Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel: Blending Medieval Craftsmanship with Modern Design

Architectural studio RCNKSK has recently completed the Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in the village of Nesvačilka, Czech Republic, blending medieval construction techniques with contemporary technologies to create a unique place of worship. This new chapel, named after and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, addresses the need for a local spiritual center that the community has lacked for over a century.

Design Concept and Symbolism
RCNKSK’s design is characterized by a cylindrical structure resting on a stone plinth, crowned by a tall steel spire. The material choices were made with a focus on natural and sustainable options, reflecting the story of the Virgin Mary and giving the chapel an emotional and symbolic connection to its environment. According to Jan Říčný, co-founder of RCNKSK, the chapel aims to create a meaningful impact on the landscape, culture, and heritage of the village, with every material choice reflecting the symbolism tied to Mary’s story.

Stone Plinth and Timber Beams
The chapel’s base, a robust stone plinth, symbolises the resilience of humanity – steadfast, unyielding, and hard to shape. The stone, sourced locally, emphasizes the chapel’s connection to the land and serves as a stable foundation for the rest of the structure. Rising from this foundation are seven large, hand-hewn timber beams, which represent the seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary. These beams converge at a circular skylight, which allows natural light to enter the worship space, creating a sense of openness and emphasizing the connection between the sacred structure and the heavens above.

Timber Walls and Gridded Structure
The walls of the chapel are made of CNC-cut wooden elements, forming a cylindrical shell that contrasts with the hand-carved columns. This juxtaposition exemplifies the integration of medieval craftsmanship and modern technology, embodying the idea of timelessness within the landscape. Timber was selected not only for its aesthetic qualities but also for its renewable nature, making it a sustainable choice that aligns with the chapel’s ethos. The cylindrical wall also features a gridded timber structure, creating a pattern of rhombuses across the interior. Several of these have been cut out to form small windows, representing Mary’s tears and allowing light to filter into the chapel, filling it with a serene and reflective atmosphere.

Exterior Cladding and Landscaping
The chapel’s exterior features vertically laid wooden planks, which will weather naturally over time, creating a dynamic visual evolution that reflects the passage of time and enhances the building’s integration into its natural surroundings. This weathering process is an intentional design feature, emphasizing the natural lifecycle of the materials used. The seven-metre-tall entrance door punctuates the stone base, inviting worshippers into the space. Around the chapel, paths are bordered by apple trees, which will grow into avenues connecting the building to the village and the surrounding fields, further rooting the chapel into its environment.

Sustainability and Material Innovation
The use of natural materials such as stone and timber is central to the chapel’s design, emphasizing sustainability and harmony with the natural landscape. Timber, both hand-hewn and CNC-cut, combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary precision, demonstrating how age-old materials can be used in innovative ways. The locally sourced stone and sustainably harvested wood reduce the building’s environmental impact, showcasing the potential for using regionally inspired materials in environmentally conscious construction.

RCNKSK’s Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel stands as a testament to the merging of traditional building wisdom with modern techniques, resulting in a structure that is not only visually striking but also deeply symbolic. It offers an inspiring example for architects and designers interested in material innovation, particularly in the context of sustainability, regional materials, and cultural heritage.

Source: Dezeen
Photos: Ondřej Bouška