TERMINAL STATION OF NOSTALGIC STEAM LOCOMOTIVES
GATEWAY TO THE MOUNTAINS
A PLACE WITH A RICH HISTORY IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE KRKONOŠE MOUNTAINS

On a valley plateau shaped by a meander of the Jizera River, a variety of routes and transport modes intersect — the end of a railway line, the beginning of hiking trails leading into the mountains, the Greenway cycle route passing through, a stopping point for paddlers descending the Jizera, pedestrian routes from surrounding villages, a bus and ski-bus stop, and visitor car access.

The architectural design connects and unifies these flows into a shared center that offers visitors:

a look back at the history of railway technology in a Museum of Nostalgic Railways,

refreshments in a restaurant with a view of the Jizera River,

a space for sports and recreational activities,

or simply a pleasant place to relax on a quiet afternoon.

The massing of the buildings responds to the strong linearity of the site, defined by the railway line and the river, which form the natural boundaries of the area. The museum and restaurant buildings are designed as elongated tubes, open at their gabled ends. Their positioning creates a shared forecourt while maintaining unobstructed views through glazed gables.

A central access axis, perpendicular to the buildings, cuts through the site from the access road all the way to the Jizera River, where it transitions into a set of stepped terraces descending into the water. Varied paving textures subtly guide visitors from the parking area toward the entrances.

The Greenway Jizera cycle route is brought directly into the heart of the central space, drawing visitors into a sequence of architectural "gates" that gradually open toward the center. This route also serves as the main pedestrian connection with the nearby village of Jablonec nad Jizerou.

The section between Rokytnice nad Jizerou and Jablonec is currently in the planning phase and will complete a segment of cycle route no. 17, which runs from the mountain village of Jizerka all the way to Prague.

Structural and Material Concept

The museum building is designed as a frame structure, composed of CLT (cross-laminated timber) columns and trusses. The entire structure is clad in transparent polycarbonate panels (Modulit LP 500), which provide ample natural daylight to the interior while maintaining a lightweight and contemporary appearance. The gabled end walls are fully glazed, allowing clear visual connections with the surrounding landscape and enhancing the spatial openness of the building.

In contrast, the restaurant building features a warm, tactile envelope, clad in charred timber (using the traditional shou sugi ban technique) and wooden slats. This material approach gives the structure a distinct, natural character and harmonizes with the surrounding environment, while also offering a subtle contrast to the more translucent and industrial expression of the museum.