Family Chapel

Chapels, churches, and other sacred buildings represent a completely specific type of structure in architecture. These temples of the Christian faith were among the most significant representatives of major architectural styles and embodied the cultural development of (European) civilization. However, how should we deal with their designs in the present day? Can traditional typology be expressed in a contemporary way? This task was undertaken by the Prague-based studio OTA atelier, which designed a family chapel for a private investor in the small village of Sedlčany. The architects started from the archetypal form of a chapel but processed it in a purely contemporary manner. The body of the chapel consists of rough concrete blocks, both in the exterior and interior, which were produced on-site by workers. Local craftsmen contributed to the chapel's furnishings.
An unusual and sensitive assignment. This is how our work on the design of a private chapel began, conceived for the family and closest friends of the investor. The chapel stands on private land, and from the beginning, the builder was clear about its placement among the mature deciduous oaks. It is oriented along the east-west axis, with its entrance facing the village. The shaping of the building draws from the ideas that initiated its creation. The investor grew up in Greece, and the basic archetype with a bell tower in the facade was familiar to him. We supplemented this model with approaches from the Czech environment.
The chapel balances between tradition and contemporary construction principles. We incorporated a belt of windows above the side walls into the simple mass, where we would traditionally form a cornice. Similarly, we sought balance in materials. The slate roof covering, granite surrounds, and beam trusses were complemented by concrete blocks that were manually made on-site, directly in the chapel's module. The blocks, measuring 80x40x10 cm, are wider at the longer sides towards the base, significantly defining the individual layers. This creates a characteristic appearance of the masonry and serves as the main decorative element of the building.
Inside, the chapel is again completely simple. The basic materials are only complemented by icons from the family's travels and furnishings made by local craftsmen.