Farm Čapí hnízdo

In 2006, we were invited to propose a reconstruction of a farm that would serve as a venue for congresses, corporate events, and last but not least, for staff training and leisure time.
Our client purchased a 19th-century farmstead with a large pond, which also housed a distillery. Since 1926, storks have been living on its chimney, which became a decisive reason for the purchase of this farmstead. The Semtín farmyard near Benešov was in a dilapidated state, but its significant spirit, with an extensive water area on the edge of the Džbány–Žebrák Nature Park, and the potential of some existing buildings predestined this project for an exceptional approach. The landscape character resembles a mountainous area with large forest complexes, complemented by extensive meadows with rich springs, thickets, wetlands, and equally significant systems of ponds.

The farmstead had been abandoned since the late 1980s, and the buildings deteriorated rapidly. The only inhabitants remaining were the storks on the distillery's chimney. The stork nest became a symbol for us, influencing the design of the riding hall and the thinking about the buildings in this complex.
For us, it was not just a formal symbol. The storks captivated us with their loyalty – for nearly 90 years, they return from Africa to this farmstead every year, and we tried to design the farmstead so that people would return here as well. These birds also fascinated us with their persistence in building nests – for centuries, they have built the same nest without doubts about its shape and material, always in the same place and without a desire for originality that all architects and builders grapple with. Storks do not seek exceptional places like humans and do not wish to stand out or compete with others. They became a symbol for us in our approach to construction. Our design for the farm therefore arose in humility towards these feathered architects.

The farm consisted of an enclosed courtyard with nearly a square layout and an attached pigsty. The courtyard contained two residential buildings, the distillery, a barn, and stables. The buildings for housing animals were demolished, and a smaller residential house was removed due to its very poor technical condition. The remaining buildings (the villa, distillery, and barn) were earmarked for reconstruction.
The design was based on the idea of creating two interconnected operations – a recreational-educational one with accommodation and an agricultural one, which can operate together or separately. The buildings were therefore conceived as closed arrangements that neighbor one another and can be easily connected or, conversely, the connection can be interrupted. The existing buildings were complemented to restore the original courtyard's shape. A new courtyard was created for the agricultural operation, leading to an educational trail where visitors can see animals raised on pastures.
Animal husbandry on the farm is not motivated by economic profit, but merely serves as a means to create a village framework for the other functions of the complex. It allows visitors to relax in close proximity to traditional domestic animals of the Czech countryside. The residential courtyard is linked to an agro-trail familiarizing visitors with agricultural cultures, and to the pond leads a fishing trail culminating in an observation building in direct contact with the dam. The cultivation of the adjacent fields of the farm is not intensive, nor is the fish farming in the pond. The latter serves only for the raising of trophy fish and recreational fishing, as well as a swimming area.
The stork nest farm is to serve both work and rest, as well as the mental and physical development of visitors. For this purpose, over 90 hectares of land are available, consisting of grasslands, sports fields, a pond, enclosures, pastures, a biotope, and a golf tee area.

Multifunctional Arena
For the needs of horse breeding and equestrian sports during the winter season, a new riding arena was designed, which is also meant for a variety of presentations, sports, and cultural events. The internal equipment of the building and its connections to the surrounding buildings are adapted to this use. The structure has a diameter of 35 meters and a height of 12.5 meters, with the equestrian area having a diameter of 24 meters.
The riding arena is located in close proximity to the main agricultural building with stables and is directly connected to the restaurant, which provides refreshments. There is also a connection to the residential courtyard, where guests are accommodated. Its appearance is meant to evoke a stork nest, as a symbol of home, safety, and security.
The base consists of a massive concrete ring. The roof is constructed with an atypical design of wooden glued trusses. Between these trusses, an outer shell made of polycarbonate translucent panels is inserted. Outdoor oak trunks give the structure its expressive appearance and also serve as shading. A total of 200 tons of trunks were attached to the structure in lengths of 4, 6, and 8 meters. To achieve the desired external shape and secure the wooden oak logs, a secondary spatial steel structure was attached to the glued trusses. A central skylight with a diameter of 8 meters serves for intensive ventilation of the internal space, which is aided by natural air flow. Fresh air inlets are located under the audience area, while air exhaust occurs around the circular ring in the roof shell. In the case of large thermal gains, fans are placed on the roof to supplement the natural ventilation.
The riding arena has a sand surface with capillary irrigation for equestrian sports, which is overlaid with plywood boards for various events. The area is surrounded by lambris and further by an audience area for approximately 200 people, with a VIP tribune located on the second floor.
The riding arena has become the dominant feature of the entire complex and an element that attracts attention in the surrounding area.

In 2011, a new riding hall and an eco-center with an exhibition