Adaptive Reuse

A modern library interior with wooden study desks separated by partitions, wooden chairs, bookshelves, a tall potted plant, large windows, and high white ceilings with skylights.

Universitätsbibliothek BOKU Wien

Part greenhouse, part sanatorium, this unusual glass extension of a Vienna Reformstil hospital hosts the library of the university of natural resources and life sciences.
A white Neoclassical building stands between trees on a riverbank. The facade is painted white with a large stylized red letter A.

Bibliothek der Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien

Of the former Finance Directorate in Vienna, only the shell remains. The interior was filled by an "inward campus" for the University of Applied Arts and its library.
A library interior with bookshelves filled with books, tables and wooden chairs arranged for reading or studying, large windows letting in natural light, and a gray sofa with orange pillows.

Bibliothek der Graphischen, Wien

The print shop of this design school and research institute in Vienna is now a bright library.
A street view of a historic building with arched windows next to a modern glass and stone structure. Three people sit on benches in the foreground while two others walk by the buildings.

Bibliothèque humaniste de Sélestat

Since 1889, the former granary of the Alsatian town of Sélestat holds a unique collection documenting a long humanist tradition.
Wide-angle view of a modern library interior with tall bookshelves filled with books, overhead lights, and exposed steel beams supporting a white ceiling. A wooden floor and tables are visible in the center aisle.

Åbo Akademi Arkens bibliotek

From ore to lore: this former iron mill in Finland's old capital is now the arts faculty library.
A person walks through a brick-arched library with bookshelves filled with books on both sides and another section visible through an arched doorway.

Biblioteca Comunale degli Intronati di Siena

The Intronati library combines a modern public library with a priceless historical collection inside the former home of one of Europe's oldest universities.
Interior of a church converted to a library. A glass enclosure containing the library is at the back, only occupying part of the church, which can be seen around the library.

Bibliothèque Félicité-Angers, Neuville

This little town in Quebec found an original way to preserve rare religious artifacts while updating the little-used church that protects them.
The entrance to a white building labeled Kantonsbibliothek with a wooden door under a portico. Bicycles are parked on either side of the entrance.

Kantonsbibliothek Thurgau

From classrooms to reading rooms: since 1912, the cantonal library in Frauenfeld occupies the former high school.
A symmetrical courtyard with a central statue and fountain, surrounded by neatly trimmed trees, leads to a yellow two-story building with arched windows, a clock, and a gabled roof under a partly cloudy sky.

Biblioteca dell’Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio

Thanks to a generous donor, this palace once welcomed the sick and the poor and now hosts a major research library.
A large, light yellow and orange building with multiple floors stands at the center, featuring a courtyard with outdoor seating, umbrellas, and parked motorcycles; hills and clear sky are visible in the background.

La Filanda, Mendrisio

From silk spinners to cash registers to 3D printers, this Southern Switzerland landmark has been reinventing itself for 150 years.
An interior view of a large hall with a high arched brick ceiling, a chandelier, a circular balcony, striped flooring, display booths, and several red and white banners hanging from the balcony.

Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht

A pivotal budget decision and growing awareness of adaptive reuse have transformed an architectural icon into a thriving public library.
A spacious former industrial building interior with high arched ceilings, glass walls, and open walkways. A central staircase leads to upper levels, with workspaces and offices visible on both sides. The area is well-lit and empty.

Bibliothèque UHA La Fonderie, Mulhouse

From heavy industry to a foundry of ideas, this symbol of the "French Manchester" is now a bustling university campus.
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