje jóga, National Gallery in Prague, Nespresso, Ollies, Paulus Winery, Philips, Poke Haus, Praguekabinet, Primalex, Prosekárna, Raketa, Ravak, Rückl, Sedmý schod, Soliter Parket, Sotheby’s International Realty Czech Republic, Stopka, Studio Revír, The Swedish Embassy in Prague, TaK.Architects, TecknoMonster, Tesco, Ton, Vitra, Vulcanus, USSPA, Zorya, Zuzana Kubíčková

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The pop-up bistro and cafĂŠ, designed in collaboration with Ikea Czech Republic, offered both fresh food and ideas. Informal talks and meetings with prominent Czech and foreign designers and artists were held there daily. Visitors could also browse the shelves of the Book Therapy shop. As a finale, a degustation dinner was served, catered by Thir Wine Bar.

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Photo Essay

AN EXHIBITION ENTITLED MANIFESTO WAS PRESENTED AT THE COLLOREDO-MANSFELD PALACE IN PRAGUE AS PART OF DESIGNBLOK 2018. ON DISPLAY WERE 12 STUDIES BY DIFFERENT DESIGNERS THAT ILLUSTRATED THEIR VARIOUS APPROACHES TO THE DESIGN PROCESS. AS AN EXTRACT, ZDENĚK VACEK AND DANIEL POŠTA, FOUNDERS OF ZORYA, INTRODUCE EIGHT SYMBOLS EVOKING THE EVANESCENT, EPHEMERAL NATURE OF WORDS AND EMBODYING THE VALUES EMBRACED BY THIS AVANT-GARDE JEWELLERY BRAND.

Designers Daniel Pošta and Zdeněk Vacek established the Zorya studio in 2011. Created as their joint feminine alter ego, it expresses the spirit imbued in both their jewellery collection and special objects, all of which blend visual and applied art. Time is Zorya’s primary motive, in its most positive sense – an indicator of natural transformation and constant rebirth, as embodied in the three aspects of the like-named mythical Slavic protector of the starry skies. Zorya is evening, midnight, and morning star, the one that’s always shining brightest in the dark sky. She is usually depicted as transitioning from girl to mother to crone overnight: born anew every evening, she fades with the dawn. Zorya’s source of strength is in her endless transformation. ■ text: Daniel Pošta, Zdeněk Vacek concept: Zorya | photos: Tomáš Brabec

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THE ENDLESS CYCLE Birth, creation, destruction: from dust to glitter, and from glitter to dust again.

The endless cycle of nature permeates all things. Every jewel contains dust and fragments of precious metals that once formed part of its predecessor.

DEVOTION We care about what we create. We care about what we love.

The need to care is in our very nature.

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AUTHENTICITY Like the crystals that form deep within the Earth’s crust, alum that is submerged under water grows and develops in the same natural pattern. Freely. In silence. Even in an environment full of obstacles.

And each formation is unique.

CONCENTRATED ENERGY Watch the people who work with you. Watch them crafting a piece. What you see is energy – pure, concentrated energy. Everything is connected.

Diversity flows into unity. Feel the power and become a part of it.

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FEMININE ENERGY It gave us life, nurtured us via the umbilical cord. It is both around us and inside us. It is our mentor and our source of inspiration. And we aim to capture it in our pieces.

TRANSCENDENCE Technology. Innovation. Tradition. Lab-grown ruthenium crystals.

Ideas and concepts developed by specialists in other fields help us move forward.

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SYNERGY The whole is so much more than the sum of its parts.

LEGACY We would like for our jewels to be passed along the generations, become part of the family collection. Like the lock of baby hair that my mother had saved as a kind of sacred, precious treasure. That lock of hair is her legacy; the legacy of my parents.

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Beautifully crafted flooring from Scandinavia that accentuates wood’s natural beauty, BOEN hardwood floor boards are sold by Soliter Parket. www.soliter-parket.cz

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Discover the connection between design and comfort.

SHOWROOM INNEX, Premyslovska 2845/43, Praha 3 www.innex.cz 34

Prague Quadrennial

article partner: Prague Quadrennial text: Eliška Míkovcová photo: Martina Novozámská

THE MAGIC OF SCENOGRAPHY

IMAGINE A PROFESSION WHERE YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES CAN DREAM UP A NEW UNIVERSE, CREATE IT IN A MATTER OF MONTHS, BRING IT TO LIFE, AND SHARE IT WITH LOTS OF OTHERS. YOU COULD TRANSFORM AN ORDINARY PLACE AND AN ORDINARY MOMENT INTO AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME PART OF THE COLLECTIVE MEMORY. THE PROFESSION I SPEAK OF IS SCENOGRAPHY.

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The Magic of Scenography

The Prague Quadrennial is the largest international event dedicated to scenography, performance design, and theatre architecture. Experience the three stages of the creative process – IMAGINATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND MEMORY – these are the themes of the upcoming edition, which takes place in June 2019 at the historic Výstaviště exhibition grounds in Prague.

Scenography and performance design are not the same as stage architecture or decoration or painted backgrounds. Scenography is much more: a very special type of transformation that happens while we experience the metamorphosis of a person into a thought-out character, space into an environment unlike any other, and time into something completely elastic and ungraspable. This transformation affects creators who see a small fragment of their imagination materialise, actors who become somebody else or something else, and an audience that transforms everyday thoughts into a collective daydream.

The Prague Quadrennial (PQ) was established in 1967 and for more than 50 years it has explored and presented the best of performance design, scenography, and theatre architecture through exhibitions, festivals, workshops, performances, symposia, educational activities, and residencies.

Since the very first edition it has become one of the top international cultural events to be experienced by professionals and the public alike. PQ acts as a catalyst to creative progress by encouraging experimentation, networking, innovation, and future collaborations. PQ aims to honour, empower, and celebrate the work of designers, artists and architects, as well as to inspire and educate our audiences without whom our work wouldn’t be valid.

Every four years, PQ strives to provide a fresh vision and aims to be different from its predecessor. This edition of the Prague Quadrennial is inspired by the Golden Triga, the statue on the roof of the National Theatre, which is also reflected in the main award traditionally issued at PQ for the best exhibition. These three different forces coming together remind us that everything we do in creating a performance is an act of collaboration, where all talents combine their strengths to achieve much more than any individual could ever accomplish alone. The three horses pulling the chariot symbolise the three stages of human life: youth’s wild instincts and intuition, the experience of adulthood, and the age of wisdom. Via the metaphor of the Triga, PQ will explore three points of view, three areas connected with the cyclical phases of the creative process: Imagination, Transformation, and Memory.

The 14th edition of the Prague Quadrennial will open the evening of 5 June and continue until 16 June 2019 at Výstaviště Praha. More information can be found at www.pq.cz ■

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Travel

article partner: Moravian-Silesian Region text: Helena Stiessová photos: Lina Németh

A LAND OF CONTRASTS

MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS, DEEP-DARK FORESTS, CASTLES, SPA TOWNS, HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL COMPOUNDS, AND TRADITIONAL FOLK COSTUMES WITH PRINTED APRONS: ALL OF THIS AWAITS YOU IN THE MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION. THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF CZECHIA OFFERS A CORNUCOPIA OF SIGHTS AND EXPERIENCES, MANY OF WHICH WE HAPPILY PRESENT TO YOU HERE. BE PREPARED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE MINERAL SPRINGS, ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES BOTH KNOWN AND FORGOTTEN, HIKES THROUGH THE BESKID MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE AND THE REGION’S INDUSTRIAL LEGACY.

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A Land of Contrasts

LEFT: The drinking pavilion, with water piped in from the healing spring known as Petr, is an iconic symbol of Karlova Studánka.

Apart from its health-restorative offerings, the spa town is distinguishable by its architecture, which combines the poetics of wooden chalets with ornate neoclassical style.

Our first stop is Karlova Studánka, a small spa town in the heart of the Eastern Sudetes. It is situated near Praděd, the highest peak in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains. The crisp, clean air and fresh water from the nearby mineral springs offer a plethora of curatives, as the lumberjacks and steelworkers noted long ago while roaming through the local woodlands. In the late-18th century, Archduke Maximilian Franz of Austria, Grand Master of the Teutonic order, requested a chemical analysis of the local water source, and the spring was secured, initiating a new chapter in the town’s history. Spas and hotels sprung up and the first patients began arriving.

Today, eight healing springs can be found in Karlova Studánka, including the original one bearing the Archduke’s name.

Next we explore some technological history and visit the revolving Choltice windmill near the town of Litultovice. Built in 1833, flour was milled here until 1945. Miller Konrád Romfeld kept it going until 1954. The structure eventually became derelict, but was later preserved as a real-life museum exhibit. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, the mill returned to the Romfeld family and is now being lovingly maintained; this allows us to admire the skills of our Czech forefathers while observing the largest millwheel in the country (with a diameter of 17.3 metres).

The Moravian-Silesian region boasts a number of castles and chateaus, silent witnesses of its rich, glorious past. We explored three of these – all of them splendid enough to satisfy even the most romantic of souls, and all of them surrounded by pretty parks and gardens. The smallest of the three is the Raduň chateau. Originally a Gothic fortress, it was rebuilt in the neoclassical style in the 19th century, when it also acquired an elegant orangery, ornamental garden, and park.

