In the Czech village of Čečelice, located between Mělník and Kostelec nad Labem, a new chapel has been erected at the crossroads of old roads. It is not only an architectural structure, but also a symbol of the spiritual memory of the place. Its creation is a reminder of the former chapel demolished in the 1960s, and its form is reminiscent of both traditional chapels of the region and stone signposts lost in the landscape.
Less is more
The new chapel does not dominate the space – it is legible, deliberately restrained. Its shape follows the old road layout. The minimalist white shell and softly contoured interior create a place of concentration, not display. Mary does not show herself immediately; one has to seek her out, go deeper, let oneself be guided by light and shadow. The design gives visitors three views of the statue: the girl, the mother and the saint. They all meet in one composition, in one figure hidden ‘inside’, like a mother cuddling her child. The intimacy of this gesture is emphasised by the fact that the statue has been placed deep inside; she does not put herself on display, but waits for an account. It is an invitation to discover her.
The sculpturally shaped vault is made of fibreglass laid on a special polystyrene format, and the whole is topped with metal moulding. The shrine’s roof is made up of sandstone slabs, firmly set on a sheet metal substructure. The design, although based on innovative solutions, remained deeply rooted in local materials and history – even the idea of using fibreglass referred to old industrial traditions in nearby Neratovice.
The finial is formed by sandstone slabs set on a sheet metal substructure, which ensures stability and longevity. The statue of the Virgin Mary was made using 3D printing technology – not as a new artistic experiment, but as a consciously chosen, tried-and-tested model that fits in with local tradition. The whole thing is like a road sign from before the neon age: simple, clear, uncluttered.
The community builds
The most important tool for this realisation was the hands of the residents. It was they who erected the chapel with a joint effort, turning the project into an experience of neighbourly cooperation and a gesture of reconnection. The surroundings at the site were only partially tidied up – the municipality plans to restore the historic path, so the landscape will change with the shrine.
design: Ing. Martin Junek, Bc. Adam Cigler
collaboration: Ing. arch. Lucia Chotěborová
photography: Tomáš Slavík
Read also: Czech Republic | Minimalism | Detail | sacred architecture | whiteMAD on Instagram
