Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in Nesvačilka

For over a hundred years, the people of Nesvačilka longed for a chapel, a place of spiritual reflection, a space where they could gather as a community of faith.

Father René Strouhal, together with the parishioners, shared not only this desire but also a vision: to create a building that would not only shape the surrounding landscape but would also influence the culture, society, and heritage of this place. Little did I know at the time that this decision would set us on a twelve-year journey.

The gently undulating landscape of southern Moravia is vast, with endless fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Nesvačilka has changed little since its baroque inception, with its original layout preserving an elevated spot above the village where the settlement naturally ascends and is visible from afar. This site seemed destined to fulfill the baroque ideals of cultivating the land – a land where no forests or rocks are in sight, only soil and fields. The use of natural materials, rare in this region, such as stone and wood, holds symbolic significance: to bring faith into a parched landscape. I chose the concept of a central structure, one that would stand on the hilltop as a beacon, a point of orientation both in space and in spirit.

The locals selected Our Lady of Sorrows as the chapel’s patroness, symbolizing the suffering she endured. Her story and emotions are reflected in the space. Upon the dust and soil of this place, which form the floor, we build a temple. The lower section, made of gneiss stones, represents us – stubborn, disobedient, and difficult to mold. From these stones, seven beams rise toward the heavens, symbolizing the Seven Sorrows of Mary, connecting us to God. From the sky falls a veil of Mary’s tears, weeping over us. The delicate wooden structure, interwoven with small windows, allows sunlight to penetrate the heart of the chapel at all times. The building is encircled by a ring of the Stations of the Cross, complemented by apple trees, which form an avenue leading to the chapel, and an orchard behind it connecting to the surrounding fields.

The structure blends tradition with modernity. The construction is inspired by medieval building techniques, in dialogue with modern technologies. The floor is made of compacted, rammed earth, while the walls are made of quarried stone. The supporting lamellar structure, made from a thousand wooden elements, traditionally joined with pegs and wedges, was crafted using CNC milling. The fifteen-meter-long beams are hand-carved, freely traversing the space, crowned by a steel spire on the roof. Upon entry, you are greeted by five-meter-high doors, open into a dynamic space. The perspective of the beams and surrounding structure draws you upward. The chapel transcends time. What you experience is its expression, the play of light, acoustics, and scent. The materials are natural, tactile, and imbued with craftsmanship, aiming to lift you beyond the everyday. A key factor in material choice was the ability to age beautifully, enhancing rather than diminishing their quality over time.

The entire construction was funded by donations, which extended the building time. However, this period allowed me to critically reassess the design and carefully consider the technical and symbolic aspects, ensuring meticulous execution. Close collaboration with the builders and attention to detail led me to produce both the construction and production documentation, refining the processes in line with financial and technical constraints.

Status: Built

Location: Nesvacilka, CZ

Firm Role: Principal architect

Additional Credits: Studio: RCNKSK

Author: Jan Říčný

Co-author: Michal Říčný

Project location: Nesvačilka, 664 54 Těšany, Czech Republic

Project year: 2012

Completion year: 2024

Built-up area: 150 m²

Gross floor area: 186 m²

Usable floor area: 147 m²

Plot size: 3 750 000 m²

Dimensions: w=13 m / l=15 m / h=15 m / h=27 m [tower steeple incl.]

Client: The Roman Catholic Parish of Moutnice

Client's website: www.farnostmoutnice.cz

Project website: www.kaplenesvacilka.cz

Photographer: Ondřej Bouška, www.ondrejbouska.com, ondrej.bouska@gmail.com

Collaborators:

Lighting design and supply: Etna, www.etna.cz

Realisation of rammed earth floor construction: kolemhlíny, www.kolemhliny.cz

Realisation of rammed earth floor construction: Hanno Burtscher, www.earthman.at

Structural engineering: Vít Mlázovský, Filip Chmel

Landscape planning: Eva Wagnerová, www.evawagnerova.cz

Carpentry and stonework, EPDM: David Šebesta

CNC production: Karel Hrdlička

Metalwork and steel tower construction: Zámečnictví Fiala, www.zamecnictvifiala.cz, Kovopoláček, www.kovopolacek.cz

Substructure/foundation: Miroslav Klein

Design and production of the chancel elements: Dominik Fiala

Furniture: Pavel Abrahámek

Oak gates carpentry and steelwork: Daniel Golík and Jakub Jarcovják

Quarry stone supplier: HUTIRA, www.hutira.cz

Landscape installation: Jiří Dohnálek

Electrical installation: ELSTAR PLUS, www.elstar-plus.cz

Heating, water supply and sewerage: František Ryšavý

Photovoltaic system installation: Svoboda a syn, www.sasbrno.cz

Security systems: MAXPROGRES, www.maxprogres.cz