CHURCH

simplicity • balance • energy 

The suggestive atmosphere emanates from all sides of this originally Baroque church of St. Nicholas. Its history dates back to 1495, but it acquired its current architectural form at the end of the 18th century. Its current state is deplorable and as part of the reconstruction it was necessary to create a proposal for an appropriate interior.

From the very beginning, we wanted to encourage this derelict sacral interior to a higher level and create a space that combines simplicity with the purity of high-quality materials. Slightly non-traditional forms revive the dull experienced dogmas of church morphology. Solid wood forms the structure of the roof and the original frescoes are left on the walls. The furniture is custom made and combines white lacquered metal and the textures of natural material.
To look at the church as a multifunctional object was crucial for the composition of the interior. Inner space must suit both purposes related to the normal operation of the church, as well as various events like weddings, baptisms, Christmas concerts and openings of local artists. Especially in the field of art, this interior offers a wide range of uses, thanks to a gallery with a variable exhibition system located on the second floor. This gallery is firmly anchored to a finely acting supporting metal structure that accurately copies the rest of the original columns. These columns were left in their current state and just slightly repaired to prevent further collapse. It serves as an exemplary and dignified reference to the history of the church and its neglected appearance before reconstruction.

location: parish church St. Nicolas, Petrovice, Czech Republic.

in collaboration with: Karolína Vorlíková