Ještěd in a cage 10 - 3rd place

The municipality of Rádlo is located in close proximity to the town of Jablonec nad Nisou, as well as in immediate proximity to the R35 expressway. However, these facts do not play a significant role due to the specific topography within the village itself, making the municipality an attractive place currently experiencing a large influx of new residents. This brings many challenges (pressure for extensive growth) as well as opportunities.
The assignment of the bachelor's thesis focuses on a part of the village located in the imaginary center, along the main road. The goal of the task is to propose the construction of new buildings serving for the expanding local community, as well as the cultivation of public spaces in this area. In general terms, the aim is to seek a way of building in such strong places. The questions of building placement, urbanism, construction, choice of materials, and forms become absolutely crucial in these areas, as their urban and architectural interpretation will undoubtedly significantly impact the character of the village.

Rádlo is a linear village rising along the hill of Císařský kámen. A main road meanders through the village, but if you pay close attention, you will find that a direct narrow pedestrian path runs through the entire village, intersecting the meandering main road at times, and at other times mirroring its course.
At the southern densifying end of the village, in the original core, there is a square with a church, while new constructions are spreading at the northern end.
The housing in Rádlo is traditionally mountainous, with predominantly gabled-roof houses, made of stone, with wooden additions. The main construction in Rádlo dates from 1880 to 1950.
The plot I selected is situated in the imaginary center of the village, connecting the northern new constructions with the original core on the southern side. It is a northern slope, surrounded on all sides by local small pathways. The plot measures approximately 180 x 100 m. The elevation reaches about 10 m.

Small municipalities function thanks to the individuals who spend their weekdays in the area. Most of those working in Rádlo commute daily to larger neighboring towns. Only small children, retirees, and mothers on maternity leave remain here.
In the imaginary center between the old and new constructions, I create a new public space defined by three buildings: a day center for retirees, a children's group (an alternative to a traditional kindergarten), and a hall for the public.
The proposed buildings connect with the character of the village's traditional historical construction, where the stone part of the building constitutes its center and core. The proposed structure follows this principle, shifting the central part into a linear form, to which other necessary spaces, the construction of which is usually wooden, connect. Therefore, the house is still traditional but simultaneously modern. Access is through a solid concrete service block with an entrance hall, with spaces for amenities, toilets, and technical rooms arranged linearly.
The concept of a single space is derived from the history of living in this region—everything took place in one room—kitchen, seating, dining room, workspace... The proposed single-space house has a generous height in the social area and is modest to ascetic in its overall concept.
In the local folk architecture, the house is aligned parallel to the road. It has a gabled roof and a rectangular plan. Entrance is from the center of the longer side.
The functions of the houses are currently fixed, based on the present needs of the municipality; however, the form of the house does not prevent subsequent changes in usage. The square defined by the aforementioned three buildings, a tree providing shade, an existing pump, and the road is an integral part of the overall design. This place should be understood as an additional residential space where all functions proposed in the surrounding houses intertwine.

The proposed functions stem from the municipality's current needs, as its population increases each year. I propose a day center for retirees, a space where retirees can gather, organize various groups, socialize, and make friends. Currently, there are about 150 people over 60 years old in Rádlo. As another function, I propose a so-called children's group. This is a newly permitted institution that allows children to share time together during the day, without the need for the hygiene, safety, and other conditions that must be met in kindergartens. The building that houses the children's group has a dining hall on the second floor, which not only provides space for meals for both children and retirees but also aligns with the current so-called Dutch trend where retirees spend their free time with small children. Additionally, this room has a table with internet access and a reading area, a small space for sitting.
To the east of the processed plot, there is a public hall that functions as a café during the day and as a place for social entertainment in the evening. It opens to the adjacent orchard, allowing visitors to choose whether they want to sit outside or inside.
Lastly, there is a public cider press on the plot. This is a space that is freely accessible to the public and belongs to the adjacent orchard.