Píšť is a small town located on the northeastern border of Opava County, with a population of about 2,000. It sits on the gently rolling hills of the Hlučínská pahorkatina region and is considered one of the oldest towns in the area. Notable landmarks include the St. Lawrence Church, built in 1743, and the St. John’s Octagonal Cathedral in St. Paul’s Basilica.
These two pilgrimage sites are situated at the crossroads of Opavská Road, Hlučínská Road, Ratibořská Road, and Hůrecká Road. The town hall is also located here. In the past year, a new Information and Cultural Center was constructed adjacent to the town hall building.
The concept for the Information and Cultural Center was first proposed in 2005, with design and approval processes beginning shortly thereafter. Construction was completed in 2017, and the center officially opened to the public in December 2018. During the opening ceremony, a statement was signed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of cooperation between the Czech border towns of Píšť, Hať, Šilheřovice, and the Polish border town of Krzyżanowice.
The center is composed of two interconnected parts that together create a new public shared space called the “Piazzeta.” The two-story main building, positioned on the north side of the Piazzeta, features a triangular roof and is a transformation of a former barn.
Natural light streams into the elevated hall and library through two large skylights. These skylights, along with the white exterior walls punctuated by geometric light slots, serve as distinctive architectural landmarks visible from afar. The entrance hall faces away from the road and houses a coffee shop that opens onto an outdoor terrace.
To the west of the Piazzeta, a single-story building connects the new Information and Cultural Center with the existing Town Hall. This section contains three separate meeting rooms and a bicycle storage area.
The western area is planned as the second phase of construction, expected to begin this year. The south and west sides of the Piazzeta are open spaces that face the town, creating a visual dialogue with the nearby St. Lawrence Church and the Octagonal Cathedral.
Design Drawings:
Site plan
Floor plan
Sectional view
Project Information:
Architect: Knesl Kyncl Architects
Location: Píšť, Opava Region, Czech Republic
Category: Municipal Buildings
Lead Architects: Jiri Knesl, Jakub Kyncl
Building Area: 1,150 m2
Year Completed: 2018
Photographer: Alexandra Timpau
Suppliers: Weber, Tondach, Porotherm, Knauf, Isover
Supervisors: Josef Hajny and Jan Rasik
Structural Engineer: Pavel Hladik
Fire Safety: Jitka Spondrova
Heating Systems: Dusan Varians
Electrical Engineer: Pavel Docekal
Air Conditioning: Josef Bahr
Transportation: Milan Zezula
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