Chapel of Our Lady of the Sands
The village of Čečelice is situated in a picturesque landscape between Mělník, Brandýs nad Labem–Stará Boleslav, and Kostelec nad Labem. Its historical origins are evidenced by a number of preserved monuments, among which stands out the Church of St. Haavel with a Romanesque core dating back to the 12th century. The surrounding landscape is deeply shaped by historical settlement and human activity, whose traces and signs we can call the memory of the landscape.
One of the significant points of this memory was the chapel of Our Lady at Na Pískách, which stood at the crossroads of paths leading to Čečelice. The chapel welcomed those approaching, serving as a crossroads, a spiritual stop, as well as a symbol of the connection between the village and the surrounding landscape. In the 1960s, the original structure was demolished due to a state of disrepair.
The intent of the new chapel design is to restore the memory of the landscape at this location by creating a chapel whose edges correspond to the original branching and direction of the paths. The shape, and especially the execution of the newly designed chapel, refers to the traditional execution of chapels in the area. Thanks to its shape, the newly designed chapel also slightly resembles the old signpost, which can still be seen occasionally at some paths.
Like the original chapel, the new one is also dedicated to Our Lady. Its statue is placed in the very heart of the chapel, where it is protected from the adverse influences of the surroundings. The statue is somewhat hidden in the chapel, curled up – just as a mother curls up to her baby to protect and warm it. Passersby must find their way to it, as they will not notice it at first glance. Similarly, one must find their way to faith, to spirit, to oneself. We also offer three different perspectives on Our Lady – from different sides: as a maiden, as a mother, and as a saint. These perspectives then converge in one – in one Our Lady at Na Pískách.
Technical Solution
The Chapel of Our Lady at Na Pískách in Čečelice is a small, modest structure, embodying humility. In its design, we started from the conviction that this is how it should be. Unpretentious, subtle, not lured by temptations and superficial signs. However, obvious, solid, and distinctly present in the landscape. And within itself offering true value, just as we ourselves ultimately evaluate or appreciate others more for their inner worth than for their facade.
We tailored the simple material solution accordingly. The chapel is built from solid fired bricks, which were used secondarily, salvaged from buildings that had been demolished in the village, and the locals stored the bricks for cases when they would "come in handy." The walls are coated with a standard lime-cement plaster painted white.
The vault inside the chapel was constructed in an unconventional manner due to its intentionally winding shape. First, a mold of extruded polystyrene was created, onto which a vault of fiberglass was made, and metal sheets were subsequently applied on top. The use of fiberglass was originally intended to be secondary as well. In local households, located near the former national enterprise Spolana Neratovice, one can sometimes find everything needed for the production of fiberglass, not by coincidence. However, new material was ultimately used.
The roof is made of sandstone slabs to ensure their durability and stability, with a metal roof beneath them to which the slabs are mechanically anchored.
The statue of Our Lady itself is made using 3D printing technology and is not an original design, but rather a consistently chosen established pattern.
The surrounding area has been partially landscaped, but the village intends to restore the path that previously led to the site, so the final state of the garden and landscape adjustments will be achieved gradually.
The actual construction of the chapel was carried out with the generous assistance of the citizens of the village of Čečelice, who volunteered to participate in the construction, and the very process of construction thus contributed to strengthening good neighborly relations and social cohesion.
One of the significant points of this memory was the chapel of Our Lady at Na Pískách, which stood at the crossroads of paths leading to Čečelice. The chapel welcomed those approaching, serving as a crossroads, a spiritual stop, as well as a symbol of the connection between the village and the surrounding landscape. In the 1960s, the original structure was demolished due to a state of disrepair.
The intent of the new chapel design is to restore the memory of the landscape at this location by creating a chapel whose edges correspond to the original branching and direction of the paths. The shape, and especially the execution of the newly designed chapel, refers to the traditional execution of chapels in the area. Thanks to its shape, the newly designed chapel also slightly resembles the old signpost, which can still be seen occasionally at some paths.
Like the original chapel, the new one is also dedicated to Our Lady. Its statue is placed in the very heart of the chapel, where it is protected from the adverse influences of the surroundings. The statue is somewhat hidden in the chapel, curled up – just as a mother curls up to her baby to protect and warm it. Passersby must find their way to it, as they will not notice it at first glance. Similarly, one must find their way to faith, to spirit, to oneself. We also offer three different perspectives on Our Lady – from different sides: as a maiden, as a mother, and as a saint. These perspectives then converge in one – in one Our Lady at Na Pískách.
Technical Solution
The Chapel of Our Lady at Na Pískách in Čečelice is a small, modest structure, embodying humility. In its design, we started from the conviction that this is how it should be. Unpretentious, subtle, not lured by temptations and superficial signs. However, obvious, solid, and distinctly present in the landscape. And within itself offering true value, just as we ourselves ultimately evaluate or appreciate others more for their inner worth than for their facade.
We tailored the simple material solution accordingly. The chapel is built from solid fired bricks, which were used secondarily, salvaged from buildings that had been demolished in the village, and the locals stored the bricks for cases when they would "come in handy." The walls are coated with a standard lime-cement plaster painted white.
The vault inside the chapel was constructed in an unconventional manner due to its intentionally winding shape. First, a mold of extruded polystyrene was created, onto which a vault of fiberglass was made, and metal sheets were subsequently applied on top. The use of fiberglass was originally intended to be secondary as well. In local households, located near the former national enterprise Spolana Neratovice, one can sometimes find everything needed for the production of fiberglass, not by coincidence. However, new material was ultimately used.
The roof is made of sandstone slabs to ensure their durability and stability, with a metal roof beneath them to which the slabs are mechanically anchored.
The statue of Our Lady itself is made using 3D printing technology and is not an original design, but rather a consistently chosen established pattern.
The surrounding area has been partially landscaped, but the village intends to restore the path that previously led to the site, so the final state of the garden and landscape adjustments will be achieved gradually.
The actual construction of the chapel was carried out with the generous assistance of the citizens of the village of Čečelice, who volunteered to participate in the construction, and the very process of construction thus contributed to strengthening good neighborly relations and social cohesion.
The English translation is powered by AI tool. Switch to Czech to view the original text source.
0 comments
add comment
