The wooden structure protecting one of the most precious sites (cella memoriae) is designed so as to copy the terrain and to be integrated in the castle panorama in a sensitive manner.
The wooden structure is carrying one of the oldest green roofs that has ever been built in Slovakia. The green roof on the building of the former Slovenská poisťovňa in Trenčín in the Legionárska St. comes from the 90s too.
The design documentation of the building in Devín was not preserved. The building had several defects just after the assembly. Statics of the truss were not sufficient, and this was not thoroughly repaired even after several interventions. Water started to pour into the structure, the archaeological site was at risk, and the building had to be closed. Visitors to the castle had no chance to get familiar with the story of the cella memoriae building for more than 20 years.
In 2022, some specialists dismounted the building completely and repaired it. Along with that, they found out that, e.g., the original wooden structure was made without the truss detail, and this had to be corrected.
The new first-quality damp-proofing was built on the top the lifetime of which should be at least 25 years or 50 years under ideal conditions. A new extensive green roof with the thickness of 8 cm is laid thereon.
The building is situated in the zone of the 4th level of nature protection where no planting is allowed and where the nature should be left and preserved in its original form. That’s why we only might plant four species of stonecrops on the roof which belong to the original species in Central Europe. However, these four species are not included in the composition of usual and available pre-grown carpets which use to be used on the green roofs. So, the Devín staff had to start their own planting. After three weeks of active watering, the roof was ready.
Cella memoriae is a living demonstration how to find a compromise even in the demanding environment of the Devín type.
Text author: Andrej Barát