Jirčany Fire Station

The design of the Jirčany Fire Station echoes the traditional rural barn typology found locally. Its rectangular volume, combined with a gabled roof, establishes a visual dialogue with the elementary school across the street, positioning the building as a crucial landmark at the village’s periphery. Strategically sited on municipal land in the northwestern part of Dolní Jirčany, its location ensures that firefighters can respond quickly and efficiently—an essential consideration for effective, immediate rescue services. Given that the fire station is set on an almost triangular plot, its design carefully considers its relationship with adjacent residential areas and the school. Consequently, SOA architekti devised an approach that maintains environmental scale and visual continuity, so that the building not only serves its functional role as a fire station but also forms a symbolic buffer. This design response acknowledges both the privacy of the local residential context and the openness required of a school’s public architecture, integrating harmoniously into the local built environment and articulating functional aesthetics in a clear, impactful form.

Employing a layered layout, the design divides the fire station into three distinct zones—the exterior, the garage, and the interior. This “dual structure” of inside and outside is central to achieving a balance between functionality and comfort. SOA architekti utilized a steel frame for the main hall, which is enveloped in translucent polycarbonate panels to create an airy, transparent visual effect while accommodating the maintenance needs of firefighting vehicles. Internally, a separately constructed wooden structure defines a dedicated space for firefighters’ daily rest and logistical support. On the eastern façade of the garage, facing the street, a deliberately expansive window was incorporated to allow residents to glimpse the station’s internal activities, thereby inviting community engagement and enhancing the accessibility of public space.

For the roof, the team employed sandwich polyurethane (PUR) metal panels, while strategically integrating skylights above the garage area and stairwell to provide ample natural light indoors. The building’s steel-framed exterior is composed of rectangular trusses and columns forming the primary load-bearing structure. An additional polycarbonate façade system—comprising translucent panels, an air cavity, and embedded insulation—encases the garage, achieving both thermal efficiency and high light transmission for a bright, transparent effect. Inside, CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels are used for both horizontal and vertical load-bearing elements, with the walls also serving a decorative role. On the side facing the garage, a wood-fiber insulation layer, clad in pine plywood, maintains a consistent warm texture. At the rear staircase, a striking contrast is created by pairing curved steel “teardrop” panels with the warm CLT, while the exterior staircase on the north side employs a galvanized structure. Its perforated landings and treads are designed to effectively channel rainwater, ensuring anti-slip performance.

SOA architekti has positioned the Jirčany Fire Station as both an efficiently operating rescue hub and a significant public building within the community. Its transparent, open design narrows the gap between local residents and firefighters, thereby enhancing community cohesion, while also providing a flexible, future-proof space. In doing so, the fire station stands as a distinctive and iconic example of contemporary fire station design.

Design Studio | SOA architekti @soaarchitekti Facebook

Photographer | Alex Shoots Buildings @alex.shoots.buildings