Paneolit

Paneolit is an artisan bakery and café located in Brno’s Zábrdovice district, forming the active ground-floor layer of the contemporary residential complex Pekárenský dvůr. Designed in a minimalist industrial style, it sensitively connects the area’s historic baking tradition with the modern rhythm of life in Brno’s wider city centre.

The venue stands on the site of the former Workers’ Bakeries, where bread was continuously produced from 1917 until 2016. The distinctive interior was designed by Identity Designers on commission from developer DOMOPLAN as a contemporary interpretation of the site’s original function. The main ambition was to bring baking and the sharing of bread back to the heart of everyday life. The project was completed in 2025 as part of the wider regeneration of a long-neglected industrial brownfield.

Externally, Paneolit is defined by generous glazing at ground level within a brick-clad residential building, creating a natural dialogue with Bratislavská Street and the complex’s inner park. The interior relies on elemental, “honest” materials: exposed concrete, raw brickwork, and dark surfaces that form a neutral backdrop for bread as the “main actor” of the space. The atmosphere is enriched by details celebrating craft and nature—tables made from rough, unshaped stone blocks with irregular edges, wooden stumps for seating, and archetypal motifs of dried grain that unify the entire space. The layout flows as a sequence of public and semi-public zones, seamlessly connecting visitors with residents through the lobby and residential lounge.

Today, Paneolit is a popular gastronomic destination offering specialty coffee and high-quality baked goods. Its visionary design approach has also gained professional recognition, including a nomination in the Czech Interior Award 2026. It now forms a foundational element in the evolving social identity of the lower Cejl area.