Adaptive Reuse – Thomas Guignard photography

Biblioteca universitaria USI Lugano

This former hospice for the elderly witnessed the early years of artificial intelligence research before welcoming the library of a brand new university.

Interior of a contemporary library, showing a thin steel and glass breezeway crossing a space with high bookshelves on either sides.

Biblioteca de México “Ciudadela”

From instrument of colonialism to citadel of knowledge, this massive library in the heart of Mexico City is a joyful labyrinth where to get lost in a good book.

Exterior of a former mall movie multiplex converted into a library. It is a symmetrical brick Postmodern building. A blue sign with the words "Woodlawn Public Library" stands above the entrance. Cars are parked at the front. There is snow on the ground.

Woodlawn Public Library, Dartmouth NS

A former multiplex cinema in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, now serves as library branch and central technical processing for the Halifax Public Libraries.

Interior of a modern library, with a service counter at the back with the words "Retour" and "Prêt". To the left is a set of stairs leading to an elevated area with bookshelves. The words "Espace biblio" are written on a partition wall. To the right, an art print representing flowers hangs from a wall. The back wall is structured in a zigzag pattern, with T-shaped windows in each fold.

Bibliothèque la Mosaïque de la Pocatière

Opened for the 1967 Canadian Centennial, this Modernist theatre in a small Québec town now serves as the local public library.

Exterior of a traditional French bastide house in a lush green park, with trees in the foreground.

Bibliothèque les Deux-Ormes – Aix-en-Provence

Near Cézanne's childhood home west of Aix-en-Provence, this former bastide serves as neighbourhood library since 1993.

Interior of a library in a stone vaulted space with white modern bookshelves on wheels. A fresco showing a bathing scene is on the back wall.

Bibliothèque Méjanes – Halle aux Grains, Aix-en-Provence

From granary to post office to public library, the stone vaults of the Halle aux Grains in Aix-en-Provence still offer a welcome oasis of calm next to the busy market square.

Interior of an industrial space converted into a library with a multistory roof lit by clerestory windows supported on iron beams and poles. A mezzanine crosses the space with stairs on either side. We see bookshelves at the back and a service counter with two people interacting at the front.

Bibliothèque Méjanes – Allumettes, Aix-en-Provence

A former safety match factory has been home to the Aix en Provence public library since 1989. Soon to be renovated, this space is a beautiful example of adaptive reuse of industrial spaces.

Exterior of an old house converted to a library. The original building to the left is a three-story house with green shutters and a wrought iron pergola. The modern wing of the library to the right has a curved wall and window to accommodate a large mature tree growing in front of the house. A person on a bicycle moves through the scene.

Médiathèque Pierre-Bottero, Pélissanne

A careful intervention turned this 17th century patrician house into a lovely library.

Bibliothèque Municipale de Chauderon, Lausanne

The "beefiettes" may be long gone, but the Lausanne city library's funky colour scheme keeps the 1970s alive.

Exterior view of a brick chapel converted to a library. It is a tall, narrow neo-gothic building, with a rose window on top of a vaulted door. A sideways sign bearing the word "Médiathèque" is affixed to the facade.

Médiathèque de Cassel

The award-winning conversion of this 19th century boarding school chapel in Flanders is worth a walk up the hill.

Stadtbücherei Kressbronn

From welcoming weary travellers to storytime kids, this library in a transformed 1920s barn blends heritage with contemporary design.

Bibliothek des Kunstmuseums Basel

Bank ledgers made room for art books when the library of the Basel Art Museum took over a service counter hall for the Swiss National Bank.