Prague-based architecture firm matěj šebek architekti, together with landscape architect Ateliér Za Mák, have transformed the Kraffer Garden into a contemporary community space in the Czech Republic.

The history of the Kraffer Garden complex dates back to the eighteenth century. It was once a Baroque palace garden, but following a significant fire, it was sold and separated from the palace. Before callous changes brought about by nationalization in the 1950s, the famous Kraffer family horticulture nursery flourished here for more than a century. 

Eventually, the nursery and its structures turned into a brownfield, which was partially demolished around the start of the new millennium. 

When a team of landscape architects from Ateliér Za Mák took over the shuttered nursery in 2021, a comprehensive revitalization got underway. 

In the center of Jindřichův Hradec, their enthusiasm has revitalized the garden and turned it into a community area. A brownfield is being turned into a location where horticultural craft meets culture and human stories, based on the foundations of the First Republic-era nursery and the Baroque garden.

Contemporary Community Garden (Ateliér Za Mák)

A vibrant performance takes place on the footprint of the old Baroque garden in Kraffer Garden, which is like an island in the center of the town. It has been rebuilt using a rediscovered, over 200-year-old terrain configuration that has been modified for modern use. The end effect is a versatile area for flower growing, leisure, and culture.

The garden has a distinct order thanks to the fundamental idea, which is entirely geometric and comes from the historical design language that has been discovered. 

However, the specific solutions are completely modern and extremely sustainable, with a focus on biodiversity support, recycling, and rainwater management. The natural wildness of plants is incorporated into the rigid lines, producing a dramatic contrast. A Baroque stone wall frames the entire terraced garden, which is bordered by growing sheds and greenhouses facing south.

Currently, a public demonstration garden occupies the majority of the site. Here, the public can learn about local and seasonal flower production as plants are grown in addition to being sold. 

In addition, the venue offers workshops on flowers, herbs, and other topics, as well as a variety of cultural and environmental activities. Anyone is welcome to come unwind here.

Architectural Interventions (matěj šebek architekti)

Public access to the garden was a key component of the site's architectural modifications. The northeastern border of the garden features a significant intervention by Matěj šebek architekti. 

A new ramp that provides direct access to the garden itself is created by cutting open the center of the complex of greenhouses and warehouses from various eras. 

The original Baroque enclosure wall is next to the modern addition, which also defines the ramp and replaces the deteriorated structures. Here, a flower shop and a landscape architecture studio are being built as part of a new garden complex. 

The expansion is a low building that fits in with the terraced garden's overall design and merges in naturally with the old greenhouses thanks to its green roof. 

Above all, the new extension's architecture aims to be comprehensible and in line with its intended purpose. A concrete ramp that leads guests into the garden is attached to the light concrete foundation on which the house is situated. 

The original Baroque enclosure wall, of which pieces can also be seen within, is adjacent to the house's design and construction. 

The aforementioned wall runs straight through the garden, and the complex of ancillary buildings sits on its edge. 

A hefty, monolithic lintel that serves as a structural and symbolic link between the extension and the original Baroque wall highlights this circumstance. The building's flat green roof, which has a large overhang to the south, provides shelter from the hot summer sun. 

The exposed ceiling beams and the distinct cornice supporting them are the main highlights. The interior is beautiful and practical. The partition wall is lightweight and composed of plywood because it is not required to be permanent. 

The structure of the precise ceramic blocks meets the twisting Baroque stone wall beneath a consistent plywood ceiling because all of the walls are unplastered and have just been bleached with lime.

Collaboration Across Disciplines

The garden shaped the house, and the house shaped the garden, as the two were always in conversation as they were being constructed. 

The partnership between Ateliér Za Mák and Matěj Šebek architects resulted in new friendships and long-term collaboration on future projects in addition to a shared, happy space. Both the landscaping and the architecture are still undergoing changes.

Site plan

Layout

Section

Elevation

Project facts

Project name: Kraffer Garden

Architects: matěj šebek architekti 

Landscape architects: Ateliér Za Mák

Lead architects: Matěj Šebek, Michaela Zudová, Jan Makovička

Location: Czech Republic

Client: Krafferova zahrada

Completion year: 2025

Built-up area: 120m2

Gross floor area: 80m2

Usable area: 60m2

All images © Radek Úlehla.

All drawings © matěj šebek architekti.

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