Javornická distillery

On the site of the original agricultural homestead from the late 19th century, in the village of Javornice in South Bohemia, a new, partially reconstructed complex of the Javornická distillery has emerged. Its owners have created a farm here with all the necessary facilities, thanks to the nearby estate they have owned for a longer period. This is not only a new small fruit distillery, but also other reconstructed and extended buildings of the former inn with a dance hall, stables, and a barn. The complex now includes a shop, a fruit storage, a chilled fermentation room, a customs warehouse, a wood shed, and a garage. Additionally, there is accommodation for the owner's family members and their potential guests. The Javornická distillery also includes an extensive fruit orchard and garden. The homestead stands under the ruins of Helfenburk, in a picturesque hilly landscape between the towns of Bavorov and Vlachovo Březí at an altitude of 480 meters above sea level. The surroundings consist mostly of forests, pastures, and agricultural fields.

The design for the reconstruction of the complex was primarily based on the original layout and placement of the buildings, which were, however, in very poor technical condition. Therefore, all modern extensions and additions, including roofs and trusses, were removed, preserving only the basic masses and some supporting walls of the main buildings. New structures were then built, including a fermentation building with accommodation in the attic and a wood shed with a garage on the site of the collapsed barn. A completely new and stand-alone building is the distillery, which is positioned so that it creates a partially closed and sheltered courtyard with the original buildings.
The architects' effort was to preserve as many of the original architectural elements of the buildings as possible, and where this was no longer feasible, to replace them with similar characteristic details borrowed from other South Bohemian constructions. For the new buildings, we chose new, contemporary materials, but with respect to the original construction. For example, a solution was developed where all original roofs have a red burnt roof covering, known as "bobrovka," while all new buildings have the same covering, but in black color.
The design of the buildings' appearance, the expression of facades, and the shape of roofs were significantly influenced by the immediate surroundings, so predominantly traditional solutions regarding shape and materials were used. Most facades have classic lime plaster, and parts of buildings with wooden load-bearing structures are clad with wooden boards, while the distillery itself was chosen to have visible brickwork made of solid bricks painted white as an accent to the significance of the building.
The areas of the courtyard, porch, and other spaces around the buildings are paved with natural stones, predominantly granite.
From a distance, upon arriving in Javornice, it is not immediately apparent that this is a new construction, but upon closer and more detailed examination, it becomes quite clear. The distillery has thus become a natural part of the village.