Our articles
Published articles, papers and presentations
Examples of lectures:
alternative seminars offer
In the case of your interest, I can prepare seminar about holistic architecture in your place. If you like, write me an email and we can speak about the topic of your interest.
Here is an example of such a lecture about:
Text from the Report of the International Conference "Healthy houses" in Brno, 2008 (PDF file; 893 kB)
The aim of this article is to understand the conception of a healthy environment from a holistic point of view. Wholeness of Nature contains multilevelled features of space and matter. Understanding and a conscious participation in Nature is easier to gain when we come closer to what is objective in the conception of a healthy environment. The meaning of a healthy environment is harmony between the physical and spiritual levels of both Man and Matter.
Architecture with its activities affects social and moral relations in society. Statistics have proven that removal of graffiti from a borough reduces criminality. Aesthetics of environment have an impact on the morals and behaviour of people. Similarly proven has been the fact that criminality can be reduced by collective meditation of people in a particular area. Obviously, the environment is influenced on both the visible and mental levels. From my own experience with supervising at building sites I know that relations among employees and mood at the site are very important. This can be improved for example by more frequent conversation with labourers and the creation of positive relationships. What makes a building really healthy is the multilevelled reality of our world.
Holistic Architecture and the Life Form
Presentation from the biologic architecture conference, Coed Hills, Cardiff, 3rd-4th October 2009 (PDF 9,3 MB)
Conception of Healthy Environments.
A holistic perspective for design.
Other articles in Czech Language with abstracts in English:
Projekt magazine, July – August/2010
Written by Šárka Dumbrovská
Buildings and environment bring together spiritual, emotional, vital and physical properties. This article sheds light on an holistic approach to architecture using specific procedures and examples of implementation.
Ecological supplement to the Projekt magazine, March 2010
Buildings and environment bring together spiritual, emotional, vital and physical properties. This article sheds light on an holistic approach to architecture using specific procedures and examples of implementation.
Contribution to the Okruh a střed anthology, 4/2009
Perceiving space through gestures and postures. How do we experience 3 D space? Physical expressive forms and architecture. Live creativity and the origin of building styles. Spiritual care for space. Composition of the temple and human body. Space brought to life.
Ecological and Holistic Architecture
Interview with Oldřich Hozmann for the A2 magazine Issue 5/2009
What is the difference between ecological and holistic architecture and how can one work with the learning of the East in relation to energies in our contemporary western world?, asks Michal Janata.
Magazine Můj dům, 12/2008.
Nowadays, there is no need to feel ashamed of being ecologically minded. What's more, we can put our feelings into practice. We have set off for Lany near Prague to visit an exceptional wooden house, built consistently both in accordance with ecological principles and feng-shui.
This article discusses the ongoing construction of a low-energy house built with natural building materials.
Magazine Můj dům, 9/2008
Get to know architecture which smells pleasant, is beautiful to look at and nice to touch. It is also close to humans and nature and saves energy. We suggest ideas of how to put ecological principles into practice in the construction sector. You will learn about natural building materials and technologies close to nature.
Before We Place a Foundation Stone
Magazine Regenerace (Regeneration), 5/2007
Holistic architecture combines spiritual, emotional, vital and physical levels into one creative unit. It is good to connect with the location where the house will be built and to communicate with it. A suitable way of communicating is a ritual. For example the celebration of placing a foundation stone. Nowadays, our main task is finding a balance between thinking and feeling. Therefore, it is important to cultivate a holistic and conscientious planning of our environment. Ecological buildings can also embody spiritual and emotional principles.
Harmony in the Rhythm of Nature and an Interview on Holistic Architecture
Magazine Můj dům, 4/2007
A report on the construction of a new house on the edge of a small central Bohemian town, honouring the principles of green architecture: open to the sun, the orientation of rooms by cardinal directions, the use of ecological materials, low energy concepts, feng-shui in practice. The article features pictures of the house and the interiors, a drawing of a feng-shui horoscope and information on healthy living.
Living as nature demands. How to arrange the nursery in accordance with feng shui
Magazine Aperio, 2/2007
Everything in nature moves in a spiral. Just look at small children running round. They often turn round and round and zigzag in various ways. Therefore, their rooms should provide a space for their natural movement. This article gives you basic recommendations for healthy living.
