Completion of the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Czech Republic

A new chapel in the Czech region of South Moravia is creating a striking new focal point for the community. Its design grace and elegance are paired with modern wooden architecture, robust construction and a high level of social commitment.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

Explore the new Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Designed by Jan Říčný and Michal Říčný of Studio RCNKSK, Our Lady of Sorrows in Nesvačilka is a religious structure that rises above the gently rolling landscape on the edge of the village and is surrounded by new vegetation that has not yet been planted. The community had apparently longed for its own worship space for more than a century, but it took the determined effort of Father René Strouhal and his parishioners to bring the building to life.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

As Jan Říčný notes, the priest’s vision was “to create a building that would not only shape the surrounding landscape, but also influence the culture, society and heritage of this place.” “I didn’t know then that these decision would prepare us for a 12-year journey,” he adds.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

For the architect, the surrounding landscape presented a challenge. Since there were no geographical features other than “soil and fields,” Říčný decided to use stone and wood for the cylindrical shape of the chapel. “Natural materials are rare in this region,” he explains, “and they have a symbolic meaning: they are intended to bring faith into a parched landscape.” Furthermore, the location on the hill underlines the image of the chapel as a lighthouse, “a landmark as well in space as well as in spirit”.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

The building layers also reflect the church’s patron saint, Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows. “On the dust and earth of this place, which form the ground, we are building a temple,” says Říčný. The lower part consists of a ring of gneiss stones, said to represent humanity and the community itself (“stubborn, disobedient and difficult to shape,” says Říčný).

The upper part of the walls are made of wood, a thousand different pieces assembled using traditional mortise and spline fastenings, yet manufactured using CNC milling techniques. The wood forms a circular shell that envelops the interior of the chapel, but also provides an inviting light in the evenings.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

Inside there are seven 15 m long hand-carved wooden beams, fixed and supported by the stone base, reaching diagonally across the interior to support the roof with its steel peak. They symbolize the Seven Sorrows of Mary and provide a literal connection between earth and heaven, with a wave of diagonally arranged windows running around the perimeter, bringing sunlight into the interior at any time of day.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

The replanting includes an apple orchard, both as an avenue leading up the hill and as an orchard connecting the chapel with the surrounding working landscape. The Stations of the Cross are also embedded in the landscape in a ring around the edge of the chapel.

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

“The perspective of the beams and the surrounding structure draws you upwards,” says the architect, “the chapel transcends time.” What you experience is its expression, the play of light, acoustics and scent. “The materials are natural, tactile and infused with craftsmanship and aim to elevate you beyond everyday life.”

(Image credit: Ondřej Bouška)

The duration of the project was largely due to the fundraising process, as the entire building was funded by donations. For Říčný, the process gave him time to refine the design. “I was able to carefully consider the technical and symbolic aspects and ensure careful execution,” he says, helping to bring this beautifully constructed structure to life for the community that had wanted it for so long.