The castle in Hradec nad Moravicí has also seen several transformations over time, dating as far back as the 11th century. After the earliest known structure burned down in the 13th century, King Přemysl Otakar II commissioned the building of a vast, imposing Gothic castle. It was later rebuilt in the Renaissance style, and the surrounding gardens and forested park were added at around the same time. Another major transformation occurred in the late-19th century, when a new, neo-Gothic brick structure known as the Red Castle was constructed. The two castles face one another across a small park, the red one looking up to its white predecessor, its walls covered in ivy.

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The spa buildings at the heart of Karlova Studånka are of a distinct style. Built in the 19th and early20th century in the spa’s heyday, they evoke the peaceful ambience of a tiny mountain town.

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Travel

THESE PAGES: Imposing yet cosy – that’s the impression emitted

by Hotel Maměnka, designed by architect Dušan Jurkovič in 1898 and commissioned by the Radhošť Tourist Association. “Born from the love of our country, may it long give comfort to all people of good will.”

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A Land of Contrasts

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Travel

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A Land of Contrasts

THESE PAGES: Gone are the days when millwheels revolved in almost every village. Only a precious few historical watermills are still standing today. The Choltice mill is open to the public on request – a scheduled visit involves an outstanding guided tour, along with practical demonstrations of the ancient milling techniques.

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Štramberk is a town with a lovely historic centre, surrounded by attractive landscapes. A less-thantypical destination is the nearby ancient limestone quarry in Kamenárka, currently the habitat of many rare plant and animal species. You really need to tread carefully, though: collecting stones is harmful to the local fauna, so you must resist the temptation.

Instead, try out the ‘Štramberk ears’, a local confection made of gingerbread dough.

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Travel

Zastřešené náměstí and the sports centre known as Trojhalí Karolina, located in former industrial buildings used previously by the Žofín iron works and the coke plant Koksovna Karolina.

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A Land of Contrasts

Ostrava as an architectural-history book: examples of earlier architectural styles can be found all across the city, even though many buildings were demolished to make way for housing estates in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. The Art House, built in 1926 in the Purist style, has long been an important and influential institution.

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Travel

THESE PAGES: The industrial compound in Dolní Vítkovice is now used solely as a cultural venue – the ironworks closed down in the 1990s.

The gallery in the Hans Ulrich residence organises various events and educational programmes.

The Eduard Liska residence (bottom right) is part of Ostrava’s cultural heritage. Located on a slope near the Bazaly Stadium, its glass front offers a fine view of the Moravská Ostrava district.

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A Land of Contrasts

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Travel

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A Land of Contrasts

THESE PAGES: Past vs. present: the slim spires of the Red Castle in Hradec nad MoravicĂ­ and the top terminal of the Pustevny chairlift, designed by architect Kamil Mrva.

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A Land of Contrasts

LEFT: Hradec nad Moravicí is surrounded by a landscaped park, the largest in the region, merging seamlessly into the nearby woods. If you decide to take a hike on the local trail, keep your eyes open for Kurt Gebauer’s flying statues!

Finally, we climb a steep hillside to reach the jagged ruins of the Hukvaldy Castle. Abandoned in the 18th century and marked by the ravages of time, this is one of the largest Gothic castles in Czechia and it still commands respect. In 1567, the surrounding land was made into a game enclosure, with its first inhabitants being a herd of fallow deer, gifted by Emperor Maximilian II to the occupant at the time, Bishop Vilém Prusínovský of Vícov. The game preserve is open all year round – tread quietly and perhaps you will meet the famous Vixen Sharp-Ears, immortalised in an opera by composer Leoš Janáček, a native of the nearby town of Hukvaldy.

The countryside in the Moravian-Silesian region is just as diverse as its geological make-up. An abundance of underground mineral resources have turned it into a predominantly industrialised area with several protected natural enclaves. These include Jeseníky, Poodří, and the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, the largest of the protected zones in Czechia at 1,160 km2, part of which extends to the neighbouring region of Zlín. The Beskids form part of the Carpathian Mountains and their easternmost section runs along the Czech-Slovak border. Visitors should not miss ascending to the Pustevny mountain saddle, where the first chairlift in Europe was built in 1940. Today, tourists can travel from Ráztoka to Pustevny on its modern replacement. The upper terminal, designed by architect Kamil Mrva and much acclaimed, was built in 2017. The most famous buildings on Pustevny are Libušín and Maměnka, richly decorated log houses designed by Dušan Jurkovič in 1898. Their highly ornamental style, inspired by local folklore, stands in pleasant contrast to the contemporary chairlift terminal. Unfortunately, Libušín was heavily fire-damaged in 2014 and is still under reconstruction. We went along past the second of the buildings, toward another popular tourist destination – Radegast, after the Slavic god of hospitality.

The statue, created by sculptor Albín Polášek in 1930, stands halfway between Pustevny and the peak of Radhošť (see Soffa 29). The Beskids boast a dense network of well marked hiking trails, and are a popular winter destination for both downhill and cross-country skiing.

Once back from the woodlands, it was time to venture on to the region’s capital. Ostrava is a city whose character has been etched by centuries of coal mining, and the iron and steel industry. The abundance of natural resources turned a tiny town into a bustling metropolis – but in doing so, the environment steadily deteriorated and the country’s ‘steel heart’ wasn’t

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TRAVEL MORAVSKY KRAJ

The former Slezan textile mill in Frýdek-Místek was built in the 19th century. The halls now stand empty and silent but still retain their harsh beauty.

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A Land of Contrasts

THESE PAGES: Next to nothing remains inside the Slezan textile mill to reflect its original purpose.

The empty halls are currently used for cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions.

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TRAVEL MORAVSKY KRAJ

The Moravian-Silesian landscape is perfect for hiking in one of the three protected areas or anywhere else.

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Travel

THESE PAGES: The ruins of Castle Hukvaldy overlook the birthplace of Leoš Janáček. The world-renowned composer must have wandered round the local game preserve countless times, absorbing the magical atmosphere, and would doubtless have rested on the massive roots of the mighty beech trees on the hillside.

Janáček’s hometown and its surroundings were a great inspiration to him. It’s quite likely he enjoyed listening to the ringing of the bells from the Church of St. John the Baptist in Frýdek.

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A Land of Contrasts

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RIGHT: The traditional folk costume from Kozlovice may not be very opulent but its details and colour combinations are enchanting. Members of the local folkdance club posed and danced for us. It was wonderful watching the blue-printed aprons and red ribbons flying.

a very desirable tourist spot. Luckily, things are not as dreary as they used to be – mining was discontinued in the city at the end of the 20th century, and the air has since cleared significantly. Nothing can erase Ostrava’s predominantly industrial feel, but the locals try hard to alleviate its impact. Perhaps the most attractive destination is the ironworks in Dolní Vítkovice, known, with a bit of a wink, as the rustiest historic place in the country. It became the first Czech site to be included on the European Culture Heritage list.

As we already covered the Vítkovice ironworks in Soffa 14, we are focusing on another part of Ostrava’s heritage here – its vernacular buildings, which illustrate centuries of architectural development. The red-brick mansion at Vítkovice’s Mírové náměstí is known as Rothschild Palace, named after the wealthy Jewish family that had had business interests in the Ostrava region since the 18th century. The Rothschilds left a substantial legacy, consisting of such architectural gems as the Vítkovice Chateau and local mining settlements. Many of the 19th-century buildings were designed by architect and politician Hans Ulrich, including workers’ housing and his own residence on Sokolská třída in Ostrava. The three-storey mansion, built in 1898, is an eclectic mix of various architectural styles. It currently contains the Sokolská 26 exhibition hall and the Parník music club.

The residence formerly belonging to Doctor Julius Eisner, built in 1903, is a homage to the exotic Art Nouveau style. Its lavishly decorated façade is awash with floral motifs. Today, the building is the seat of the Foreign and Border Police, a far cry from its original purpose. Our penultimate stop is the former residence of Eduard Liska, built in the functionalist style by Czech architects Čestmír and Lubomír Šlapeta in 1936, and comprising part of the Czech cultural heritage.

Over our three-day trip, we explored but a fraction of what the Moravian-Silesian region has to offer. For our final stop, we opted for industrial poetics once again – the former Slezan textile mill in the town of FrýdekMístek. The oldest buildings within the compound date back to the late18th century and are a testament to its former significance. They currently stand empty, but remain ready to embrace a new future.

The Moravian-Silesian region has recently undergone a thoroughly incredible transformation. Its cultural and natural treasures are being carefully and lovingly maintained, just waiting for you to discover them. ■

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Utterly Czech

text: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová illustrations: Maria Giemza, www.mariagiemza.com

RACING AHEAD

WHENEVER SOFFA FEATURES AN ARTICLE ABOUT MICHAL FRONĚK AND JAN NĚMEČEK OF OLGOJ CHORCHOJ, OR DAVID KARÁSEK OF MMCITÉ, IT’S USUALLY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR LATEST CREATION. ALL THREE MEN RANK AMONG THE CZECH DESIGNER ELITE. BESIDES THAT, THOUGH, THE DESIGNERS ENJOY A SHARED HOBBY: VETERAN CARS AND OLD RACING AUTOS. ALONG WITH A FEW FRIENDS, THEY’VE MANAGED TO ACQUIRE THE AERO MINOR SPORT, A MADE-IN-CZECHOSLOVAKIA RACING CAR THAT FINISHED SECOND OVERALL IN THE LEGENDARY LE MANS RACE IN 1949.

