ÚBO?.34

The subject of the design is the story. The story of a family and their farm which is a silent witness to the sad events of the 20th century in Czechoslovakia. The abandoned farm in Úboč becomes the basis for the design of an educational center and exposition that introduces visitors to the fate of people from the 20th century and can thus tell its own story.

Farm No. 34, which became the subject of the design, is located in the small village named Úboč near the town of Domažlice. It belonged to the family of farmers Mastný, which have farmed here since the end of the 17th century. Farm No. 34 was one of the larger farms in this area. The family survived the war in peace, but problems began after the rise of communism. The farmer Mastný refused to hand over his holding to the state. On March 18, 1952, the whole family was kicked out of the house during their dinner and arrested for anti-state activities. Their farm was confiscated and the whole family was imprisoned for many years. To this day, only dilapidated buildings and a sad story remain after a large farm. This story is captured within the design and an approach has been chosen that preserves the authenticity of the farm as the main bearer of the memory of the place. There is a conversion of individual existing buildings, but at the same time the original appearance of the objects is preserved without significant external interventions. The existing buildings are complemented by new underground and above-ground buildings designed in simple forms that connect buildings into a single unit and increase spatial capacities. The new buildings are partially hidden under the farmyard and in the barn building, which hides the entire new building to suppress the newly designed buildings. New visible objects are located along the northern edge of the plot, complementing and enclosing the farmyard and garden. The ÚBOČ.34 project represents a place for education, meetings and holding cultural events for all generations. It includes areas for an interactive exhibition that tells the stories of the 20th century, including the fate of this farm, using audio-visual means. It contains spaces for holding lectures, workshops, and theatres. It offers the possibility of short-term accommodation for students as part of workshops. It also contains a center for recording the stories of witnesses. An orchard was restored in the garden of the farm for purposes of a meditation garden and for workshops.