丨捷克

Mendel Greehouse: Chybik + Kristof brings back to life the birthplace of modern genetics

CHYBIK + KRISTOF’s Mendel Greenhouse resurrects the historic gardens the notorious scientist conducted his pioneering experiments in the city of Brno, Czech Republic.

Mendel Greenhouse by CHYBIK + KRISTOF – Photo by monolot.

– From 1856 to 1863, Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian friar and scientist spent eight seasons in the gardens of

St. Thomas Abbey

, cultivating and breeding pea plants in his endeavour to uncover the biological mechanism through which physical traits are passed down from one generation to the next.

CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects & Urban Designers

Mendel greenhouse

brings back to life the historical building which is due to be completed in 2022, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the scientist’s birth.

Mendel Greenhouse

is located in the gardens of the 14th-century Augustinian monastery which were swept away by a storm in the 1870s, leaving to this day only its foundations. Drawing on the history, scientific legacy and archival materials of the site, and following the original ground plan, CHYBIK + KRISTOF have created a design reminiscent of the original building.

Drawings by Chybik Kristof.

The preserved foundations were integrated into the structure and left visible echoing the orientation, shape and distinct roof of the greenhouse. The trapezoidal volume is identical to the original edifice.

From using simple, cost-efficient and recyclable materials such as steel to the instalment of low-carbon cooling and heating systems by the concealed structure of heat pumps, the Greenhouse follows CHK’s dedication to creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly design.

Photo by monolot.

Architect and founder

Ondřej Chybík

The concept of the redesigned greenhouse is deeply rooted in the work of Gregor Mendel. The nodes and branches constituting the steel supportive framing are in direct dialogue with his laws of inheritance, in particular, that of hereditary segregation. Building on this notion as well as Mendel’s original drawings, the resulting, highly complex structure pays homage to his legacy

Photo by monolot.

Mendel Greenhouse is deeply connected with the surrounding gardens and looks onto the nearby statue of the scientist. The flexible design was conceived to adapt to a variety of purposes and is entirely exposed to the exterior with fully open side walls, preventing any visual barriers.

Drawing by Chybik Kristof.

A concealed system of heat pumps, shading and heating, located underground, reveal the building’s sustainable scheme, reliant on its adjustable shades and embedded blinds to ensure natural cooling and ventilation in the summer and heating in the winter – thereby mirroring and revisiting the regulative properties of a greenhouse.

Drawing by Chybik Kristof.

Ultimately functioning as the monk’s outdoor laboratory adjacent so closely to the monastery, the Greenhouse restored by CHK serves as a physical reminder of the interchange and connection between science and faith, reviving the community through inclusive social dialogue with the preservation of the histories traced in physical remnants of the area.

Photo by monolot.