THANKS TO LE MANS REDUX, THE CLUB ESTABLISHED BY THESE DESIGNERS, THE CAR IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PART IN THE LE MANS CLASSIC IN 2020.

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Utterly Czech

RIGHT: In June 1949, two Minor cars took part in the first postwar 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The model piloted by driver-duo Krattner and Sutnar was assigned the number 58, and acquired a blue stripe to indicate its Czech origins.

People usually associate Czech veteran cars with Tatras, Pragas, or Škodas.

Minors, however, have unjustly been forgotten. The Minor was launched by the Aero Aviation Factory shortly after World War II and became the first Czech motor vehicle with front-wheel drive. The initial model had been designed in secrecy at the Jawa car repair shop during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. Designer Rudolf Vykoukal created five prototypes of this popular little vehicle. For the test runs, he used petrol supplied by the Wehrmacht that was normally used for refurbished army tanks. At the end of the war, Jawa had produced a functional vehicle, and it soon became a commercial success. In 1945, the government decided to manufacture the Minor under the Aero brand, and started producing sports cars as well.

In early 1949, Aero created the Aero Minor Sport prototype, a two-seater with a cigar-shaped body, shorter than the standard model by ten centimetres and capable of reaching a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour. In June of the same year, two of the prototypes took part in the world-famous sports car race, 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Minor, displaying the number 58, managed to achieve an unexpected feat: drivers Otto Krattner and František Sutnar came first in their category and won second place overall, measured by the Performance Index: a tremendous success in Czech car-racing history and for the Aero brand. Sadly, the subsequent events proved dire. Despite Western Europe’s huge interest in the Minor, Aero discontinued production at the onset of the Cold War, focusing exclusively on the manufacture of military aircraft from then onwards. Both of the Le Mans drivers, Krattner and Sutnar, were arrested by the Communist regime ‘for political reasons’, and spent 15 and 11 years in prison, respectively. Today we know next to nothing about these two men. But the Les Mans Redux club, headed by Michal Froněk and Jan Němeček, has managed to unearth more facts about the Minor’s history; Petr Vykoukal, grandson of chief designer Rudolf Vykoukal, is currently set to finish his design degree at the Academy of Art, Architecture & Design in Prague.

Interestingly, Le Mans driver František Sutnar was the nephew of famous graphic designer Ladislav Sutnar. The club members are very enthusiastic about the possible Czechoslovak comeback in the 2020 Le Mans race. By then, it might just be possible to piece together the Minor’s history in more detail. We reckon it’s a story worthy of a book or a movie. ■

More info at www.facebook.com/lemansredux

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Interior

text: Hana Janišová photos: Lina Németh

CLEVER AND CHARMING

PRAGUE’S NEW TOWN WAS ESTABLISHED BY EMPEROR CHARLES IV IN 1348. CONSTRUCTING A BRAND NEW MEDIAEVAL CITY ON A GREENFIELD SITE WAS A TRULY MAGNIFICENT FEAT. THE INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS MAY HAVE CHANGED SOMEWHAT OVER TIME, BUT EVEN AFTER 670 YEARS, THE ORIGINAL URBAN LAYOUT REMAINS VIRTUALLY INTACT. TODAY’S VISIT TAKES US TO AN APARTMENT IN AN EARLY-20TH CENTURY BUILDING NEAR THE VLTAVA RIVER, THE NEW TOWN’S NATURAL SOUTH-WESTERN BORDER.

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The entrance hall is realised in several shades of grey, with Moroccan rugs covering the floors throughout the apartment.

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Clever and Charming

LEFT: Accompanying the iconic Tolomeo lamp from Artemide are plaster light fittings by Rendl Light Studio. These wall-mounted fixtures provide ambient lighting (and can be painted any colour).

Modernist paintings by Milan Grygar from Galerie Zdeněk Sklenář hang above a linen sofa

by Home Spirit, from Le Patio.

ABOVE LEFT: A contemporary lamp from the Muffins collection, designed for Brokis by Lucie Koldová and Dan Yeffet, serves as a perfect counterpoint to the antique African statuettes. Such unexpected pairings add to the apartment’s unique spirit.

ABOVE RIGHT: Practical console tables by Le Patio Lifestyle, with a burnished metal structure and marble top, are scattered throughout the apartment. The silver-framed mirror, also from Le Patio, is complemented by an original functionalist coat rack.

Situated within this fine Art Nouveau building is a light and airy apartment with a distinctive atmosphere. The owner lives between Prague and New York, and it was New York’s eclectic style that he wanted to emulate in his Prague home. To achieve this, he engaged the services of Monika White of Prague-based interior design firm Le Patio Studio. A law graduate and former diplomat, White spent many years abroad, soaking up the art of combining the old and new in novel, unexpected ways. She is exceptionally skilled at integrating her clients’ unique personality into her designs.

The apartment had been completely renovated some ten years ago, but the results were not to the new owner’s taste and were of poor quality.

Various problems were unveiled: a lack of insulation in the bathroom, uneven wall surfaces, doors that did not close properly, and chaotically distributed wall sockets. As part of this next renovation, the giant aquarium was replaced by a fireplace and the yellow-green tiling in the bathroom by a timeless broken-white colour scheme, restoring the interior to its former early-20th century glory.

It’s often said that the floor makes the apartment. But unfortunately, ripping out the faux-marble ceramic tiles, installing under-floor heating, and re-laying the parquet would have been complicated and costly. It was decided to retain the existing floor and subdue its appearance using

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Interior

The owner used to live in Kampa, and the painting in the dining room depicts a scene from that well-known part of Prague. This 19th-century artwork is offset by two contemporary chandeliers from Lasvit.

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THIS PAGE: The bathroom is now much brighter thanks to a fanlight over the door that admits borrowed light, while the mirror panel in the left-hand door conceals a washing machine and dryer. The light-coloured wall surfaces and grey floor tiles evoke an authentic Art Nouveau style.

RIGHT: Calming tones of beige, grey, and blue distinguish the bedroom. The upholstered headboard fabric is by Satin Design, and the Vivaraise bedspread is from Le Patio.

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Clever and Charming

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Clever and Charming

LEFT: Contemporary light fixtures by Nud, from Le Patio, provide a refreshing contrast to the high ceiling and original stuccowork. An unusual mirror from Le Patio adds a dynamic touch to the timeless kitchen design by Schüller.

ABOVE LEFT: The convex mirror on the wall adjacent to the Ton dining table serves as a wonderful conversation piece. The upholstered dining chairs are from Le Patio, and the wooden bowl is by Jaime Hayon for Cassina.

ABOVE RIGHT: A repoussé metalchest from India, hand-selected

by Monika White, adds a pleasant, exotic feel to the early-20th century interior.

furnishings. What a good idea. By covering the tiles with Moroccan rugs, the apartment attained the much-desired New York loft ambience.

The pale grey mono-block island kitchen blends-in nicely with the walls, so it doesn’t dominate the dining experience. Suspended above the table are two chandeliers that form part of the Neverending Glory collection designed for Lasvit by Jan Plecháč and Henry Wielgus. The shape of each piece in the series refers to a famous theatre or concert hall somewhere in the world; quite unsurprisingly, these two light fixtures relate to those in New York (Metropolitan Opera) and Prague (Estates Theatre).

For the office/study, the designer has chosen warmer hues to create a slight African feel. The large sitting room, on the other hand, features several linen sofas, delicate terracotta accessories, and paintings by Milan Grygar in dramatic black and white, all of which transmit a particularly Italian ambience – Italy being the owner’s favourite travel destination. A repoussé metal chest from India dominates the foyer, along with a 1930s lamp and radio.

Monika White has managed to combine antique pieces with the latest trends in interior design. The apartment now satisfies all of the owner’s needs: two bedrooms and two bathrooms provide comfortable accommodation for the whole family, with the three rooms overlooking the river being ideal for hosting cocktail parties or small receptions. ■

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Clever and Charming

A warmer colour scheme has been chosen for the office/study to complement the African artefacts – special family heirlooms that adorn the walls.

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Název článku

Jakub Mikuláštík | Design&Ilustrace | jmikulastik@pm.me

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Icons of Design

OLD STUFF, NEW TWIST 1

NOT EVEN THE BEST OF DESIGN STAPLES CAN ESCAPE MINOR ALTERATIONS OVER TIME. DESIGNERS ARE FOREVER EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW COLOURS AND FINISHES, SOMETIMES EVEN GIVING OLD OBJECTS A COMPLETELY NEW FUNCTION.

