Completed in 2022 and situated in Czechia, the Three Resistance Movements Memorial in Lošany serves as a poignant homage to the enduring spirit of resistance that has shaped the modern history of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. Through the lens of one rural family’s saga, the memorial provides an intimate glimpse into their struggles and sacrifices for homeland, freedom, and democracy.
Three Resistance Movements Memorial Technical Information
- Architects1-11: IXA Studio
- Location: Lošany 1, 280 02, Lošany, Czech Republic
- Built-up area: 745 m²
- Usable floor area: 1 085 m²
- Project Year: 2019 – 2022
- Photographs: © Benedikt Markel
The Three Resistance Movements Memorial reflects the extraordinary opportunity to view the modern history of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic through the story of one rural family and its companions.
– IXA Studio Architects
Three Resistance Movements Memorial Photographs
Reclaiming Heritage
The narrative of the memorial begins in 2017 when Mrs. Zdeňka Mašínová reclaimed her ancestral farm decades after the communist regime’s fall. This farm, once home to Major General Josef Mašín and his family, symbolizes a lineage of resistance against oppression through the 20th century. The establishment of the memorial on this site aimed to preserve and share the Mašín family’s legacy with the public.
Architectural Mummification
The farm’s transformation is a study of architectural conservation and innovation. Following extensive reconstructions, the original character of Josef Mašín’s ancestral home had been obscured, save for the ground floor’s masonry and vaulted rooms. These elements were preserved under a layer of sprayed concrete, a protective measure that artist Rachel Whiteread eloquently describes as the mummification of the structure. This method safeguards the building’s integrity and allows visitors to traverse its historical layers.
A Space for Reflection and Education
The memorial’s design thoughtfully incorporates symbolic elements to convey its narrative. The entrance hall features the poignant farewell letter of Josef Mašín to his family, encapsulating his love, pain, and determination. Further into the space, sun tunnels pierce the vaulted ceiling, each representing one of the three Czechoslovak resistance movements, while an open-roofed room houses a growing mulberry tree, a living emblem of freedom and hope.
Community and Memory
Once bustling with farm life, the expansive courtyard now stands ready to host visitors and events, echoing the memorial’s role as a communal space for reflection and education. With its varied past from a stable to a tractor station, the farm building houses an exhibition on the Mašín family and the resistance movements, juxtaposing authentic architectural elements with contemporary exhibition design.
The Three Resistance Movements Memorial is more than a site of remembrance; it is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Its innovative use of space and architecture offers a unique lens through which to explore the complex tapestry of Czechoslovak history.
Three Resistance Movements Memorial Plans
Three Resistance Movements Memorial Image Gallery
About IXA Studio
IXA Studio was founded in Prague by architects Tomáš Hradečný and Benedikt Markel following their long-term collaboration. The studio comprises a team of six individuals whose work spans a diverse range of scales and typologies. This includes tasks from conceptual design to construction implementation. IXA Studio is actively involved in enhancing public spaces and buildings within historically protected areas.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Author: Tomáš Hradečný, Klára Hradečná, Julie Kopecká, Benedikt Markel, Bronislava Volentičová, Silvia Snopková, Vladěna Bockschneiderová, Jakub Kochman
- Co-author: Petr Blažek, exhibition curator
Michael Baroch, Dominika Kovandová, Branislav Kožej, Magdaléna Piterková, Patrik Ölvecký - Plot size: 11 539 m²
- Cost: 430 000 €
- Construction work: PROSTAV
- Sprayed concrete: Podzemní stavby Brno
- Carpentry: Jiří Sušický
- Landscaping: Jakub Kratochvíl
- Exhibition production: SIGNUM 1995
- Multimedia solutions: st.dio
- Lighting: Etna iGuzzini
