In a lush vineyard beneath the Classical château Jabloňka with an unparalleled view of Prague, Marco Maio Architects have breathed new life into its romantic antiquity in the form of an idyllic patio.
Perched atop a rocky incline that overlooks the Vltava River, lies the stunning classicist château Jabloňka in Prague. Below, terraced vineyards with breathtaking views of the city sprawl across northern Prague and dominate its landscape.
During the prosperous reign of Charles IV, Prague was renowned as the “City of Wine”, due to its flourishing Vltava river basin dotted with vineyards. Similarly, Černý Kopec hill (now Jabloňka) enjoyed a bounty of grapevines until it witnessed misfortune in form of the Thirty Years’ War. As a result, it slowly transitioned from an abode for vines and became bedecked with apple trees—a transformation that yielded its current name: Jabloňka. In the 18th century, a beautiful château in classicist style was built atop Jabloňka hill and offered stunning sights of the Vltava river. Classicism embodied principles based on Classical antiquity such as form, simplicity, proportion, and refinement that evoked romanticized memories of cultures from ancient Greece to Rome.
As the centuries progressed, what had been known as Jabloňka was drastically altered. In 1830, the Northern Railway came into being and caused a rapid expansion of nearby cityscapes – replacing romanticized vineyard views with large metropolises. Fast forward to 2008; this area changed dramatically once again when the Blanka tunnel complex became part of Troja’s infrastructure – unfortunately increasing traffic congestion, sound levels, and CO2 emissions in its wake.
Once a romantic and beautiful château, Jabloňka became privately owned amidst the hustle and bustle of roads and fast-paced changes. Eager to uncover its past, the owners decided to restore its vineyards on nearby land in 2013, where they planted seedlings for their own wine production – Ryýnský Ryzlink, RyýnskyyRyzlink Červený or Tramín Červený – with limited editions available. As they cleared an old garden during this process, enchanting stone terraces emerged which inspired them to build an exquisite wine-tasting patio thereon!
Informed by history, the aim was to revive the romantic antiquity of vineyard gardens. Inspired by their southern European roots, Marco Maio Architects suggested constructing an enchanting patio that would enable patrons to escape from urban life in the bohemian capital city. Please read more below the following images shot by BoysPlayNice.
Nestled within the vineyard, a subtle and curved ruin was stumbled upon. The genius loci of this structure prompted us to create an intervention based on Fibonacci Spirals which perfectly aligned with the ruins’ existing contours. By reinforcing these spiraling walls, they created an oasis of peace; a haven from noise pollution that’s still close enough for city dwellers to appreciate its serenity. This humble space draws attention back to its own origins – the château and sloping terraced vines – allowing visitors to bask in its charm without distraction or disruption.
To capture the existing features of the site, Marco Maio Architects started with a signature element – an old oak tree and its door. This iconic symbol set a tone for our intervention, allowing visitors to remain focused on vineyards without being distracted by city views until they open up the windows. Doing so establishes their relationship with the urban landscape while hinting toward future expansion possibilities. A second Corten doorway was crafted by rotating the door feature on its axis. This new niche provides an ideal spot for stowing and serving wine as it serves as a miniature wine cellar when opened.
Illuminated by ambient lighting and encompassed with newly constructed stone walls, the Fibonacci patio seamlessly divides into two distinct areas: one is for necessary connections. At the same time, the other serves as a wine-tasting area. In this intimate section lies an inviting circular table -the ultimate hub of conversation and conviviality.
All images © by Marco Mario Architects and BoysPlayNice. Do not hesitate to find more inspiring work from all over the world in the Architecture category on WE AND THE COLOR.
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