Sacred geometry: Czech town unveils futuristic 3D-printed chapel

The East Bohemian town of Litomyšl opened a modernist chapel created using 3D concrete printing Sunday, adding another striking piece of contemporary architecture to its surrounding landscape.

Designed by award-winning architect Petr Hájek, the Chapel of St. Joseph Calasanz stands at Primátorská hráz beside the Černá hora forest park. The nine-meter structure was officially blessed during an afternoon program that included activities for children and a concert by Pavel Helan.

The chapel is the fourth installation in Litomyšl’s Cíle cest, or Destinations, project, which places small architectural works within walking or cycling distance of the town center.

The chapel takes the form of a narrow concrete cuboid measuring three meters by three meters at its base and nine meters high. It was assembled from several sections produced progressively using a 3D concrete printer.

Openings in its walls have been positioned so sunlight passes through the structure during the solstices. Geometric, optical and acoustic principles have also been incorporated into the design to heighten its contemplative atmosphere.

“The chapel is a place of thanksgiving for the contribution of education to Litomyšl,” Hájek said at the unveiling. “The building contains principles of geometry, optics and acoustics that intensify the spiritual atmosphere of the site.”

The architect selected the location himself after examining several possible sites around Litomyšl. The town contributed CZK 1 million toward the project.

Hájek received the 2024 Czech Architecture Award for his concert hall inside Karlovy Vary’s Imperial Spa. Nicknamed the “crab” because of its distinctive shape, the freestanding structure was inserted into the historic building without altering its protected interior.

The new chapel honors St. Joseph Calasanz, the Spanish priest who founded the Piarist order and promoted free education for disadvantaged children.

Piarists arrived in Litomyšl in the 17th century and played an important role in the town’s religious and educational development. Their legacy remains visible around Litomyšl’s castle hill, including the former Piarist college and the Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross.

The town launched its Destinations project three years ago to encourage residents and visitors to explore its outskirts through contemporary architecture.

Earlier installations include the unconventional Eye Above the Pond bench, the VýhledNa lookout made from two connected shipping containers and The Door, a mirrored structure created by Dutch architect Winy Maas.

For its fifth destination, planned for 2027, Litomyšl has commissioned architects Tomáš Pága, Milan Joja and Karel Kubza of the Čtyřstěn studio. Their project is expected to stand in the Osické Valley along the Desinka River, although its final form has not yet been revealed.