The Stork Nest Farm in Olbramovice, Czech Republic by SGL Projekt s.r.o.

Article source: SGL Projekt s.r.o.

In 2006 we were asked to design the revitalization of a farmstead for congress, company presentation, holding of corporate events and leisure activities. For this purpose our client bought 19^th century farmstead located at a large pound. The farmstead included a distillery with it’s chimney. From 1926 there have lived storks on the chimney. It became the main reason for buying this farm.

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

• Architect: SGL Projekt s.r.o.
• Name of Project: The Stork Nest Farm
• Location: Dvůr Semtín, Olbramovice, Czech Republic
• Client / Developer: Farma Čapí hnízdo, a.s.
• International award: World Architecture Festival 2011, Barcelona – Shortlisted
• Category: Sports (Sports hall)

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

• GPS: 49°41’04.71″N, 14°39’05.51″E
• Date completed: 03/2010
• Civil Engineer: Ing. Jiří Starý, Starý a partner s.r.o.
• Environmental Engineer: Ing. Miroslav Kučera
• Lighting Consultant: Ing. Michal Kozak, Etna Guzzini s.r.o.
• Structural Engineer: Němec Polák s.r.o.
• General supplier: BAK a.s.
• Author of photos: Farma Čapí hnízdo a.s., Jaroslav Malý, SGL Projekt

Overview (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

The farm is located 50 kilometers to the south from Prague. The surrounding landscape reminds Piedmont area with large forest complexes, vast meadows, wetlands and a great network of ponds. Since the end of the 80’s from the 20^th century the farm has been abandoned and the buildings quickly decayed.

The only solitary residents who remained were the storks on the distillery’s chimney. The Stork’s Nest became a symbol for us, which affected the conception of the riding arena and thinking about all the objects of this project.

Aerial view (Images Courtesy Farma Čapí hnízdo a.s.)

It wasn’t a formal symbol for us. We were fascinated by stork’s fidelity. Almost 90 years generations of storks are returning from Africa to the farm and we tried to design the farm in order to bring back people here again.

These birds also fascinated us by their endurance in building their nest. After decades They construct still the same, no doubt about the shape and material, still in the same place and with no desire for originality, which bother all architects and builders nowadays. Storks don‘t look for exceptional places. They don‘t want to distinguish themselves and compete with others. Storks became a symbol for us in the approach to construction. Our design of the farm was led in humility to these bird architects.

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

The old farmstead consisted of an enclosed yard of an almost square ground plan and addition of a piggery. The yard contained two dwelling houses, a distillery, a barn and a stable. Valuable objects were preserved and buildings of poor quality we demolished and replaced by new ones.

The residential yard consist of a reception, a hotel, conference hall, restaurant, pool and bowling and house with private garden for VIP guests. Beside this residential yard we have built another new yard for the animals.

Interior view (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

In this section we have placed a circular riding arena in the shape of a stork nest. It has an external diameter of 34 meters and height of 12,5 meters. The building is used for riding or for a variety of presentations, cultural and social events. Riding arena is located near the stables, and is directly connected to restaurant. The supporting structure is made ​​of glulam timber beams. The external cladding is made of translucent polycarbonate. The oak logs, give the structure an expressive appearance and also provide shading. They were fixed to the building at the total amount of 200 tons at the length of 7, 9 and 11 meters.

At the top of the building there is a central sky-light with a diameter of 8 meters. It serves for intensive ventilation of the internal space by natural air flow. The natural ventilation of the arena provides a good climate.

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

The arena´s riding surface is made of sand with capillary irrigation for equestrian sport. It can be covered with plywood boards during other sorts of events. The riding area is surrounded by a protective barrier and a stand for approximately 200 people. There is VIP stand upstairs.

The Stork nest farm was completed in 2010. The riding arena became a landmark in the area of the farm and an element which attracts attention in wide neighborhood. Later, our firm designed the center for protection of fauna to the farm and recently a large rectangular riding arena.

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

Interior view (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

Interior view (Images Courtesy Farma Čapí hnízdo a.s.)

Interior view (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

Riding arena (Images Courtesy Jaroslav Malý and SGL Projekt)

Tags: Czech Republic, Olbramovice

Categories: Farm House, Sports Complex

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