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1 · Pieni Unikko cushion cover (a variation of the original 1964 pattern), www.marimekko.com, €32.50 | 2 · Rybička pocket knife, made from recycled aluminium Nespresso capsules (limited edition), designed by Olgoj Chorchoj and manufactured by Mikov, www.nespresso.com, €19.50 | 3 · Inflatable goat, designed by Anna & Jerry Kozovi, www.efatra.cz, €19.50 | 4 · Eames Bird decorative figurine newly made out of walnut wood, designed by Charles & Ray Eames, www.vitra.com, €215 | 5 · Model 21616 Table Lamp by Josef Hurka for Drupol, www.talampa.cz, €58 | 6 · Čezeta 506 electric motorcycle (based on the iconic 1957 model), www.cezeta.cz, €11,709 text and selection: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová

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Holiday Homes

text: Helena Stiessová photos: Lina Németh article partner: Amazing Places

ONLY THE BEST FOR THE GUEST WARM LIGHT IS TUMBLING THROUGH THE LARGE WINDOWS AND FLICKERING ACROSS THE TREES. IT HAS GROWN DARK, BUT THE REKOVICE GUESTHOUSE IS BRIGHT AND WELCOMING – AN IDEAL PLACE FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR COMFORT WHILE STAYING CLOSE TO NATURE. WE VISITED WHILE TOURING KEY LOCATIONS IN THE MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION, WANTING TO SPEND TIME AT A PLACE THAT OFFERS INSPIRATION RATHER THAN JUST A QUICK OVERNIGHT STAY. LOOKING AROUND, IT’S PERFECTLY CLEAR WHY REKOVICE WAS INCLUDED IN THE AMAZING PLACES PROJECT, WHOSE TEAM FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING THE MOST OUTSTANDING DESTINATIONS IN CZECHIA. Venturing within our own country is very popular among Czech people.

We enjoy exploring domestic locations even though we’re no longer restricted in our travels by an oppressive regime. After the 1989 revolution, entrepreneurs seized the opportunity to expand the offer of tourist-oriented activities and accommodations – but with varying results. We all remember the old guesthouses with their bright lime- or apricot-coloured walls and plaster decorations, serving jam for breakfast in little plastic containers. Finding a place after your own heart was not easy and the standard of service wasn’t comparable to that commonly found abroad.

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THIS PAGE: The bell tower at Horečky and the nearby town of Trojanovice act as a symbolic gateway to the Beskydy Mountains. Should you choose to explore the countryside from here, Rekovice is your ideal base: on offer is first-class accommodation, delicious food from locally grown produce, and gorgeous vistas.

RIGHT: The guesthouse offers six rooms, either doubles or family-sized. The restaurant on the ground floor seats up to 100 diners. Austerely designed interiors by architect Romana Mališ Bílková are realised mainly in natural materials.

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Only the Best for the Guest

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Only the Best for the Guest

LEFT: The Rekovice guesthouse is surrounded by woodland, offering wide, serene views, occasionally adorned by a doe coming to feed.

We arrived just in time for a delicious dinner, but the deer must have already feasted by then and gone to sleep. After a splendid breakfast in the morning, we went for a walk, only to discover that the hayrack was stuffed full of treats for guests of the four-legged persuasion.

Thankfully, things slowly began to improve. New hotels, guesthouses, and cottages sprouted up, offering good service, comfort, and ambience; after all, these are the reasons we travel in the first place.

The Amazing Places project has made it its mission to scout around for just such destinations. Its founder, Petr Kotík, had been roaming across Czechia in search of wonderful places to visit and stay in, sharing his impressions on social media. Recommendations based on personal experience are always the best, and Kotík’s followers eagerly awaited each new tip. What was once a hobby soon turned into a full-time pursuit and the project was born. Holidaymakers now have the opportunity to choose reliable places to go without painstakingly perusing hundreds of online listings. Amazing Places is an honest guide that offers a limited selection of the best tourist accommodation facilities around the country. Each of those places receives an AP golden seal for one year, which signifies it has been tried and tested by the most discerning of specialists, who also ensure that high standards are being maintained. Whether you fancy a remote log cabin, an urban spa hotel, or a quiet, dog-friendly B&B, you can rely on style and an authentic experience.

Ours was a working trip, and Rekovice was just the right place. On arrival, the silhouette of the building, with its large windows and attractive wood cladding, stood out beautifully against the twilit autumn sky. But only in the morning were we able to appreciate the architecture in full. The house seems to melt into the surrounding landscape; it’s airy yet solidly built. The original, late-18th century building was an inn, serving travellers from the nearby towns of Trojanovice and Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, as well as tourists from afar. By the end of the 20th century, however, it stood vacant and dilapidated. It was the town of Trojanovice itself that decided to restore it to its former glory. The renovation was entrusted to Kamil Mrva Architects, who managed to turn the ancient inn into a modern facility, respecting its traditional form and improving upon it.

Architect Karel Mrva has made his mark elsewhere in the vicinity, with the restoration of the bell tower and derelict amphitheatre at Horečky, and the new, symbolic Radegast gateway to the Beskydy mountains. All these projects were funded by the town of Trojanovice, and the locals helped with their construction – the townsfolk are invested in the future of their region, seizing every opportunity to provide attractions for tourists. Other venues in the surrounding area that have made it onto the Amazing Places list include the Kovárna restaurant and Cattaleya hotel, the Miura hotel, and the Mezi plůtky boutique hotel, all in the town of Čeladná. ■

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MARY: petticoat, Denisa Nová | dress, Klára Nademlýnská | shoes, Cutulum | earrings, Zorya JOSEPH: top and trousers, Adam Kost | sandals, Tara Sandals for Denisa Nová COVER PHOTO: Palm Tree floor lamp, by Klára Šumová & Dirk Wright, www.oazacollection.com

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Fashion

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT NATIVITY SCENES ARE ONE OF THE MOST WIDESPREAD SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS – AND ONE OF THE OLDEST, PRECEDING THE CHRISTMAS TREE BY CENTURIES. THE OFTEN-INTRICATE CREATIONS ARE MEANT TO ILLUSTRATE AND COMMEMORATE THE REASON FOR CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS: THE BIRTH OF JESUS. It’s St. Francis of Assisi who is credited with creating the first nativity scene in the year 1223. Spending Christmas Eve visiting the home of Italian nobleman Giovanni di Velito, he purportedly decided to commemorate Christ’s birth for the pleasure of his host and the townspeople, by recreating the scene in a cave near Greccio. He borrowed a live ox, a donkey and some sheep, and enlisted two peasants to pose as Mary and Joseph beside a manger – an empty one, since no one was willing to lend him their baby.

At midnight, bells sounded through the village and Francis conducted a Mass inside the cave, leaving the mediaeval peasants standing in awe.

Circa 1560, nativity scenes were commonly found in churches and the homes of noble families, later making their way to the common people (aided, perhaps, by patents issued by Emperor Joseph II in the late-18th century, banning the building of nativity scenes in churches). Nativity scenes made of paper cut-outs became extremely popular in the late-19th and early20th century. Famous painter Mikoláš Aleš was so enamoured of nativity scenes that he painted one when he was only six years old. Traditions surrounding nativity scenes depend on the region they come from: apart from a range of materials and sizes, nativities differ in the type of figures they include – in the Czech lands, the Holy Family was usually welcomed by all the townsfolk, including the chimneysweep, whereas in Brabant, Jesus was surrounded by a variety of domestic and wild animals. Whether you decide to build your own nativity from Lego blocks or dig out those handsomely carved figures passed down the generations, the idea is to gather round the manger and remind yourself of the miracle of birth. text: Hana Janišová | concept: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová | styling: Patrik Florián, Janka Murínová photos: Alžběta Jungrová | 3D design: Tomáš Müller | make-up & hair: Filip Novák / Douglas Czech Republic models: Emily Schopper, Karolína Volková, Marek Weiser, Miroslav Prokop, Olesya Sydorenko / Elite Model Management and Ibrahim Camara / Jaro Management

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MAGUS: jacket and trousers, Jiří Kalfař | wool top, by Tereza Juevićová & Geometr, Geometr | crown, Janja Prokić | KA vases, by Roman Šedina, Dox by Qubus ANGEL: dress and cloak, Zuzana Kubíčková | halo and earrings, Zorya | ring and bracelet, Kateřina Reich

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Silent Night, Holy Night

MAGUS Olesya: silk kimono, by Tereza Ujevićová & Geometr, Geometr | vest, Lenka Vacková | crown, Janja Prokić | slippers, Cutulum | belt, by LaFormela, La Gallery Novesta | Flame jars, by Rudolf Rusnák, Dox by Qubus MAGUS Ibrahim: top, trousers and jackets, Jiří Kalfař | crown, Janja Prokić | necklace, Blueberries | Zahumny toy, by My Dvě, Deelive

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Narcissus vase, by Marieta Tedenacová, Academy of Art, Architecture & Design, Prague | sugar bowl, Pavel Janák; jar, V. Hais; Christmas tree bauble, Rautis; all from Modernista | coloured vases, Milan Pekař; Portugal vase, Martina Žílová; all from Deelive | cotton tablecloth, Geometr

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Silent Night, Holy Night

MARY: petticoat, Denisa Nová | dress, Klára Nademlýnská | shoes, Cutulum | earrings, Zorya | Moses basket, www.mimiconcept.cz | blanket, Kateřina Soukupová

