White Steel Architecture Revives Abandoned Sudeten Mountain Settlement
An abandoned mountain settlement in the Sudetenland has undergone a significant architectural transformation. This initiative merges contemporary construction with a striking white design, incorporating white gravel pathways and a robust white steel roof. The historic structure has been enveloped in a resilient white steel shell, linking it to a new, radiant building through a wooden roof. Following the expulsion of German-speaking residents in 1945, the Ora Mountains were left with five hundred deserted villages and fifteen hundred abandoned farms. After seventy years of various uses, the building's structural integrity declined. The design incorporates sustainable elements to withstand harsh climates, featuring heat retention, a well with a root treatment system, and photovoltaic energy. Shared spaces are designed for simplicity and durability.
Key facts
- The architectural project is located in the Sudetenland region, specifically the Ora Mountains.
- The area was inhabited by German-speaking populations until their expulsion after 1945.
- Five hundred villages and fifteen hundred farmsteads were abandoned in the region.
- The project uses a radical white aesthetic for the complex, including white gravel and white steel.
- A durable white steel roof covers the old building and becomes a new white steel structure.
- The design contrasts historical dignity with contemporary vitality in a unified volume.
- Sustainable systems include hillside heat storage, photovoltaic power, and a root treatment plant.
- The climate features an average 4°C temperature, over 100 snow days yearly, and heavy precipitation.
Entities
Locations
- Sudetenland
- Ora Mountains
- Krkonoše Mountains
- Šumava Mountains
Sources
- ARQA —