CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL IN POHOŘÍ

The restoration of a pilgrimage church as a reminder of a time that must not be forgotten. A traditional timber roof, light streaming between ridges and a friendly open interior make the church a symbol of faith and craftsmanship alike.

Project year: 2016 (Diploma thesis by Jan)

Principal architect Jan Kurz

Completion year: 20–

Project year: 2016 (Diploma thesis by Jan)
Principal architect Jan Kurz
Completion year: 20–

Once a pilgrimage site and a landmark visible from afar, today it hides behind the dense leaves of a maple alley, humbly pleading for renewal. Yet again, it draws both believers and nonbelievers. Our lost church had to live through its entire story for us to truly appreciate it. There would never have been so much written and spoken about a church that merely survived a few decades and was then quietly restored just through the repair of its roof and plaster. The rhythm of the landscape and its places differs from our human one. It is often incomprehensible, immeasurable, and above all, unpredictable. If we were to restore it to its original state, we would erase the story of recent times, a story that must not be forgotten. Many other chapels and churches drift through time unchanged, untouched. But ours seeks to remain a reminder of times long gone, of the present, and perhaps of those still to come. It aspires to be a celebration of craft and a reflection of its home. That is why its designed structure is traditional, built from solid, unglued elements. 

The components are sized so that they can be handled by a single person, while being economically accessible at the same time. Its proportions arise from a simple intention – it longs to be seen, yet remain humble and generous. Two ridges symbolize two nations joined by shared faith. From the outside, the roof appears closed, but inside, light seeps in through the valley between the ridges – the first and last sunlight of the village. The lime-painted boarding on the roof truss visually amplifies the space. The structural system is based on the principle of an arched framework, which is formed here by one-inch planks of varying lengths, joined where needed by threaded rods. The wooden block paving may surprise at first, but its meaning is simple: it will bear the imprints of shoes more quickly than stone, so that in a few decades we may read their traces like a book. Moreover, the wooden floor is warm, quiet and soothing. The aim of the design is not a distant or rigid church, but one that feels kind and open. One of its main features is the western gate, which is opened on feast days as a reminder that this church once stood open to everyone, without exception.

Materials 

Wood  •   Stone  •  Brick  •  Block paving

Materials 

• Wood
• Stone
• Brick
• Block paving

All work © KURZ architects