HOLISTIC ARCHITECTURE, text from the Report of the International Conference "Healthy houses" in Brno, 2006
Holistic architecture, what is wholeness and health in buildings and in an environment? Proper use and understanding of Order of the Universe leads us to begin practically use symmetry and harmonic proportions to perfect the sacred architecture of our living structures. How to make the world a better place, through better understanding of archetypal soul-needs, subtle energy of the landscape and the demands of a situation. Spontaneous design and human being's intuitive creation.
Magazine Dům a zahrada, 5/2006
We visited a house where the ancient Chinese teaching of feng-shui was fully employed . The building is full of vibrant and vital chi energy; it has a harmonic dimension based on a square and the golden ratio, the furniture is arranged with regard to geopathogenic zones and subtle energies...
This ancient Chinese teaching is based on a search for balance between humans, the building and the landscape; this teaching is also now employed during house constructions in the Czech Republic.
Various ecological building materials have been used during the construction. For example, the partition walls were built of unfired bricks which accumulate cold in the summer and heat in the winter.
House in Accordance with Feng Shui Principles
Magazine Domov, 5/2005
The living space should have characteristics based on the principles of nature. These should correspond with generally valid truths about the layout of individual rooms in a house. What is the basis of feng-shui? And how is it relevant? Read more about the principles of this ancient Chinese teaching which is also used in the Czech Republic when constructing houses. The articles features pictures of interiors using natural materials.
What is the Quality of Environment?
An article for NGO LEA.
What are our current notions of living? How much do we take into account the state of the development of our civilisation with regard to our style of living? How, and with what criteria, do we evaluate the quality of our living space? The holistic understanding of a good quality environment makes us more aware that we should look after Mother Earth. As a result, not only will the countryside be healthy, but also the people living in it.
The article discusses spiritual, emotional, vital and physical characteristics of architecture.
Energy of the landscape in the area of Motol Faculty Hospital in Prague 5
The aim of this Healthy Hospital Project is to prepare proposals for the harmonisation of the overall environment and to improve the process of healing. The study of landscape energy around the University Hospital Motol in Praha is a basis for further thought about the suitability and adequacy of human behaviour when planning work at a given space. The research study identifies the levels of our understanding and experiencing of space and encompasses not only the visible levels, but also those which are more difficult to grasp.
The aim of the study is to map, recognise and identify features of the given area and to propose various solutions. As a result, there should be a discussion about possible changes to the greenery, landscaping, creative artwork, minor construction work and the humanisation of the internal and external environment.
The Magic of Anthroposophical Buildings
Crystalline architectural styles that speak their own language. What is hidden in their shapes and colours? It is the relationship between the building and the human, the reflection of its hidden, perceived rhythms and proportions...
The article discusses principles of organic architecture. It was written when travelling around Camphill* Communities. These are communities for people suffering from mental health problems located in various countries around the world. The buildings in these centres have healing properties. They interact with with the elements human beings are made of. The principles of this architecture are based on spiritual teachings about humans – anthroposophy.
*Camphill – named after the village of Camphill in England where the first establishment of this type was established after the Second World War.
Human Dwellings for People and Natural Forces
An article in the omnibus of a Christian community Okruh a střed 2/2002
When looking at the landscape, I see hills and valleys, fields and meadows, and between the fields, the sky and the earth. I always compare two qualities and based on this comparison I judge which one prevails or if they are in harmony.
Modern man makes decisions based on the primary qualities of the world we can understand. But there are also opposites involved. The same principle of polarity can be experienced when perceiving non-material sides of life.
Reason and emotion also come into play. Each of us knows the difference between happiness and sadness, between greed and modesty. The complementary polarity of events forms the basis of our understanding and identification of the natural circumstances inthe world. All living things find their balance in the rhythm of nature.
The article discusses how people can perceive the subtle forces of nature using their conscience.
An article in the magazine Můj dům
The entrance door and hall are one of the most important places in a house or flat. This is where a large part of vital energy comes into the house. For humans this is where they retune from the outside space to the inside one.A beautiful and spacious entrance improves our mood.
The right house is an entity which reacts to the ever changing requirements of its inhabitants. If it can be altered internally based on the specific needs of the family, it becomes a living organism. There is no need to start extensive building work. All we have to do is not to be frightened of implementing new ideas. This article reports on the construction of a new low energy house designed by the ARC studio.