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Fashion

SHEPHERD: top, Soolista | trousers, Adam Kost | jacket, Denisa Nová | Oáza mirror,

by Klára Šumová & Dirk Wright, www.oazacollection.com

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Fashion

NIGHT WATCHMAN: sweatshirt, Jakub Polanka / La Gallery Novesta | sweatpants and knit cap, Denisa Nová | coat on the left, The May Studio | coat on the right, Klára Nademlýnská | sandals, Tara Sandals for Denisa Nová CHILDREN Leo, Julie, Antonín, and Alžběta: tops, trousers, shirts, and dresses; all from Julie Store | sled, by Olgoj Chorchoj, Ton

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Silent Night, Holy Night

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Baby Jesus sleeps in a Tutu crib by Roman Vrtiška and Vladimír Žák for Devoto. Adam the Dog is wearing a collar by Lenka Vacková. The Shepherd is carrying an In the Wind candlestick by Martina Hudečková, Dox by Qubus

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Decor

A WORLD OF ONE’S OWN

JAPANESE DESIGN STUDIO NENDO CREATED A MODULAR BOX FOR FLOS THAT IS A LIGHT FIXTURE, AN ACCESSORY, AND A PIECE OF FURNITURE IN ONE. GAKU, WHICH MEANS ‘FRAME’ IN JAPANESE, ALLOWS USERS TO CREATE A MINIATURE WORLD OF THEIR OWN. HERE WE SHOW HOW PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT INTERESTS AND PREFERENCES – A JEWELLERY LOVER, BOOKWORM, AND PLANT ENTHUSIAST – MIGHT USE GAKU TO CREATE THEIR OWN STILL-LIFES: FROM PENDANT LAMPS TO BOWLS, VASES, AND WIRELESS PHONE CHARGERS. article partner: Flos | text: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová photos: Lina Németh | styling: Janka Murínová

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A World’s of One’s Own

JEWELLERY LOVER Nendo is well known for emphasising simplicity and functionality, as is amply illustrated by this white Gaku. The pendant lamp with dimmer switch is accompanied by a tilting mirror and a set of bowls and vases.

LEFT: Bracelet (on top right) by Klára Šípková; bracelet (on shelf)

by Blueberries; earrings by Nastassia Aleinikava; necklace

by Zorya; www.deelive.cz (all) | Ethnic bracelet, www.lepatio.cz BOTTOM RIGHT: Costume jewellery and pendant by Markéta Richterová, www.marketarichter.net | Pendant & chain

by Blueberries, www.blueberries.cz | Earrings by Hanuš Lamr, www.hanuslamr.com | Floral Christmas decoration, www.lepatio.cz

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Decor

BOOK LOVER This version of Gaku serves as a wireless charging dock. Users can power their mobile device or luminescent lamp, which can then be used anywhere in the room.

THESE PAGES: Books from www.booktherapy.cz and our editor-in-chief’s home library | Bed linen by Ooh noo, www.arki.cz | Running Fox cushion by Klaus Haapaniemi, www.finnishdesignshop.com | silk bedspread, www.lepatio.cz

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A World’s of One’s Own

PLANT LOVER The pendant lamp inside this Gaku is height-adjustable. Bowls, vases, bookends, and mirror are held in place by magnets, allowing users to arrange the accessories any way they want.

THESE PAGES: Potted plants, www.pokojovky.co | Vases by Alvar Aalto, Iittala, www.arki.cz | Scissors, www.hay.dk

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Designblok

text: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová photos: courtesy of the brands

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CZECH CHRISTMAS

1 . Fashion designer Liběna Rochová and artist/tattooist Musa have joined forces to create the Nadotek limited collection, in support of people with epidermolysis bullosa. Proceeds will go to Debra ČR, an organisation helping patients suffering from the disease. www.debra-cz.org 2 . Created by designer-duo Roman Vrtiška and Vladimír Žák for Slovak furniture manufacturer Javorina, Hriby side tables, made of solid wood, are meant to evoke the harsh landscape of the Tatra Mountains. Prices start at €700. www.javorina.eu 3 . The Kyō jewellery collection by Katerina Reich was inspired by the magical world of Japanese art and tradition, and won the designer an award at this year’s Designblok. www.katerinareich.com

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Czech Christmas

4 . Janja Prokić’s latest jewellery collection, Homa, features feathers and eyes as symbols of protection. The artist found inspiration in the extraordinary plumage of certain birds native to Papua New Guinea. Rings: €6,470 and €12,325; Crown: €10,785. www.janjaprokic.com 5 . 440 Audio is a family-run Czech firm known for its unique, high-quality turntables, appreciated by music professionals and enthusiasts alike. At Designblok 2018, the company presented a new model, the sleek G6+B(L)ACK. Prices start at €20,415. www.440audio.cz 6 . Czech brand Bisquit also presented its latest creations at Designblok this October, including a set of Greyhound jars by Martina Žílová. These multi-purpose containers can be used for pretty much anything. Christmas cookies, maybe? Available for €64. www.bisqit.cz

5 IF YOU’RE NOT YET SURE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS OR WHAT TO GIVE YOUR LOVED ONES, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LET THE LATEST TRENDS PRESENTED AT THIS YEAR’S DESIGNBLOK INSPIRE YOU! WE HAVE CHOSEN SIX ITEMS THAT DESERVE YOUR ATTENTION.

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Tune the Bulb

Nรกzev ฤ lรกnku

Jankovcova 1037/49, 170 00 Praha 7 +420 220 805 410, info@bulb.cz

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Design

text: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová photos: Michaela Karásek Čejková

NOT ONLY A CHAIR

AT THIS YEAR’S DESIGNBLOK, VITRA PREMIERED STOOL-TOOL, A MONOLITHIC SCULPTURE BY KONSTANTIN GRCIC. PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAELA KARÁSEK ČEJKOVÁ, WHOSE WORK IS FREQUENTLY FEATURED IN SOFFA, HAS ATTEMPTED TO EXPRESS THE EASY PLAYFULNESS OF STOOL-TOOL’S DESIGN THROUGH A SERIES OF IMAGES THAT SHOW DIFFERENT USES FOR THIS UNUSUAL OBJECT OTHER THAN THAT OF A MERE CHAIR.

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Design

Stool-Tool is multi-functional, certainly. Made of colourful polypropylene, it is primarily intended for office use. But with enough imagination the possibilities are limitless, as proved by several prominent Czech designers in collaboration with our photographer. In their hands, Stool-Tool became a step stool, a container, or a springboard. “We placed the object in multiple contexts to demonstrate that it has many functions besides just being something to sit on. In these pictures, Stool-Tool illustrates the personality of the user through their engagement with the object,” declares the photographer. ■

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THESE PAGES: The son of designer-couple Dechem knows how to make the biggest sand castle in the playground | Avant-pop singer Never Sol posing with her keyboard | Florists Lukáš and Albert from Květinové lahůdkářství: There’s always room for another container! | Unconventional starting blocks for swimmers.

Nรกzev ฤ lรกnku

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Photo Essay

article partner: Eye-Eye text: Hana Janišová photos: Adéla Havelková styling: Patrik Florián make-up: Kateřina Koki Mlejnková

OPTICAL REALITY THE DICTIONARY STATES THAT THAT THE WORD ‘SPECTACLES’ ORIGINATES FROM OLD FRENCH AND LATIN, AND MEANS BOTH THE ACT OF SEEING AND SOMETHING THAT IS OBSERVED. ‘GLASSES’, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE MATERIAL THAT THE VISION-ENHANCEMENT AID IS COMPOSED OF – EVEN THOUGH THIS HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE. THE FORERUNNERS OF TODAY’S EYEGLASSES, SUCH AS ANCIENT ROMAN GLOBES FILLED WITH WATER OR MEDIAEVAL READING STONES, WERE USED MERELY AS TOOLS TO MAGNIFY THE WRITTEN WORD. CONTRARILY, GOLDEN GEM-ENCRUSTED LORGNETTES FROM THE MID-19th CENTURY SERVED MORE AS DECORATIVE JEWELLERY RATHER THAN VISION ENHANCERS. GLASSES HELP SHAPE OUR OUTWARD IMAGE, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF IT. HERE, SPECIALISTS FROM THE EYE-EYE OPTICAL SHOP DEMONSTRATE HOW A PAIR OF SPECTACLES CAN TRANSFORM A PERSON’S FACE. ARE YOU ABLE TO GUESS HOW MANY MODELS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS PHOTO SHOOT?

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Clothing from the 2018 A/ W collection, provided by Cos | Jewellery

by Zorya and from the personal collections of the Soffa team PREVIOUS PAGE: Moscot is a family-owned company with a distinctive Lower Manhattan style and 103 years of experience.

ZOLMAN T42 Amber Tortoise by Moscot, €280, www.eye-eye.cz

The first spectacles were created in 13th-century Italy. Made of cut glass, they had to be held up to the wearer’s face. Only much later did craftsmen start inserting spectacle lenses into rims of bone, wood, tortoiseshell, iron, silver, or gold. Around 1752, English optician James Ayscough invented double-hinged side pieces that allowed the glasses to sit firmly on the wearer’s nose without the need to affix them to one’s hat, tie them to one’s head with strings, or use tiny weights to keep them perched on one’s nose. Modern materials and technologies allow manufacturers much flexibility and creative freedom in fashioning handsome frames that also serve the spectacles’ true purpose.

