It is a building located in the tiny village of Nesvačilce near Brno in the Czech Republic. The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows was built of wood and set on a stone plinth. The interior is modest, with skylights as the only “decoration” to create the right atmosphere.
The chapel was designed by architect Jan Říčný. It is a modern interpretation of the chapel, the construction of which was requested by the inhabitants for many years. There was previously no church in the village, and parishioners had to use the church located in the neighbouring village.
As early as 2000, when the local authorities adopted a new zoning plan, it was decided to build a chapel on a hill at the southern end of the village. The problem was money; the faithful had to raise the funds for the construction themselves. Initially, the budget was estimated at 15 million Czech crowns.
The design of the chapel was drawn up as early as 2012, but construction was only completed this year. The chapel was consecrated on 8 May 2024 by Brno Bishop Pavel Konzbul.
The chapel was built on a circular plan on a slight rise. The architect deliberately chose wood and stone, seeing this choice as a visual asset. The building was designed to add variety to the village landscape. Setting the structure on an elevation has an additional aspect – the chapel is visible from afar and appears as a beacon, a landmark in space.
The locals chose Our Lady of Sorrows as their patron saint, a symbol of the suffering she endured. Her story and emotions are reflected in the space. The lower part, the rune stones, represent us, disobedient, stubborn and not very plastic humanity. The beams placed inside are directed upwards from these stones, to the sky, connecting us to God. The delicate wooden structure, interspersed with small windows, allows the sun’s rays to penetrate the interior, describes the architect.
The chapel is 147 square metres in size. Its design is inspired by medieval architecture. The floor is made of clay and the plinth walls are made of stone. The upper part is made of thousands of wooden elements, which have been traditionally connected by pegs and wedges. The aforementioned fifteen-metre-long beams loosely intersect the space and are topped by a steel turret.
A doorway leads into the chapel, which is five metres high. While inside, it is difficult to estimate the time when the chapel was built. This is a deliberate effort by the architect, who wanted to create neither a modern building nor a historicising form. The austere interior is devoid of paintings or decorations. Only the play of light and the smell of wood decorate the interior.
design: RCNKSK – Jan Říčný, www.rcnksk.com
photographs: Ondřej Bouška, www.ondrejbouska.com
Also read: sacred architecture | Czech Republic | Minimalism | Wood | Stone | whiteMAD on Instagram