All Features of a Landscape, 3/2003
An article in the magazine Můj dům
On what criteria do we base our search for the right place to live? Our first visual impressions of the location are important for our immediate decision making. But there are also other important aspects which are not so clearly visible at first sight. The holistic quality of the environment has more levels, such as physical, vital and psychical. For example, look at the landscape of the Motol valley on the western side of Prague.
An article in the magazine Můj dům, 12/2005
Piped water came to our houses after 1900. Before that people used wells, wooden troughs and water basins on their land or nearby. Water was brought into the house for use and then taken out again in containers, and much less water was consumed than now. The system had its uses and it was not that bad.
On the other hand, nowadays we can influence the quality of water coming to us through the pipes. In these circumstances one should act with moderation and due consideration.
Metamorphoses of a House with an Inner Garden
Magazine Můj dům, September 2004
My idea of an ideal living space is a house with an internal garden. The layout of this imaginary bungalow is formed by a ring of living rooms encircling a central garden. This image of a house with an internal garden has been inspired by zen gardens.
Magazine Můj dům, 3/2004
Optimum proportions, natural order - these are terms that have intrigued builders for centuries. When observing nature, for example the shapes of trees or a human body, you will notice a certain order in the proportions of individual parts. And it is in these proportions of the individual parts that the golden ratio is to be found. Discover more about beautiful proportions in this article.
Magazine Zahrada-park-krajina, 1/2005
A meditative garden provides inner peace. If it is planned correctly in accordance with subtle energies of the landscape, it has even more qualities. It provides experiences connected with the quality of the place. The proposed design for the garden aims to offer the ability to experience one’s whole being in the manner in which it was incarnated..
Magazine Můj dům, 4/2005
What is natural is healthy. The human environment is getting further and further from the natural which increases the subconscious yearning of humans to return to nature. In architecture, we can see an increased interest in natural building materials which offer great advantages.
Amongst others, they help to improve the way we perceive our living environment.
Magazine Můj dům, 4/2003
The quality of a building plot is mostly influenced by the slope? Why is there a ? here?of the plot and its orientation with regard to cardinal directions. It is also advisable to find out if the angle of the terrain provides a natural protection against the prevailing wind. The selection of an ideal plot of land is a part of the Chinese teaching of feng-shui.
Based on feng-shui one of the most important guidelines is having a symbolic mountain behind you and a symbolic lake in front. If you wonder what it is all about, read more in this article.
Magazine Můj dům, 5/2003
Each living space encompasses many features based on nature. When judging the quality of living, we judge not only the visible forms, but we judge also intuitively based on our subconscientious experience. This statement can be demonstrated using a specific construction site.
Take Up the Principles of Bau-biology
Magazine Můj dům, 4/2004
Nowadays, more alternative approaches are promoted in architecture and the building industry; these approaches are involved with the relationship between the human being and the environment. One of these is bau-biology which came to us from Germany where it is becoming more and more popular. Bau-biology (building biology) can be characterised as the science of holistic relationships between the human being, his/her living space and the environment.
Keep Your Mind on the Quality of the Inner Environment
Magazine Můj dům, 5/2004
This article follows the first series on the principles of bau-biology published in the April issue of the Můj dům magazine. In this issue we will present other impacts which bau-biology perceives as relevant factors influencing the quality of our living environment.
A short presentation on experiences with hemp and recommended constructions when using it.
Healthy Living and Electromagnetic Fields
Magazine Můj dům, 11/2004
The human body transfers information using electrical impulses which then govern the functioning of the body. Since artificial electromagnetic fields in buildings have a disruptive effect on the operation of the organism, it is advisable to protect ourselves against their impact, in particular at the time, and in the place, designated for rest.
Magazine Můj dům, 11/2004
When building a house, it is advisable to perceive the building as a part of the wider environment. Nature is a holistic unit with its basic inherent laws, order and rhythm. Healthy houses are those where we feel good and which are also in harmony with their environment. This article focuses on the holistic relationship between man and nature, the materials used and possible types of wall constructions.
Magazine Dům a zahrada, 9/2008, (corrected version)
The true meaning of the saying ´healthy living´ is much wider that you might imagine. The right regime, enough movement, regular medical check ups - this is all connected with our bodies. But what influences the state of our bodies most is the environment in which we live. In order to live our lives healthily, we must live in a healthy environment. This article was written by Tereza Doležalová.