The importance of well-fitting eyeglasses cannot be emphasised enough by experienced opticians. Choosing the right shape for the nose pads is crucial. The rims should not press too tightly on the nose or cheeks. The earpieces should be just long enough to reach behind the ear. You’re going to be wearing your glasses most of the day, so they need to fit comfortably – but it’s also nice if you look good in them.

Axioms such as ‘round glasses don’t suit a round face’ are a thing of the past. Eye-Eye has its own rules for identifying a good pair. Your glasses should either complement your face or provide contrast, whether in shape, colour or size. Creatives tend to prefer a simple matte black or grey frame (which, along with thin metal rims, is the current trend). Broad, retro rims are still in vogue but rimless glasses with wide, ornate earpieces are going out of style. And transparent spectacles suit men better than women, according to opticians.

If you’ve been wearing eyeglasses ever since you can remember, you will likely agree that even though a single pair will do, it’s far more fun to have several to choose from. Your basic ones should be as understated and versatile as possible. Each additional pair should reflect your lifestyle: delicate, lightweight glasses you wear to the office are not so appropriate for a mountain hike or a volleyball game.

Go for a good quality, well-crafted frame – your nose will thank you. Select a pair of spectacles manufactured in Europe, the US or Japan, made of titanium or cellulose acetate, with earpieces attached by actual hinges. ■ PS Veronika Mísařová from Elite Model Management is wearing five different types of glasses and matching make-up. Could you tell?

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RIGHT: A pure, bold, and passionate style – designed by Katharina Schlager, executive director at Andy Wolf Eyewear, Austria Frame 4724 by Andy Wolf Eyewear, €322, www.eye-eye.cz

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LEFT: London brand Cutler and Gross, established in 1969, makes glasses to fit any personality, even the most eccentric.

Frame 1294 01 BLUE by Cutler and Gross, €319, www.eye-eye.cz THIS PAGE: 42 steps are involved in making these handcrafted glasses – the tiny imperfections only add character.

Frame 1210 BLACK by Cutler and Gross, €415, www.eye-eye.cz

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Spectacles from Andy Wolf Eyewear are handmade in the Austrian town of Hartberg.

Frame 4710 Lisa H. by Andy Wolf Eyewear, €300, www.eye-eye.cz

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PLOUM upholstery. Design by R. & E. Bouroullec www.ligne-roset.com

NEW CATALOGUE 2019

Ligne Roset showroom Florentinum - Atrium building, Na Florenci 2116/15, Prague 1 t: +420 281 912 186, e: prague@ligne-roset.cz

Architecture

text: Adéla Lipár Kudrnová photos: BoysPlayNice

A NEW COUNTRY HOUSE

LIFE HAS CHANGED RADICALLY OVER THE PAST HUNDRED YEARS, IN THE CITY AS WELL AS THE COUNTRYSIDE. THIS HOUSE, DESIGNED

BY ZNOJMO-BASED ORA ARCHITECTS, IS AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A NEW ARCHETYPE OF A RURAL HOME, ONE THAT REFLECTS A MODERN LIFESTYLE BUT STILL RETAINS A RUSTIC FEEL.

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Nรกzev ฤ lรกnku

A New Country House

PREVIOUS PAGE: The distinctive Rand windows by Czech manufacturer Janošík Okna-Dveře give the house much of its character.

LEFT: Simple, elegant shapes and sparse furnishings accentuate the beauty of the materials: concrete, beech plywood, spruce panelling, and oak flooring.

A large Jutland table by Ton dominates the dining room, accompanied by Ton’s Leaf chairs.

ORA is a young architectural studio founded by Jan Veisser and husbandand-wife team Jan Hora and Barbora Horová, based in the South Moravian region. Its portfolio includes such projects as the renovation of the historic Unger townhouse in Znojmo (see Soffa 9) and Štajnhaus Guest House – in other words, mainly refurbishments. The family home in the village of Božice was an entirely different type of assignment. “We want a contemporary country house,” stated the clients. ORA’s first private commission would therefore be a challenge: to build a brand-new structure that did not stand out in a traditional Moravian village. To achieve this took four years, during which the client-contractor relationship blossomed into a friendship.

“We were the second firm the clients approached, so we didn’t want to leave anything to chance,” explain the architects. “First, we had to find out what a contemporary Moravian village was really like, and then to redefine the term ‘country home’.” Newly-built country houses often disregard their context, ignoring the many centuries of architectural development and showing no respect for their neighbours. “Czech and Moravian villages and small towns are suffering a tremendous architectural and planning crisis,” ORA claims. When designing this building, located on a narrow, sloping plot on the outskirts of the village, the architects had to keep in mind that a country home functions differently from an urban residence. “We wanted to build the house closer to the street, not hide it behind the garage and make it an impenetrable fortress, which is so often the case with rural architecture today. At the same time, we wanted the garden to provide sufficient privacy and shade during the summer months,” emphasise ORA. The resulting single-storey house is similar in scale and proportion to the local, traditional houses. ORA positioned the building closer to the street and as near as possible to the adjacent plot. It is somewhat sunken into the ground, to retain the original profile of the terrain. The gable wall facing the street has become its most dominant feature, with a large window that slightly protrudes from the façade, providing a beautiful view while also lending the house that much-desired contemporary feel. ■

More information at www.o-r-a.cz and www.boysplaynice.com

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The architects have chosen flat ‘beaver tail’ roof tiles by Tondach, one of the oldest types of roofing materials and often used in the renovation of historical buildings.

Transparent tiles are arranged in a cross pattern on the eaves, to capture some daylight.

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A CAP BY TONAK

At Soffa, we love all things Czech. To begin the new year with a flourish, we’ve partnered with Tonak, manufacturer of fine headwear, to bring you a beautiful gift: a Fletirino ladies’ wool beret with bobble, or a traditional men’s knit cap with patterned trim and bobble – both in a neutral grey colour. More details at www.tonak.cz The offer is valid for subscriptions placed before 13.02.2019 and while supplies last. As soon as the money reaches our account, we will send you the latest available issue of Soffa, plus a beret or a knit cap! The terms and conditions, along with Soffa’s privacy policy, can be found on the website.

For information about gift subscriptions, etc., please email us at sofa@send.cz.

Název článku

the show sensational exceptional original 8. – 12. 2. 2019 The outstanding diversity of the international consumer goods market. Eye-catching innovations, trends and designs in sight. All segments. All themes. The trade fair that leads your industry into the future.

Information and tickets: ambiente.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +420 233 355 246 info@messefrankfurt.cz

Partner Country India

Creative People

MAKING THINGS BETTER

EVERY DECISION CARRIES WITH IT A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY – EVEN SHOPPING. WITH LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES ON OFFER, EVER-GREATER DEMANDS ARE PLACED ON CONSUMERS. ALTHOUGH SENSIBLE BUYERS ARE INCREASINGLY CHOOSING BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED PRODUCTS BY LOCAL MAKERS, THE CONSUMERIST ATTITUDE IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE – AND SO DEVASTATING FOR OUR PLANET. WHICH IS WHY MANUFACTURERS SHOULD EXERCISE EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE BRINGING NEW PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET. IN THE CREATIVE PEOPLE SECTION, WE PRESENT THREE COMPANIES THAT HAVE QUICKLY MANAGED TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD WHILE REMAINING CONSCIOUS OF THE HUGE IMPACT OF THEIR ACTIONS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

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CLOSE TO THE EDGE

We see and touch them all the time – and still we barely notice them. Edges are an essential component of tables, wardrobes, cabinets, kitchen units, and office shelves; yet they hardly play a conscious role in our selection of furnishings, even though we couldn’t do without them. Hranipex is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of furniture edges. And, notably, this Czech company applies strict production standards and a degree of social responsibility that goes far beyond the current norm.

Emerging in the early 1990s amidst the general rush to restore private enterprise after the fall of the Communist regime, Hranipex was founded by the Rýzner family in the small town of Humpolec. Its nearly invisible products helped it secure a niche in the market. Initial success allowed the company to expand from a tiny, nine-square-metre garage to an old textile mill (textile production being one of Humpolec’s major industries), supplying edges to small furniture manufacturers and mass

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article partner: Hranipex text: Helena Stiessová photos: Lina Németh ABOVE: Hranipex’s furniture edges are made from ABS, an industrial copolymer whose colour and texture can be adjusted to fit the particular boards, panels, and worktops. But the real competitive edge (pun intended) lies in the company’s exceptional, personalised service. Choosing the right edge is not as easy as it might seem.

Travel

Hranipex CEO Daniel Nevařil and his colleagues are now facing a major transformation that will affect the company’s manufacturing process and its attitude. Hranipex now has branches in 12 European countries and intends to expand worldwide.

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At the Crossroads

THIS PAGE: What’s wrong with combining industry and art?

A painting by Jiří Načeradský graces the wall of the assembly warehouse.

