Interwar shopfronts and shop interiors by the Jewish architect Ernst Wiesner in Brno

: This paper presents the theme of interwar shopfronts in Brno in general, focusing on the shopfronts and shop interiors designed by the Jewish architect Ernst Wiesner in the 1920s and 1930s. The examples are described and compared to each other with regard to the target customer group. The Popper shoe shop and men’s fashion shops Weiss and Lassmann targeted a luxury clientele, whereas OPP confectionery targeted the middle class. The difference is visible in both the exterior and interior. The other method tracks the chronological development of Wiesner’s style and shopfront architecture. While the architect’s style was alike in the 1920s and 1930s, the shopfront architecture changed after 1934, when doors were recessed further into the shop, and the shop window area increased. In 1935, this new trend was applied at the Lassmann fashion shop. In contrast, all OPP shops kept the same simple style during the 1920s and 1930s because visual unity is important for the company brand.