Welcome to the Ham Factory. Yes, you read that right. The wonderful Osadní dorm, situated in Holesovice, previously was home to a ham factory. The larger of the two NYU Prague dorms, Osadní, consists of four floors of mainly music and film students. The building dates back to the 19th century but was renovated relatively recently.
Compared to LA’s Silverlake and Brooklyn’s Greenpoint (by us), Holesovice fits the semi-Millenial-raising-kids-residential-but-chic vibe. Stay tuned for our upcoming article, A Tour of Osadní’s Neighborhood, for more information.
{ What does the dorm come with? }
If you’ve felt like your college experience has been lacking at NYU, don’t worry, dorm life is definitely alive here. And you’ll hear it! Though the walls do not tend to be thin, the doors and gate sure know how to slam.
Each room I’ve been in has a totally different layout, depending on the number of people living there. Ranging from singles, doubles, triples, and quads, the rooms are apartment suite style and include a fully equipped IKEA (like) kitchen and bathroom. Osadní provides bedding and towels, but we recommend bringing your own if that’s your vibe. A small white towel may not cut it, but you’ll definitely be able to survive the sheets they give you.
If you came to Prague hoping to experience some amazing European cuisine, don’t worry, you’ll absolutely taste the difference here. Not being supplied by NYU, it took my roommate and me over two weeks to buy salt. Without even getting into the wide variety of food that Central Europe has to offer, make sure you go to Albert, a local supermarket, on your first day to get seasonings.
Fair warning, though, not every room is created equal. To be overdramatic, Osadní likes to test your Darwinism. I’ve mastered the art of cutting paper, yarn, and anything you can think of without having been supplied with scissors by management (this is only a “me” problem— most rooms come with scissors). It is almost certain that you will have some necessary items missing, but if you’re like me and can’t be bothered to get your own, you’ll learn to adapt pretty easily.
{ What is the fourth floor? What does it have? Amenities? }
On the fourth floor, you’ll find the dorm’s common spaces. Perhaps the most popular of the amenities is the ping pong table. Two sunrooms with seating and a hammock are great spots to chill. The study room has a large table to study in, desktop macs, and a printer.
The fourth floor is also where our washers and dryers are located. These are free to use, but since Central Europe is in an energy crisis, we recommend skipping the tumble drying and instead air dry your clothes with the drying racks in your rooms.
We asked our local resident of room [REDACTED] on her thoughts on the fourth floor:
“I’ve never had a more pleasurable experience than meeting so many random people on the fourth floor at the strangest hours. One time I was there until 1:30, and the number of people I’ve met, it’s like a comfort, like my home.”
{ Music Facilities }
Osadní is recommended for Tisch students for its music facilities. On the fourth floor, you’ll find two music practice rooms equipped with guitars and a piano each. The brick cellar basement has a really cool space with a drum kit, guitars, keyboards, and other music equipment. There is also a recording studio all students have access to, which is also located in the Ham Factory complex.
{ What does the Staff do? }
Sitting from an unwavering position, the guard plays a vital role in our lives at Osadní. Whether it’s 4 p.m. coming back from class or 4 a.m. Whether you forgot your room keys and your roommates aren’t home at 4 p.m., or you find yourself without them at 4 a.m., the guard’s got you. The Osadní staff are here to help you no matter the hour. At least one RA is on call 24/7, whether that means you bug them about your love life or you can’t figure out the ATM at the bank.
Unfortunately, the Czech Republic doesn’t have Amazon. Luckily, we do have prime delivery. Need a blanket? Don’t worry, because within minutes of you texting your RA, it will already be delivered to your kitchen table without you even noticing. RA’s are like your friends and older siblings, guiding you through Prague. They’re always available to answer any questions you may have and give you suggestions for restaurants or things to do around Prague.
To learn more about Osadní, check out our dorm tour here.
By Savannah Prager and Elle Liu