Commissioned to renovate the disused library in a Premonstratensian monastery in the Czech town of Želiv, Czech practice Šépka architects designed a starkly modern shelving system that nevertheless manages to harmoniously complement the historic space both aesthetically and practically. Constructed on-site using gravel and pebbles from the nearby river, the concrete and steel system was thoughtfully configured in order to fully accommodate the institution’s large collection of valuable books without obstructing the Baroque-Gothic building’s vaulted ceiling and colourful frescoes. The result of this sui-generis approach? An immersive space that succinctly conveys the historical weight of the monastery’s cultural heritage.

Originally built in the 12th century for Benedictine monks, the Premonstratensian monastery has a turbulent history including sieges and fires as well as multiple restorations, most notably in the 18th century by the Czech architect of Italian descent Jan Santini Aichel. While under communist rule in the 1950s, the building was repurposed as an internment camp for the clergy, until its religious role was reinstated in 1991. As part of the monastic complex, the library is housed in a large space that bears the hallmarks of Santini Aichel’s Baroque-Gothic aesthetic, namely beautiful ceiling frescoes. In contrast to the frescoes which have fortunately been preserved, the original wooden bookcases have not. Enter Šépka architects, who rather than attempt to recreate them, designed a unique shelving system, tailor-made to the library’s programmatic requirements and spatial constraints.

Designed as a composite system of concrete supports and sheet metal shelves, the units are robust enough to carry the weight of the books yet simple enough to have a minimal visual impact. The hefty construction also ensures structural integrity without needing to anchored to the historic building’s fabric while their height stays clear of the room’s baroque ornamentation reaching just below the vaulted ceiling. Cast in-situ, the concrete supports diminish in size starting with the largest at the bottom to the smallest at the top with shelf heights tailored to accommodate the varying dimensions of the books from the tallest to the shortest. Also incorporating the golden ratio in the sizing of their width, the stacked concrete blocks imbue the space with a harmonious sense of balance. In the middle of the space, an 8-metre long concrete and steel table showcases a series of rare books underneath glass domed covers. “Our intention was to symbolically create the impression of a kind of feast at the table”, the architects explain, “as the monastery refectory is located directly under the library.”