The construction of the first children's hospice in the Czech Republic has been completed. The House for Julia will start serving clients and their families from August.

Brno – The first children's inpatient hospice in the Czech Republic will be handed over tomorrow to the non-profit organization House for Julia, which initiated its establishment six years ago. The construction of the hospice was financed by the city of Brno, on whose land the building stands. The building is surrounded by greenery and adjoins a senior home in Kociánka.

The design of the House for Julia was created by a team of architects from the Brno studio ČTYŘSTĚN. The architects aimed to bring inner peace, balance, and humility to the facility: "The house should serve as a refuge, a place for experiencing the most difficult moments and for finding peace and coming to terms with fate. A space for relief, mutual support, and solitude when you need it most, but also as a place for moments of normal living and joyful encounters." Architects Tomáš Págo, Milan Joja, and Karel Kubza sensitively placed the house into the sloping terrain. The children’s rooms and common spaces are oriented towards a central atrium with preserved mature trees. Parents' rooms on the third floor lead out to a walkable green roof that seamlessly connects to the surrounding park, making the entire building a natural and integral part of it. "The goal was for the House for Julia to completely blend with its surroundings, which we hope has been achieved," explains architect Tomáš Págo. The house was built by the construction company UNISTAV. The construction costs reached 184.5 million CZK.

The House for Julia is among the pioneers of pediatric palliative care in our country. The hospice will offer respite care, allowing parents to rest and recharge. In August, it will launch residence services in four rooms, and will subsequently increase its capacity. "We are preparing a palliative medicine clinic and unique hospice stays for experiencing the final stage of a child's illness," said the director of the House for Julia, Radka Vernerová, adding: "Many successful milestones are behind us, the vision has become a reality. And that is thanks to successful cooperation with the city of Brno and other supporters. Without donors, we cannot help. Czech legislation currently does not recognize children's hospices, and therefore we must cover the healthcare costs for children in our facility primarily from financial donations from the public."

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