ZAHRÁDKY CASTLE COMPETITION

Project idea

Plants as the Vein: Natural Symbiosis
The concept of "integrating plants throughout the design" is central. Inside the castle, public areas incorporate vertical greening, sky gardens, and indoor green landscape belts to introduce nature into the architecture, creating an atmosphere where "buildings grow within nature." Rooms are equipped with small greenery to enhance living comfort. The castle park centers on plant landscapes, scientifically planning plant communities to create seasonal scenery, allowing nature and architecture to permeate and symbiose.

Project description

Overall Design Statement for the Reconstruction of Zahrádky Castle and Its Surrounding Areas in the Czech Republic：
The Zahrádky Castle, which carried unique cultural memories of the Czech Republic, was severely damaged by a fire in 2003. This reconstruction design focuses on the castle building, the large castle park (including the orangery, greenhouse, and castle steward's house), and the farmhouses in front of the main castle gate. Guided by the principles of "heritage preservation, symbiosis, and connectivity," the design retains historical facades while reshaping modern functions and spatial vitality.

Technical information

In the castle renovation project, we have reshaped the spatial rhythm with ingenious structural innovation. The thick historical partition walls were dismantled and replaced by a simple yet sturdy column system, preserving the castle's majestic architectural texture while allowing the space to breathe. A hollow design is innovatively introduced, enabling natural light to penetrate through the multi-storey high-rise areas, flowing between the marble floors and domes. The interweaving of light and shadow outlines a three-dimensional artistic picture. Meanwhile, plant landscapes are carefully arranged: vines wind along the columns, green walls soften the tough stone outlines, and the water features in the atrium are paired with aquatic plants, subtly integrating natural vitality into the historical building. Thus, this ancient castle is rejuvenated under modern design concepts, becoming an artistic space where historical heritage and natural aesthetics perfectly converge.

Documentation

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