Students of architecture are seeking ways to modernize public libraries

fa vut

Brno - Architecture students in Brno are looking for ways to modernize municipal libraries and adapt them to new needs. Their designs have already found application, for example, in Stošíkovice na Louce in the Znojmo area. Today, they presented new projects for libraries in Hrušky in the Břeclav area, Malhostovice, and Popůvky in Brno.

The modernization projects have been created by students of the Czech Technical University (VUT) for selected municipal libraries since 2019. Their goal is to help libraries compete with other activities. "Today there are many ways to spend free time, and libraries must keep up. They must offer a pleasant environment that attracts visitors while also allowing for the organization of cultural and educational events. Architecture can play a significant role in this," said Jan Kratochvíl from the Faculty of Architecture at VUT.

Students work on the projects in teams of three and consult their designs with the Methodological Center for the Construction and Reconstruction of Libraries. "Every year, four projects are created. This year, exceptionally, three were made, but one of them was more extensive," Kratochvíl noted.

According to Kratochvíl, libraries are an ideal assignment for current students to practice the necessary skills for future practice. "They will experience the entire process from analyzing the needs of individual spaces through communication with municipalities and library representatives to presenting the designs," he added.

Today, students presented their projects through architectural drawings, visualizations, and paper models. Representatives of the individual libraries and municipalities are now considering their implementation.

According to the students' proposal, the library in Hrušky could be modernized in the near future. "We really like the project. If everything goes well from a construction standpoint, we would like to implement the project by the end of this year," said the mayor of Hrušky, Jana Filipovičová.

According to the mayor, the original building was in very poor condition, and therefore the library should be moved to a new space. "We wanted to create a library that ensures a comfortable and pleasant environment for its users. We had many ideas and the hardest part was choosing the final one. We are glad that our proposal was liked by the representatives," added one of the project's authors, Branislav Csiszár.