Baroque brewery of Vilémov

FAST VUT - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Department of Architecture

Project idea

The main idea is to bring the life back to the little town of Vilémov in Czech countryside by transforming unused baroque granary located on the main square. My intention was to place a brewery and a beer house to the granary and connect its backyard to the main square to create traditional Czech meeting place. In order to include both a beer house and a brewery, I designed an extension that makes a contrast to the granary but does not outshine it.

Project description

Vilémov is a picturesque historical town with about 1000 population located in the middle of Czech Republic in the region which can be described as an inner periphery. The town is in danger with the departure of young people for work and culture. My purpose was to solve the situation.

The baroque granary is located next to the city hall and forms an important part of Vilémov‘s square appearance. It was established probably in 18th century, however the first written mention comes from year 1861. The part of farmyard of granary was separated to the town hall by a gate at that time. Later, in the second half of 20th century, the granary went through insensitive reconstruction, which removed many baroque elements including details of the façade and roof shape. Also, an extension of town hall was built instead of the gate. At the beginning of millennia, farmyard was reduced and the buildings by the granary were demolished, the granary has no use since.

The main task was to find a use for the granary and revitalise it. My main idea was to demolish the extension of town hall, restore the baroque look of the main square and make a new public space in the backyard of the granary. The granary would get a new building programme – a brewery and a beer house, and a new extension to fulfil the programme. Family centre, which used to be in the demolished extension of town hall, would get a new single storey building in the backyard connected with a new flexible administrative building, which would provide jobs for locals.

The granary would have baroque details and proportions restored. In the interior, middle floor would be dismantled because of the insufficient headroom. The new hall space would be divided in the middle by glass wall into the part of beer house and the part of cold technologies of beer production. The both parts visually interact to each other. There would be some inserted constructions for toilets and office, the important design feature is at hanging gallery. The Interior would correspond to an industrial style supported by the exposed lager tanks.

The new single storey extension alongside the granary would be the place for hot technologies of beer brewing. It is designed to contrast to old granary, but not outshine it, with a minimalistic style. The transparent brewing stand is the main attraction that interacts with public space. It is possible to brew about 500 hl of beer per year in this facility. The extension is connected to granary by minimalistic neck, where the main entrance is placed.

Technical information

Perimeter walls of the granary are made of historical mixed masonry and is in good condition. Humidity problem would be fixed by restoring floor ventilation. The insulation would be placed in new floor and in the ceiling of the hall space. Attic would have no use because of insufficient headspace. The middle floor would be dismantled with its supporting construction to get enough space. Inserted construction for toilets would be made of wooden sandwich, office and gallery would be made of steel profiles. Lime plaster would be used as a surface finish and lime-based stucco for restoring facade details such as chambranles.

The neck would be made of steel profiles and systemic glass wall. It needs to have a dilatation from granary and extension. The extension would be monolithic concrete construction cast in insulation formwork with an exposed concrete surface finish. The roof is flat with an inner drainage.