Excerpt: Biotope at Honětice, a refurbishment project by Prokš Přikryl architekti, features the transformation of a former agricultural collective farm into guest facilities. The design preserves the old reinforced-concrete prefab structure with its ornamental ribbed ceiling, transforming it into a space for refreshments, sports equipment rental, and sanitary facilities, with large wooden gates allowing easy access to all sides.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] The guest facilities for this biotope, a man-made swimming pool featuring natural water-cleaning technology, uses the original building of a former agricultural collective farm. The facilities have been built into former garages once used to house agricultural machinery.
The architects kept the old reinforced-concrete prefab structure with its ornamental ribbed ceiling, while the area between the columns now serves as a space for refreshments, sports equipment rental, and sanitary facilities. The whole structure can be easily opened to all sides thanks to large wooden gates embedded into the support modules. When the gates are shut, the façade still works as a semi-permeable filter between the interior and exterior.
For the masonry they recycled the old bricks that were used to build the original garages back in 1962. All bricks were made in local brickyards and despite their renown, their manufacture has ceased to exist. Wash troughs, showers and lavatories are from stainless steel, installations are visible, and the space is illuminated by diffused light reflecting off the ceiling. Ventilation is natural.
The Honětice farmstead has always been a part of the nearby castle in Zdislavice. After WWII, the estate was nationalized and the layout of the former courtyard was altered. Two main barns were demolished and garages were attached. After years of falling into disrepair, this farm was left in a desolate state.
For the past five years the reconstruction of the whole complex and its transformation into a new agro-tourism site has been carried out. While it was impossible to restore the original agricultural function of the farmstead, it is possible to revive its social importance. For centuries it played an essential role for the locals and the village.
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