On 2 to 4 March, an introductory architectural workshop was held in the premises of the monastery and Kodym National House in Opočno, which launched the cooperation of the FA BUT in Brno with the Hradec Králové Region, the town of Opočno and other entities.

During three days, under the guidance of architects and representatives of the region and the city and the new administrator of the Capuchin Monastery, students studied the conditions, documents and plans and collected suggestions for the creation of new visions for the conceptual grasp of the complex of abandoned monastery buildings and the monastery garden and their opening to the public. For the garden, the Department of Culture, Heritage Protection and Tourism of the KHK has already succeeded in obtaining grant support from the EEA and Norway Grants for this year for the project Revitalisation of a Cultural Monument and Implementation of the Community Garden of the Capuchin Monastery in Opočno.

The town, in cooperation with the county, approached two Czech architecture colleges, one in Brno and one in Prague, to contribute their ideas and bring a new perspective to this preserved but until recently abandoned historical site, which has fulfilled many beneficial functions since its foundation (monastery, refuge for the persecuted during the World Wars, healing centre). "Giving a new chance to old buildings in a time of crisis, when the school and hospital in Opočno are being closed, is both a difficult task and a challenge to contribute to such a demanding task", says Associate Professor Jiří Palacký, the leader of the workshop, which is attended by 16 students of the FA BUT Brno and two PhD students. "This place with a great memory has its own specific atmosphere, which we tried to evoke during the workshop. We used various methods, for example, working in the cloister in the gloom, during which the students engaged all their senses," adds architect Tomková, a PhD student.

Friday morning was led by landscape architect Hrubanova, with students studying trees and garden composition in a historical context under her expert supervision. The evening was dedicated to light installations in the early 17th century monastery. "Each student prepared a simple installation, which could be focused on a detail or the whole, while combining three basic aspects: light + philosophical/artistic text + monastic space...", adds architect Baršová, PhD student.

The students will continuously consult their designs with the participants and present them to the public at a joint exhibition during the Architecture Day 2023 festival.