A stately, neo-Gothic structure, this Red Church in Olomouc Czech Republic has been utilized as a book depository by the Olomouc Research Library since 1959. During all those years, the landmark was completely closed to the public. This year, Olomouc Region embarked on a total renovation of the property with a focus on community involvement; constructing a new library building to fulfill the storage needs and freeing up the Red Church for cultural purposes such as smaller concerts, public readings, lectures, or art shows. The result beautifully preserves the original historical building, while incorporating new cultural and social functions.
The building was in a very poor condition, and required work on the structure, facade, and flooring including the layers all the way down to the terrain base. The reconstruction of the roof was one of the most critical updates. The trusses had been severely damaged by the rain and were at risk of collapsing. The studio decided to do a complete makeover with maximum effort to retain the original elements. The new roof was made of copper squares that copy the same shape and format as the original roof. The authentic decorative elements did not stand the test of time sadly, so the studio worked together with renowned Olomouc sculptor Jan Dostal who created contemporary artifacts to be placed there instead.
Extra space for operation and facilities was required for the new functionality of the building, but it did not fit in the main body of the church. To avoid significant construction changes to the existing heritage building, the studio decided to add on a new mass that would serve operational purposes. The new building is placed right in between the church and the library directorate, linking the two together. There is a common entrance hall with a reception and a café.
The crystal-like mass of the annex responds to the neo-Gothic form of the church; it derives from its geometric shape, volume, and layout. The floor plan is a cut-out of the part of the church floor plan, only moved outside of the original platform. The walls and the rooftop are made of matte black aluminum.
For the interior spaces, Atelier-r collaborated with Denisa Strmiskova Studio, the team paying special attention to the materials and surfaces. Most notably, the reception and café spaces that fill the main space in the modern annex are made of pastel pink concrete.
Once inside, massive walls of books dominate the interior. The awesome display is complemented by a colorful glass Lambert & Fils light fixture hanging in front of the wall. The elegant and minimalist glass elements float in the air, suspended on the nylon ropes high above the visitors’ heads. If you look at them from specific angles, they reflect the houses in the street or the church.
Photography by BoysPlayNice.
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