President Petr Pavel visited the construction of the church in Neratovice

President – The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, visited the construction of the new Church of the Holy Trinity and the community center of Cardinal Josef Beran in Neratovice. As the first sacred building in the Czech Republic, it will be partially 3D printed using concrete. The revolutionary 3DCP technology is being used for the construction of the church tower and the rectory. The general contractor for the project is the international construction group HSF System from the investment holding PURPOSIA Group. The design was created by architect Zdeněk Fránek. The investor is the Foundation of the Neratovice Community Center. The total costs for the rough construction are approximately CZK 204 million.

President Petr Pavel toured the under-construction church and community center during his visit, familiarizing himself with the current progress of the work and the planned use of concrete 3D printing in the construction of the church tower and rectory. “We greatly value the visit of the President of the Republic. It confirms that the construction is significant not only for Neratovice but also for the broader community. It is a project that combines architecture, faith, community life, and new construction techniques. We are very proud to be part of this project,” says Jan Hasík, CEO of the investment holding PURPOSIA Group.

Currently, the foundations of the rectory and the perimeter walls of the community hall or retaining walls are completed. A prominent feature of the entire building will be the church tower. It is being constructed using concrete 3D printing technology. Currently, testing of the printing of individual parts is underway. The aim is to verify the shape, connections of the components, surface quality, and assembly process. “The technology of concrete 3D printing opens up new possibilities for architectural expression by allowing the realization of organic and rounded shapes without compromising the strength or stability of the structures. The use of concrete as a proven building material ensures that the resulting structures are strong, durable, and safe,” describes Tomáš Kosa, CEO of the HSF System construction group.

For the application of the revolutionary Czech concrete 3D printing technology for the construction of the church, the HSF System construction group is collaborating with its subsidiary, Coral Construction Technologies, which has been focusing on the development of its own 3D printing technology for a long time. “The magic of our technology lies in the fact that we take ordinary transport concrete and, through a mixture of additives, give it shape freedom via 3D printing. This is ideal for building the church tower. We do not need to manufacture complex formwork to accurately capture the fine lines and elegance of the design,” states Tomáš Vránek, CEO of Coral Construction Technologies.

The mass of the building symbolizes the ark as the presence and mystery of God in the world, and the tower is a symbol of man, who, both as an individual and as a community, touches this mystery. The church will be dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The center will bear the name of Cardinal Josef Beran. The project in Neratovice will create a new place for worship, meetings, education, and community events. The complex will also include a community hall and facilities for the parish and the public. For instance, a climbing wall will be part of the church tower. “Every week, progress can be seen on the construction site. It is powerful for us to witness how a long-prepared intention is turning into a specific place for people. The church and community center will not only serve the parish. An open space for gathering, culture, education, and helping others is being created here. The added value of the entire project is its great variability and accessibility for the general public and community events,” adds Marek Matocha, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Neratovice Community Center Foundation.

The construction of the new church and community center addresses the long-term needs of the local community. The Neratovice parish includes 13 municipalities, and the current facilities are insufficient according to the foundation. The project thus brings new facilities to a city that was deliberately built without a church in 1957. The construction of the Church of the Holy Trinity and the community center of Cardinal Josef Beran is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2028. “The project naturally grows out of the needs of the local community and is financed by donations. The fundraising is still ongoing on the website kostelneratovice.cz,” concludes Marek Matocha.