Manifesto Market Smíchov
Manifesto Market has gained recognition far beyond the borders of Prague and the Czech Republic. For its second location, its founder and owner Martin Barry decided to regenerate a lesser-known spot in the heart of Smíchov in Prague, entrusting the project to architects Chybík+Krištof. Manifesto Smíchov opened in July 2019 on a former empty parking lot adjacent to the Art Nouveau building of the National House in Smíchov, even before its planned renovation by owner Torino-Praga Invest. The concept of Manifesto has a temporary character, yet its daily operations are governed by principles of sustainability. Therefore, the architects were tasked with working with modular units to create a temporary yet elegant gastronomic and cultural pop-up market.
Architectural Concept
The mission of Manifesto is to create a unique experience for visitors and local residents. Manifesto Smíchov is located in an urban area with valuable examples of 20th-century architecture. The project builds on the still-present foundations of local historical layers, forgotten a few generations ago. The revival of the genius loci has been a clear intention from the very beginning, and mapping the history of the site was an essential part of this process. Until recently, the land was used as a parking lot and service entrance, hidden between the former market and the Smíchov National House. Even further back in history, the site hosted a botanical garden and an outdoor restaurant, defined by a rectangular grid of trees. The entire neighborhood, with its generous parks, greenery, and easy access to the Vltava riverbank, was once a sought-after place for recreation, with the botanical garden dominating the entire district.
From this stems the idea to revive publicly accessible, rich lush greenery to restore this destination, seamlessly connected to the bustling Malá Strana and within walking distance of Prague's Dancing House. The architects also honor the intimate proportions and scale of public passages typical of Prague streets. A central element of the design for its summer operating season became a shallow paddling pool, beneath which leans the historic façade reflected in the water's surface. This has become the most attractive feature for children as well as adults. The architects Chybík+Krištof had previously experimented with the water element in their award-winning design at the Milan expo four years ago. The element is integrated into a raised wooden terrace that provides barrier-free access to the entire space for strollers and wheelchairs.
The wavy aluminum sheets that surround the containers allow the structures to blend well into the background, while playfully reflecting the façade and colors of the National House. The motif of reflection also appears in the rippled water of the small pool. Plants have also returned to the courtyard – bamboo, palms, and vines, where their presence was a defining element for the entire design, alongside other aspects related to the use of the space – gastronomy, culture, and social events. The project had to encompass all of this. Vendors and restaurants occupy a total of 11 containers, offering selected culinary specialties, traditional draft beer, or snacks, while the wooden platform serves as a generous terrace providing diverse seating options.
Collaboration with Suppliers
The containers are sourced from Koma Modular. The Manifesto Market Smíchov project is already a continuation of the collaboration between the studio Chybík+Krištof and this module manufacturer, which has lasted since 2011.
In the evening, the lively courtyard lights up with a series of lamps custom-made by the studio Nahaku. They are made by upcycling old prosecco barrels. The design of the lamps references the art-deco lighting inside the National House, thus connecting the interior with the new cultural space of the courtyard outside. David Karáska's design studio mmcite complemented the Manifesto Market in Smíchov with its new model of outdoor furniture.
Manifesto otherwise prides itself on its principle of being a place without logos, advertisements, and banners. Its immediately recognizable visual identity was designed by Czech graphic designer FunkFu.
All Manifesto markets, including the company's headquarters, are powered exclusively by energy from renewable sources from the Czech company Nano Energies.
Manifesto also had to be prepared for seasonal changes, and since November 2019 it has been supplemented with a canvas roof, six translucent igloos, and finally also the decorations that herald the upcoming Christmas.
Architectural Concept
The mission of Manifesto is to create a unique experience for visitors and local residents. Manifesto Smíchov is located in an urban area with valuable examples of 20th-century architecture. The project builds on the still-present foundations of local historical layers, forgotten a few generations ago. The revival of the genius loci has been a clear intention from the very beginning, and mapping the history of the site was an essential part of this process. Until recently, the land was used as a parking lot and service entrance, hidden between the former market and the Smíchov National House. Even further back in history, the site hosted a botanical garden and an outdoor restaurant, defined by a rectangular grid of trees. The entire neighborhood, with its generous parks, greenery, and easy access to the Vltava riverbank, was once a sought-after place for recreation, with the botanical garden dominating the entire district.
From this stems the idea to revive publicly accessible, rich lush greenery to restore this destination, seamlessly connected to the bustling Malá Strana and within walking distance of Prague's Dancing House. The architects also honor the intimate proportions and scale of public passages typical of Prague streets. A central element of the design for its summer operating season became a shallow paddling pool, beneath which leans the historic façade reflected in the water's surface. This has become the most attractive feature for children as well as adults. The architects Chybík+Krištof had previously experimented with the water element in their award-winning design at the Milan expo four years ago. The element is integrated into a raised wooden terrace that provides barrier-free access to the entire space for strollers and wheelchairs.
The wavy aluminum sheets that surround the containers allow the structures to blend well into the background, while playfully reflecting the façade and colors of the National House. The motif of reflection also appears in the rippled water of the small pool. Plants have also returned to the courtyard – bamboo, palms, and vines, where their presence was a defining element for the entire design, alongside other aspects related to the use of the space – gastronomy, culture, and social events. The project had to encompass all of this. Vendors and restaurants occupy a total of 11 containers, offering selected culinary specialties, traditional draft beer, or snacks, while the wooden platform serves as a generous terrace providing diverse seating options.
Collaboration with Suppliers
The containers are sourced from Koma Modular. The Manifesto Market Smíchov project is already a continuation of the collaboration between the studio Chybík+Krištof and this module manufacturer, which has lasted since 2011.
In the evening, the lively courtyard lights up with a series of lamps custom-made by the studio Nahaku. They are made by upcycling old prosecco barrels. The design of the lamps references the art-deco lighting inside the National House, thus connecting the interior with the new cultural space of the courtyard outside. David Karáska's design studio mmcite complemented the Manifesto Market in Smíchov with its new model of outdoor furniture.
Manifesto otherwise prides itself on its principle of being a place without logos, advertisements, and banners. Its immediately recognizable visual identity was designed by Czech graphic designer FunkFu.
All Manifesto markets, including the company's headquarters, are powered exclusively by energy from renewable sources from the Czech company Nano Energies.
Manifesto also had to be prepared for seasonal changes, and since November 2019 it has been supplemented with a canvas roof, six translucent igloos, and finally also the decorations that herald the upcoming Christmas.
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