New Czech Post Office 'Anežka' at Sněžka

… at the summit of Sněžka
It is hard to find more difficult conditions for designing a new building in the Czech Republic—extreme climatic conditions, 1st zone of the Krkonošsko-jesenická national park—but it is undoubtedly a beautiful task.

… the assignment
The limits of the new Czech post office were established by an agreement among three parties – KRNAP (land manager), Pec pod Sněžkou (owners of the Czech cottage), and Mrs. Skrbková (owner of the existing Post Office) – The object of the new post office will be located on the original foundations of the demolished Czech cottage. The existing cellar spaces of the Czech cottage, with a volume of approximately 165 m³, can be used for the construction of the post office. The maximum built-up area is 74m² of floor area, of which 12 m² will be a permanently open vestibule with information panels about the history and natural values of Sněžka. The built space will be a maximum of 460 m³, including any potential use of part of the existing cellar spaces of the demolished Czech cottage. A relatively simple program has been established – operation of the post office, permanent support for 2 crew members, the building will be equipped with a single flush toilet and a maximum of 2 sinks (1 each in the sanitary area and in the service area) and storage for goods. Sanitary facilities are intended only for staff. Upon entry, ensure a minimum refuge for mountain visitors.

… a small house
The new Czech post office is desired by clients as a small house (it has only 74m² of floor area and 346m³ of built space). Let’s say about a third of a typical family house. It also has a relatively simple program – at the post counter you can receive postcards, a stamp, and send a package (we are indeed at a regular post office, which is, however, run by the private postmaster Mrs. Skrbková from Pec pod Sněžkou). A visitor to the post office can also order from a relatively modest range of refreshments and warm up while consuming and looking around. The building must provide permanent support for 2 crew members, social facilities, and storage for goods. The entrance facility must always ensure a minimum refuge for mountain visitors.

… what kind of house is it supposed to be?
The solution for operation is not so complicated. What is really difficult is deciding what kind of house it is supposed to be and how it should look? In searching for an answer, we remembered both old photographs of the summit of Sněžka and the tattered images of the bases of Captain Scott, Amundsen, and other polar explorers. Yes, whoever reaches the summit of Sněžka is, in a way, on an "expedition," and should find an "expedition house."

… building system
How to build in a national park where every human intervention is, in fact, out of place – our answer is clear – let’s design the house as a sensible wooden construction set that is lightweight, can be relatively easily produced, transported, assembled, modified, and also, which is essential, quickly dismantled. Human work is merely a temporary "visitor" in nature and strives to invoke only minimal interventions in natural systems during its creation, duration, and decay.

… shape of the building
The shape of the building has evolved over a longer period. During extremely strong winds, water is often driven upward along the sloping roof, thus eliminating the main physical reason for a sloping roof. Our decision to opt for a flat roof has very rational reasons. On a flat roof, strong winds blow away snow without obstacles. This is important for a location with extreme snow accumulation. Another decision – to build the house on free supports – and situating the floor above the terrain level prevents the formation of snowdrifts on the windward side of the building. For example, in Greenland, with a climate similar to that at the summit of Sněžka, this is commonly used. The choice of the floor plan shape – a relatively slender rectangle of 3.6 x 17m also has its reasons – a width of about 3.6m (3 modules of 1.2m) is suitable for seating guests, with sufficient communication space left in the middle on both sides. Moreover, let’s consider the fact that prevailing westerly winds dominate the summit, making it logical to orient the longer axis "with the wind." The large area of the facade facing south also plays a role, allowing for passive use of solar radiation.

… observation terrace
The flat roof of the building allows for a viewing terrace to be placed on it. This decision also has its reasons. In an "expedition" house, one would probably expect it to "rise" into service – allowing for the placement of a number of instruments, offering, for example, new views from Sněžka (many were surprised at how different the view from the ground is compared to the view from the terrace 6m higher – we tested this during the demolition of the old Czech cottage). Thus, the building falls into the category of objects with scientific use, such as meteorological stations, thereby confirming its "factual" expression. It is worth noting that the Prussian meteorological station at the summit of Sněžka had its unique charm.

… envelope of the building
In designing the building's envelope, we chose a variable four-layer system: 1. load-bearing wooden frames of the SSBS system 2. double-glazing facade installed in the frame structure of the SSBS 3. external system of adjustable very sturdy blinds 4. internal insulating sandwich panels, divided and tilted into the fields of the load-bearing frame. This system is very variable. It can create an open "transparent" house in one position to a completely closed "box" for the winter storm and icing periods. The variability expressed in the number of combinations of the degree of closure of individual fields reaches into the millions. This enormous number speaks of a system that seeks to adapt in its flexibility to nature.

… variant Anežka
After about eighteen months of work and processing a truly large series of variants, at the end of February 2005, we presented five variants of our new Czech post office solution. We named them after female names starting with A, with our original design from early summer 2004 being named Alfa.

Perhaps the most appealing variant to us is "Anežka." This solution makes sense! The simple post office space, completely freed from service functions, hovers on subtle supports above the summit terrace. Its clean geometry has strength in its succinctness – five squares form a rectangle. Four constitute the service area, the fifth is used for the entrance vestibule, which is located in the only logical place – on the western windward side – where there can be no snowdrifts. A gentle cylindrical tower with a circular staircase leads to the terrace, it is entirely voluminous and without glazing. In the space of the original cellar of the Czech cottage beneath the terrace is a small service module. Here is the place for accommodation of the staff, social facilities, and a concentrated storage block. The location of these parts at the lower level has its clear logic, and we can imagine how much the staff will appreciate a restful sleep in a sheltered space without the shocks and roar of strong storms.

… a house in extreme conditions
Is it possible to realize a "kind" house in extreme conditions? Definitely yes! It must be truly kind, primarily to nature. Of course, also to visitors, users, and perhaps it could be said even to the feelings that Czechs have for their highest mountain. The use of lightweight variable wooden modular constructions combined with multi-layered envelope systems brings a shift in the concept of the building. It can be perceived as a closer connection to nature, its variability, and naturalness. The construction of the new post office does not resist extreme conditions – quite the opposite – it fully accepts them, drawing energy from overcoming them and perhaps even gaining the ability to transmit this strength onward. Perhaps it carries a clear message about the relationship of modern Czech society to nature, based on understanding and humble receptiveness.