RIGHT: Humpolec-based OK Plan Architects has designed both Hranipex’s headquarters and several of its foreign branches. It has also spearheaded the extremely difficult renovation of the local textile mill and its transformation into an art space. The building directly captures the attention of visitors, and the interior furnishings of the administrative offices complement the unconventional décor.

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RIGHT: Edges, edges everywhere!

An edge may imitate wood grain or match the colour of the furniture, but it can also bedazzle as an original accessory in its own right.

producers alike. Appreciative customers include virtually everyone, from fashion-minded women in nylon stockings to parents of lively children.

Hranipex has recently moved to another premises just outside of Humpolec, large enough to accommodate its current production volume and to reflect the company’s position as the fifth largest producer of furniture edges worldwide. The new complex, which includes production facilities, administrative offices and a warehouse/dispatch centre, was designed by OK Plan Architects to meet all of the company’s practical requirements and provide a pleasant workspace for employees.

The owners’ aesthetic preferences are apparent throughout – these include the distinctive modern artworks from Zdeněk Rýzner’s personal collection that enliven the entire interior, from the offices to the production area. The company’s activities include a number of socially responsible projects, all firmly entrenched in the small town of Humpolec. With 12 branches abroad and 85 percent of production targeting foreign markets, Hranipex could easily choose to become involved in any number of charitable activities worldwide; however, following the example of many pre-war Czech entrepreneurs, it has decided to focus primarily on improving the local community. When Hranipex transferred its operations to the larger premises, it turned former textile mill No. 8 into a space devoted to all forms of art. The project, named ‘8smička’, organises various educational programmes and exhibitions for locals and visitors, with the aim of expanding the viewers’ perception. Hranipex is the foundation’s primary partner, financing all of 8smička’s projects, which it sees as a valuable investment in the future of the community.

There is a lot of hard work behind the idyll, though. After 25 years of existence, Hranipex has grown into a global enterprise, and transformation is imminent. The family firm is poised to become a major global player, while still retaining a strong national identity. “It is going to be a long, difficult process,” says CEO Daniel Nevařil. Such an evolution requires a strong vision and the courage to implement changes at a time when the company is doing well. However, a clearly defined course – one that allows it to cope with further growth, generational shift, pressure from competitors, and market fluctuations – is bound to provide security for the employees for decades to come. Hranipex’s story can be an inspiration to other companies, encouraging them to build a successful business while promoting principles that help sustain and improve their local communities. ■

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MORE THAN JUST SNEAKERS

How did the rubber-soled shoe become one of the greatest icons of the early-21st century? Originally worn primarily for croquet and tennis, theses items, known variously as tennis shoes, trainers or sneakers, managed to make it to the Olympic games some decades ago. As early as the 1930s, boys and girls yearned to have the same type of footwear as their favourite athlete. In the 1960s, trainers became the go-to gear for rock stars, skateboarders, and rebels in general. And then came the ’70s, ushering in the aerobics and jogging craze and making sneakers an absolute essential.

However, the true revolution came in 1984 when basketball legend Michael Jordan scored basket after basket wearing red-and-white high-tops with the ‘swoosh’ symbol, and rappers and hip-hoppers started chanting about their latest pair. Now the floodgates were open. Sneakers invaded pop culture and the world of luxury fashion: in the new millennium, limited editions designed by noted artists and celebrities have become a new religion. Today, sneakers have a firm place in everyone’s wardrobe and can be worn

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article partner: Footshop text: Patrik Florián photos: courtesy of Footshop ABOVE: In 2015, Footshop became the first store in Czechia to join the Adidas Consortium, meaning it can now offer the most exclusive limited-editions by the Adidas brand. The limited zero-waste series by Petra Ptáčková is the result of Footshop’s collaboration with local designers.

RIGHT: Apart from building a successful standout brand, Peter finds it important to connect the store with the artists and customers to form a single community.

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LEFT: The Energy Waves editorial was created for Footshop by talented Czech photographer Eliška Kyselková.

THIS PAGE: The recently redesigned Footshop store and multi-purpose premises is located in the Vnitroblock industrial complex in Prague’s Holešovice district.

Customers can try on shoes or participate in one of the events regularly organised by the company.

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on any occasion. You may prefer to don them only at the gym or you might wear them to the opera – it’s entirely up to you because all is acceptable.

There’s simply no running away from this contemporary phenomenon.

Peter Hajduček, founder of Czech online-store Footshop, has his own sneaker story. Having grown up in the skater subculture, it felt perfectly natural to him to spend all of his savings on a single pair of sneakers.

In 2011 he decided to combine his expertise in online marketing with his passion for urban lifestyle, and Footshop was born. The young company began with a mere 50 boxes of shoes stacked in Hajduček’s garage; two years later it had its own premises and was already preparing to open its first brick-and-mortar store. From the very start, the concept was about more than just the pleasure of buying new shoes. Footshop organised concerts, workshops, and private previews. It celebrated its own success. Soon the company began offering exclusive collections by well-known brands, as well as its own clothing collections.

Today, Footshop operates its online store in 12 countries, with physical shops in Prague, Bratislava, and Budapest. Thousands of models are offered on the website, including the rarest and most coveted. The Footshop team regularly attends trade fairs and festivals, presenting interesting new ideas and hosting events that combine urban culture and works by local artists.

The newly redesigned Footshop store in Prague’s Holešovice district regularly organises workshops and dance performances. This autumn, Footshop opened its new multi-purpose premises in the Vnitroblock industrial complex (where Soffa used to have its offices), combining a rough interior with minimalist decor. The furnishings, including a system of movable display doors that enable the space to open up within minutes, were designed by Eyelevel.

Footshop also collaborates with Czech artists. It recently launched a new collection created together with designer-duo La Formela, and a limited series by Petra Ptáčková produced with zero waste. With an ever-increasing number of shoes being sold, Footshop has become acutely aware of its social responsibility. The brand’s own collections are sustainably produced by local manufacturers. Furthermore, all unsold sneakers go to HavASole, a charity donating shoes to people in need.

Through more than a century of existence, sneakers have often changed their shape, material, and purpose. Is this footgear going to continue into the far future? It’s hard to say – but there is no denying that a pair of rubber-soled shoes can be a good investment, most especially if it also supports an excellent cause. Choose well: buy sneakers manufactured in fair conditions and made of sustainable materials. ■

Find out more at www.footshop.cz

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RIGHT: Czech designer-duo LaFormela and Footshop share a fondness for bold graphic design, urban culture, and comfortable apparel. The locally-produced collections were featured on the catwalk during Prague Fashion Week, proving that for Footshop fashion has no boundaries.

Travel

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THE FUTURE IN YOUR POCKET

Since time immemorial, people have held their most valuable possessions close at hand. From bundles of food and personal items, followed by leather pouches for coins and precious stones, emerged the modern wallet in the late 17th century. Made of cow- or horsehide and used to carry calling cards, personal documents and banknotes, the wallet soon became both an indispensable everyday item and a fashion accessory.

Ladies carried tiny purses or shoulder bags to match their resplendent many-layered gowns, and the invention of pockets allowed gentlemen to stop hanging money pouches on their belts.

As paper cheques and paper money gave way to cashless transactions, wallets grew smaller and thinner. Still, there are many things we still tend to carry in our wallets apart from cash, ID, and business cards: receipts, loyalty cards, plasters, and even good-luck charms; and of course debit and credit cards. This actually inspired Dutch designer-couple Marianne

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article partner: Secrid text: Patrik Floriรกn photos: courtesy of Secrid ABOVE: A modern wallet has to fit in every sort of pocket. It needs to be compact, elegant, safe, and fun. The Secrid wallet is a mix of fashion and product design, meeting all of these requirements while adhering to the principles of environmental and social responsibility.

Marianne and RenĂŠ have been partners in life and work for over 25 years, running their company as a family business. Their beautiful new offices in Den Haag include a cafeteria offering freshly-cooked meals and a space for employees to hang out, bringing out the best in everyone.

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THESE PAGES: Most of Secrid’s leather is sourced in Europe and dyed in the Netherlands. Secrid also offers a special edition using leather treated solely with natural dyes (leaves, tree bark, or fruit peel). Each wallet is handmade, with more than 100 employees in local workshops and 99 percent of suppliers based in the Netherlands (and a select few in Belgium). This ensures better quality control and minimises the company’s carbon footprint.

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and René to create the first ‘smart wallet’, a meticulously designed, locally produced item that can actually protect the owner’s bankcards against digital threats.

In the 1990s, fashion designer Marianne van Sasse van Ysselt and industrial designer René van Geer ran the Spirid design studio, which specialised in products for commercial use. While working on several projects for Dutch banks, they realised the increasing importance of payment cards. Fascinated by the mysterious objects literally coming alive in our pockets, they designed the first compact wallet in 1997. At the dawn of the new millennium, the duo realised that everything a person needed could fit comfortably in their hand, and that new technologies also brought new opportunities for the misuse of those items. During the global financial crisis, the studio lost most of its clients and the couple realised that the time had come to create their own brand – and bring about a pocket revolution!

