DADA Distrikt

The former textile factory on the Svitava Canal now offers a vibrant mix of loft apartments, studios, open-plan offices, and a green rooftop garden, designed by DADA Distrikt, Kogaa, GreenVille, Acer Woodway, Partero and U1.

The factory, built in the 1920s, was used for textile and electrical machinery production, later became a vocational school, and fell into disrepair over the last 20 years. A sensitive conversion in 2019–2020 transformed it into DADA Distrikt, a residential and cultural quarter in a newly developing area of Brno. Environmental strategies were key to the design. The rooftop garden not only provides breathtaking views and relaxation spaces but also cools the building, produces fruits and vegetables, captures all rainwater, and supports bees and dragonflies.

A constructed wetland in the inner courtyard pumps greywater from the building back to the roof and then to bathrooms for flushing. Factory windows, 2.5 m high, have triple glazing and seven chambers. The golden façade is a modern take on the traditional yellow of Brno factories and reflects light to prevent overheating. In 2021, the project won the Ministry of Industry and Trade Award for sustainable conversion of industrial warehouses.

DADA Distrikt also tells a human story: three friends – a programmer, a painter, and a project manager – wanted a different way of living. They believed it was possible to renovate with respect for history and nature, create industrial lofts and studios with a rooftop garden without large capital or connections, and to build a community of supportive neighbours from the start. Visitors can learn how they achieved this, what surprised them, where they were lucky, and where they made mistakes.