When the people of Paper Republic first approached me, I was curious. I had known the brand for years, but only then discovered that it was not only based in Vienna, but that every notebook is still made by hand. Jérôme, their founder, established Paper Republic in 2012, the same year I founded Atelier Karasinski. It felt like a small but meaningful coincidence that, twelve years later, we would find each other to create their very first official shop.

Until then, the brand had lived within its production and offices in the ninth district. Moving into Vienna’s first district marked an important shift. They found a space that almost feels like a chapel. A four hundred year old Baroque building with vaulted ceilings and solid wood floors. It had a sense of calm and gravity, which made it the perfect canvas for what was intended to be Paper Republic’s hopeful, long term home.

We wanted to create a space that feels as though it has always been there, while also being welcoming, playful and snug. A place where the spirit of the team and their work carries through every surface, every gesture, every sheet of paper. Natural materials were key: wood and Paper Republic’s own leather were used for bespoke furnishings, allowing the materials at the heart of the brand to shape the space itself.

A small café was added, inviting guests to stay rather than pass through. To sit, have a coffee, and perhaps begin journaling then and there. Custom hand made brass ceiling lights were designed for the space, casting a warm, gentle glow overhead. This place, much like every Paper Republic journal, is a true labour of love. Made by human hands, intended to be used, touched and returned to over time. It is a space to slow down and one to be enjoyed by all, especially those drawn to a more analogue way of living.

• Category: Retail
• Completed: 2025
• Location: Vienna, Austria

Photographs by © Ana S. Barros.