The Dutch wallet-manufacturer began with firmly established principles in mind. The founders are convinced that everything in the world is interconnected, which has led to their decision to produce locally from sustainable resources. That may have seemed like utter foolishness at the peak of the financial crisis, but today it’s clear that Marianne and René were true visionaries. In some seven years, they managed to create a world-renowned brand with more than 100 employees, including their own children, working in their ‘heartquarters’. This company, called Secrid, has revived the Dutch leather-processing industry, creating 200 additional jobs. Some 50 Dutch contractors are involved in manufacturing these products, and since they are all based locally they’re able to stay in touch and maintain tight control of production. This makes the manufacturing process as efficient as possible, minimising Secrid’s carbon footprint. Even so, the company takes its social responsibility another step further, donating one percent of its profits to charitable projects (ocean clean-up, supporting orphans in Kenya, or reforestation in Peru).

Collaboration with Swiss brand Freitag – the true master of recycling – has been a dream come true. Out of used truck tarpaulins, old tyres and safety belts, Freitag produces original backpacks, handbags and bum bags – and now Secrid wallets as well. Today, Secrid offers hundreds of different colour and style combinations. The designers like to experiment with unusual materials and shapes. The Cardprotector’s aluminium core protects bankcards from both physical damage and digital misuse.

A little tip from our editorial team: Keep your money and your ID separate so you don’t risk losing everything. Also, sort out the contents of your wallet from time to time to keep your style minimalist and your pockets flat. ■

Read the whole Secrid story and view the collection at www.secrid.com

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RIGHT: The patented Cardprotector aluminium wallet holds up to six cards, securely protected against physical damage and digital misuse. By pressing a tiny button on its bottom edge, the cards slide out quickly and evenly. In 2010, the Secrid Cardprotector won both the Red Dot Design Award and the European Aluminium Award.

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CHRISTMAS TREAT

For every koruna spent in our store on or before 20.12.2018, we will gift you the same amount in store credit on Christmas Eve! Find out all about it at www.bonami.cz

Food

text: Zuzana Ouhrabková illustrations: Jakub Mikuláštík

YOUR OWN PERSONAL ECOSYSTEM FERMENTATION HAS BECOME A BUZZWORD, THANKS IN PART TO THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES EMERGING OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, ALLOWING SCIENTISTS TO ANALYSE DNA QUICKLY AND HANDLE LARGE BUNDLES OF DATA. DUE TO THESE ADVANCES, DOCTORS, BIOLOGISTS, AND PHARMACISTS HAVE REDISCOVERED THE LARGELY UNEXPLORED UNIVERSE WITHIN OUR BODIES. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GUT FLORA? ARE PROBIOTICS GOING TO BE OUR SALVATION? HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR OWN PROBIOTIC LEMONADE? BLOGGER ZUZANA OUHRABKOVÁ (ZKVASENO.CZ) HAS SOME ANSWERS.

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Your Own Personal Ecosystem

Our bodies serve as a habitat for zillions of living organisms. Nearly nine out of ten of our cells are not actually human – and they are everywhere, covering our skin, occupying all of our bodily orifices, and of course, inhabiting our digestive tract. Microbes keep our skin healthy, help protect our teeth, affect our fertility, and make our food digestible. They produce vitamins and other essential nutrients and regulate the storage of fat and hormone production. They help us build immunity and fight off harmful microbiological intruders, and even influence our mood and mental health.

A significant part of our personal ecosystem is made up of bacteria that are capable of fermenting lactic acid. These tiny critters have long been used to preserve vegetables and milk, and also to help produce such amazing drinks as kombucha and kefir. They can be grown easily in a lab and compressed into pills or capsules.

All of this has inevitably led to fermentation becoming a universal obsession. Apart from being an age-old tradition employed by our forefathers (long before learning to read and write), it is the subject of modern research, with some truly exciting results. The possibilities are endless: probiotic capsules, books on health and cooking, specialised restaurants, and the manufacture of specific food items.

There is just one snag, though – most of these organisms never actually make it into our bodies alive. Our immune defenses and digestive system simply won’t let them in. Taking probiotic tablets or drinking gallons of kefir will certainly not harm you, but it’s far more important and useful to instead nurture the tiny fellow-passengers inside our own bodies.

Beneficial microbial cultures thrive on fibre of any kind – and lots of it. Most of us don’t have enough in our diet. Doctors have been telling us this for decades. Advising us to eat more fibre… how boring is that? Miraculous diets based on fermented foods and magic supplements sound way more interesting than simply munching on carrots, oatmeal, and lentils.

To be fair, fermented vegetables, cheeses, and fizzy drinks can actually taste incredible, and it’s fascinating to behold how a bit of sugar, ginger, and water can turn into a glass of bubbly goodness. Do test this by making your own probiotic lemonade! ■

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NATURAL PROBIOTIC LEMONADE WE ALL KNOW ABOUT CARBONATED GINGER ALE. BUT WITH A BIT OF PATIENCE, YOU CAN TURN FRESH GINGER INTO A NATURAL, HOMEMADE DRINK THAT IS SO MUCH HEALTHIER. TO MAKE THE FERMENTED SYRUP: Take 20g of the ginger and 20g of the turmeric. Wash thoroughly in cold water and grate. Do not peel – the skin contains the microbial cultures that will allow the mixture to ferment.

Squeeze the lemon. Mix the grated ginger, turmeric, and lemon juice with 40g of the sugar. Place the mash in a re-sealable bag. Remove as much air as possible and put the bag in a warm place, at around 25°C. Fermentation also works at room temperature but it will take a day or two longer.

The next day, grate an additional 10g of both turmeric and ginger. Mix with the mash already in the bag and add 20g of sugar. Let the mixture rest. Repeat the process over the next two days. Check for possible signs of mould or a foul smell (the juice should be bright yellow and contain bits of the roots). Try tasting the mixture – it should be sweet and sour, slightly spicy.

If the mash starts to spoil, discard it and start again with fresh ginger and turmeric – it just means there was some sort of contamination.

On the third or fourth day, the mixture should be fizzing (the pouch will swell up). If not, wait an additional two to three days. Then strain the fermented mixture. You should have approximately 250ml of syrup. Pour the syrup into a sterilised bottle and store it in the fridge. The concoction should last for several months.

Use the remaining grated ginger and turmeric mash as a catalyst for the next batch of syrup. Mix approximately 5g of the syrup with 50g of fresh ginger, turmeric, and sugar. Let this rest for a day or two. Alternatively, you can deep-freeze the extract for later use.

TO MAKE THE LEMONADE: Use 100 ml of the ginger-turmeric syrup. Mix with 900ml of apple juice. Put this into a flip-top bottle and let it rest in a warm place for 24 hours. The bottle should fizz when you open it – if not, wait another 12 hours and check again. Put the lemonade in the fridge to mature for 24 hours.

Drink within two to three days. The mixture will continue to ferment and therefore gradually lose its sweetness. ■

INGREDIENTS: 50 g fresh ginger 50 g fresh turmeric 100 g sugar 1 lemon 900 ml apple must or juice EQUIPMENT: Re-sealable bag (½ litre capacity) 1-litre glass bottle with flip-top cap 300 ml re-sealable bottle Grater PREPARATION TIME: 1–2 weeks Buy fresh ginger and turmeric – preferably organic. Their outsides should be smooth, with no visible mould or rot. Keep refrigerated in a tightly-sealed container.

Recipe

TIP For variety, you can add spices to the lemonade, like cinnamon, cloves or cardamom. First boil the spices in apple juice – otherwise they could contaminate the drink. You could also use plum, pear, or pineapple juice instead of apple juice. You might even want to skip the turmeric altogether, instead making fermented ginger syrup and adding sweetened black tea.

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EDITORIAL STAFF Adéla Lipár Kudrnová | editor in chief adela@soffamag.com Róbert Kováč | art director robert@soffamag.com Helena Stiessová | managing editor helena.s@soffamag.com Hana Janišová | editor hana@soffamag.com Patrik Florián | editor & fashion stylist patrik@soffamag.com Albert Němec | production manager albert@soffamag.com Janka Murínová | designer & stylist jana@soffamag.com Adéla Havelková | photographer adela.h@soffamag.com Lina Németh | photographer lina@soffamag.com Terézia Bělčáková | sales manager terezia@soffamag.com Lucie Vytlačilová | sales manager lucie@soffamag.com Dita Loudilová | event manager dita@soffamag.com

TRANSLATION Lucie Mikolajková lucie.mikolajkova@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS Zuzana Ouhrabková | writer Zdeněk Vacek | writer Alžběta Jungrová | photographer Michaela Karásek Čejková | photographer Tomáš Müller | photographer BoysPlayNice | photographer Tomáš Brabec | photographer Jakub Mikuláštík | illustrator Maria Giemza | ilustrattor Barbora Hrubá | collage Filip Novák | make-up artist Kateřina Koki Mlejnková | make-up artist PUBLISHER Soffa, s. r. o. Špálova 444/6 162 00 Praha 6 – Střešovice www.soffamag.com IČ: 03055671 / DIČ: CZ03055671 © Soffa, s. r. o., 2018 | All rights reserved www.soffamag.com | info@soffamag.com Cover photo: Alžběta Jungrová DISTRIBUTION Interested in becoming a Soffa distributor?

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Registration: MK ČR E 21947, ISSN 2336-5943 Volume 30 published on 13 December 2018

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