VALLEY WALLS

Valley Walls refers to the internalizing effect of the mountain landscape, the seclusion in a valley between rock faces or even behind built-up walls. Based on the analysis of the context and the research on monasteries, Refuge in Seclusion is a retreat that does not concern escapism, rather searching and consolidating of a sense of one‘s self.

Before a commercial tourism project is implemented and marketed by any means in the abandoned barrack area by the Holy Three Wells, and the Alpine landscape is exploited and harmed only as an idyllic scenery, we find it necessary to reconsider the situation by taking a different approach. The valley head at Trafoi is a place that seems to almost be falling into oblivion. At the end of the valley, like a cul-de-sac, the path ends abruptly and no longer continues. There, at the end, where one is stopped by a fairly steep rock faces, seemingly nothing exists. Yet, it is exactly this moment of arrival at one end that becomes crucial. It is not by chance that hermits settled down here long time ago with a place of pilgrimage having evolved here later on. The essence of the secluded place is the immersive character of the landscape, being tranquil and offering firm support. The purpose of the design is to absorb and develop these characteristics. The architecture of monasteries serves as a reference. It connects and gives order to both individual and communal life. According to the French philosopher Roland Barthes, monastic architecture is a specific type of structure called “idiorhytmic cluster” that allows to be both isolated from one another and in contact with each other. Through all this, we formulate a design of a Refuge in Seclusion. The word refuge refers to shelter, protection from danger, the Latin refugium meaning taking refuge, a place to flee. This, however, is not about escapism, since in today‘s digital era even this secluded location is connected to the world. Surrounded by valley walls, it is a retreat for those who want to be staying on their own, distanced from the distractions that one has left behind. This place is intended to provide protection for an individual to simply reflect or to focus on something. It is about searching, becoming aware and recognizing one‘s own needs in order to face the everyday reality. Finally, the Refuge in Seclusion is considered as a monastery of today‘s world.\nSee the whole Valley Walls project here: https://issuu.com/zuzanatoeroekova/docs/valley_walls