There are few things harder in life than having a seriously ill child. Yet, whatever consolation may be had often comes in the fact that families experience the journey together. It is this simple reality — of shared experience and community — that shapes the design of the House for Julia children’s hospice in the northern suburbs of Brno.

Designed by boutique local studio Čtyrštěn, the 2,712-square-metre complex carefully balances familial and medical privacy with a sociable yet contemplative architectural spirit. Set into a rolling hillside landscape, the discrete facility is carefully slotted into its site, with the indoor-outdoor complex organized around preserved mature trees. Clad in larch wood and expansive fenestration, the hospice unfolds across the landscape in a staggered two-storey concrete form that follows the shape of the hill.

Organized around a broad central courtyard, the larger lower level is split into distinct zones. Alongside the main entrance, a common room and dining space — which serve as a social zone, play space and family activity hub — lend House of Julia an understated public face. Then, past the kitchen block (which is strategically situated alongside the dining space), a more contemplative and private zone is outfitted with lounge seating and a fireplace. A discrete administrative area is also situated near the main entry, and is accessible via a separate entrance.

On the other side of the courtyard, regenerative and restorative spaces include physiotherapy, art and music therapy, as well as a Watsu pool, and a small screening room for movies. 10 children’s bedrooms and a nurses’ station are also clustered together on the lower floor, with each room opening out to a small private loggia overlooking the central courtyard (yet carefully framed by wood and greenery for privacy). Accented by a memorial atrium, a larger apartment is specifically devoted to final goodbyes, fostering a dignified sense of passage.

Throughout the main flor, the generously sized space and horizontal circulation allow for accessibility by wheelchair, stroller, all while balancing privacy and togetherness. Meanwhile, the parental lodgings are situated in the second-storey upper volume. Here, parents can rest and recover knowing that their children are well cared for downstairs.

While a dignified yet unstuffy ambiance defines House for Julia Brno, the architecture also integrates a range of sustainable features. The concrete and fibre-cement ceilings feature conduits for embedded heating and cooling, supplied by a trio of air-to-water heat pumps discretely tucked into underground niches below the lower level. Moreover, rooftop soil and greenery help modulate interior temperatures, while also framing a rooftop walkway with panoramic views of the surrounding city.