Architecture firms Doxa and Bistan Architekti have successfully revitalized the P. O. Hviezdoslav Regional Library in Prešov, Slovakia, transforming three historic townhouses into a modern library space. The innovative renovation project focuses on preserving the original architectural character while introducing a cutting-edge shelving system that creates visual rhythm and maximizes natural light throughout the building.
The library occupies three protected historic townhouses, each standing three stories tall with basement levels and distinctive saddle roofs of varying heights. The central townhouse serves as the heart of the library, housing the main reading areas and book collections in large, hall-like spaces that stretch from the street facade all the way to the interior courtyard. Preserving the openness and exceptional light quality of these grand volumes became a primary design challenge for the architectural team.
Rather than cramming the double-height halls with traditional dense storage solutions, the architects developed an innovative gradient shelving strategy. This approach features open and public spaces on the ground floor that gradually become more compact and focused on the upper levels. The design successfully maintains the impressive sense of scale while meeting all of the library's functional storage and accessibility requirements. The shelving layout follows a longitudinal orientation, ensuring that natural daylight from the tall historic windows continues to penetrate deep into the interior spaces.
The ground floor showcases the project's most striking feature: two pairs of double-height shelves suspended from steel beams along the perimeter walls. These impressive shelving systems weigh 35 tons each but are supported by slender steel rods that create the visual impression of lightweight, curtain-like structures despite their substantial load-bearing capacity. The architects' use of thin steel profiles enables visual permeability throughout the space and reinforces the dynamic dialogue between structural elements and natural light.
The spatial organization becomes more complex on higher floors, with the second level introducing three continuous rows of shelving, while the top floor features smaller, more fragmented clusters of book storage. This gradual densification of shelving creates a clear and intuitive spatial hierarchy, transitioning from communal and flexible spaces on lower levels to quiet, concentrated study zones above. The carefully planned rhythm of shelves, furniture, and circulation routes guides library users through the building while maintaining clear visual connections across all levels.
The renovation project also celebrates the building's rich architectural history by making the various construction layers visible throughout the space. Visitors can observe the fascinating transitions from original solid masonry walls to later cast-iron additions and the newly introduced contemporary steel components. The collaborative design team from Doxa and Bistan studios carefully arranged furniture placement and emphasized existing architectural openings through well-defined movement routes that respect the building's heritage.
The combination of historic architectural mass with contemporary precision highlights the natural evolution of the structure while successfully accommodating present-day library requirements. The ground floor actively supports diverse user activities and community interaction, creating a welcoming public space for various events and gatherings. Meanwhile, the upper levels maintain a quieter atmosphere focused on individual reading and concentrated study activities. This functional progression mirrors the spatial and visual gradient of the innovative shelving system itself, creating a seamless transition from openness and community engagement to focused concentration and scholarly pursuits.
