Zubrnice Open-Air Museum - Village Square Buildings Revitalization and Restoration

Surrounded by emptiness. And even emptier itself. Once a breathing centre of the village, where people gathered, where processions, weddings, and funerals passed through. Today, however, it evokes rather a sense of bleak despair. And yet, it was this place that led to the heritage protection of the centre of Zubrnice. The village square, together with its farmsteads, church, and school forms a complex that documents the way of life of the German population whose livelihood depended on hop growing and fruit farming. During the twentieth century interventions disrupting the original building composition were made in the sake of social progress and modernization. As a result of these alterations, the village square became a restless space opened up towards an road junction. The aim of this proposal is to transform the village square into a pleasant public space not only for museum visitors, but also for local residents. Furthermore, the project focuses on the restoration of the Říhovna and U Petrů farmsteads as well as their integration into both the village square and the open-air museum. Another point of interest is the incorporation of the Jednota store into the village square. Last but not least, the proposal introduces changes in the wider surroundings of the open-air museum, specifically the redesign of the parking area and its connection to the museum grounds. The individual buildings take over some of the functions currently provided by the open-air museum while introducing new ones. The Říhovna farmstead serves as a visitor centre and acts as the first point of contact between visitors and the museum. The U Petrů farmstead functions as an educational centre with a capacity of twenty people and takes over the accommodation function of the museum. The Jednota building partially regains its original retail function; however, it now primarily serves as a café.