Address
orchard by the Helfštýn castle, Týn nad Bečvou
Client
municipality Týn nad Bečvou
Architectural design
Miroslav Pospíšil
Collaboration
Nikola Navarová, Helena Špinlerová, Robert Randys – urban and architectural study
Design
06/2026 urban and architectural study
The new Visitor Information Centre, including its supporting facilities, is proposed within the orchard below Helfštýn Castle, approximately 200 metres from the castle and in close proximity to the village of Týn nad Bečvou. The project aims to enhance the quality of public infrastructure and promote sustainable tourism not only through its functional programme but also through the architectural value of the building itself. It seeks to unlock new opportunities for this well-established tourist destination while preserving the integrity of the surrounding landscape and its natural environment.
The building form is derived from the site’s topography. Following the natural contours of the terrain, its massing is embedded into the hillside, complementing the existing landform rather than creating a visual or physical barrier. Instead, the design facilitates pedestrian movement between two elevation levels. A pathway rises from the lower level to the upper access road, where it seamlessly integrates with the existing terrain. This continuity is further reinforced by the material treatment of the accessible green roof: an extensive vegetated roof transitions naturally into the adjacent slope and open landscape, while the paved pedestrian route connects directly to the existing path leading towards the castle.
The defining architectural element of the proposal is the sweeping curve of the reinforced concrete roof slab, which shelters and unifies the two distinct building volumes. The first volume, located beneath the ascending section of the accessible roof, accommodates the building’s technical facilities together with public sanitary amenities. The second volume contains the visitor information centre and retail area, including staff facilities and operational support spaces. The two volumes are connected by a covered colonnade that provides a sheltered seating area. Slender circular columns support the reinforced concrete roof within this intermediate space, introducing visual lightness and creating framed views into the surrounding orchard, thereby enhancing the dynamic spatial experience.
The overall composition encloses and embraces a central courtyard finished with compacted gravel. From this space, visitors gain access to the building’s principal architectural feature—the accessible roof—which gradually ascends towards the upper pedestrian route. The connecting ramp is finished in brushed concrete, selected for its long-term durability, slip resistance, and enduring aesthetic quality throughout the building’s service life.
