The Red Church Reconstruction

Completed, Newly-built, Reconstructions

After more than 60 years the church no longer serves as a book warehouse. It has become an important cultural hub for the city.

Address

Bezručova 1180/3, Olomouc, Czech Republic

Client

Olomouc Region

Architectural design

Miroslav Pospíšil

Collaboration

Daria Johanesová, Martin Karlík, Milena Koblihová, Ondřej Patsch, Robert Randys, Lucie Rohelová, Adéla Tomečková, Hana Velčovská – architecture
Denisa Strmisková – cooperation with interior design
Jan Košátko – graphic design

Ing. Jan Lukáš – statics of new constructions (LOSTADE CZ s.r.o.)
doc. Ing. Ladislav Klusáček,CSc. – statics of historical structures (VUT Brno)
Ing. Pavel Fára – moisture remediation of historic masonry (CUBUS, spol. s r.o.)
Ing. Jan Pavelek – fire safety solution (BF PRO CZ, s.r.o.)
Ing. Marek Lenhart – heating solution (AZ Klima, a.s.)
Ing. Zdeněk Říha – ventilation system (AZ Klima, a.s.)
Ing. Petr Lysický – measurement and control (ELMAR group, s.r.o.)
Kateřina Pechová – plumbing and gas installation
Ing. Kamil Novotný – electrical installations
Michal Svoboda – slow-current electrical installations (MERIT GROUP a.s.)
Ing. Petr Staněk – roads and paved surfaces (Alfaprojekt, a.s.)

Design

04/2018 – 10/2019

Construction

09/2020 – 03/2023

Photography

BoysPlayNice

Awards

The Building of the Year 2023
finalist in the Rudolf Eitelberger Prize 2023
Czech Interior Award 2024

Press

press
Architektur Fachmagazine 06/2023
BIG ISSUE TAIWAN 07/2023
ELLE DEKOR Korea 09/2023
The Good Life Italia 11/2023
hinge China 10/2023
IFDM Wonder Book 02/2023
MODERN DECORATION CHINA 08/2023
Refurb and Restore 33/2023
Wideprint Argentina 12/2023
ARCHITECT+ 41/2023
dolcevita 07,08/2023
BETON 04/2023
INTRO 10/2023
PRO PAMÁTKY III/2023
REFLEX 46/2023
Stavebnictví 01-02/2024

Portfolio

you can view the drawings here

Olomouc Research Library has been using the Red Church as a book depository since 1959 and this beautiful Lutheran church has been completely closed to the public during all those years. The owner of this listed building, Olomouc Region, decided to construct a new library building to fulfill the storage needs and so free up the Red Church for cultural purposes such as smaller concerts, public readings, lectures, or art shows. Additionally, the Red Church is intended to be an information center for the Research Library and Olomouc Region.

Combining the overall reconstruction of the historical building with the new cultural and social functions was the main brief and focus of the design. The building was in a very poor condition. First, it was necessary to strengthen the foundations, mend the damp and salty masonry, repair the stucco and plaster, and tidy up and fill the gaps in the facade cladding. The floors were a complete redo including the layers all the way down to the terrain base. The reconstruction of the roof was one of the most critical updates. The trusses have been severely damaged by the rain, they could have collapsed at any point. The studio decided to do a complete makeover with maximum effort to retain the original elements. The new roof was made of copper squares that copy the same shape and format as the original roof. The authentic decorative elements did not stand the test of time sadly, so the studio worked together with renowned Olomouc sculptor Jan Dostal who created contemporary artifacts to be placed there instead.

Extra space for operation and facilities was required for the new functionality of the building, but it did not fit in the main body of the church. To avoid significant construction changes to the existing heritage building, the studio decided to add on a new mass that would serve operational purposes. The new building is placed right in between the church and the library directory, linking the two together. There is a common entrance hall with a reception and a café. The new construction respects the Bezrucova Street line and keeps enough indent from the existing buildings.

The crystal-like mass of the annex responds to the neo-Gothic form of the church; it derives from its geometric shape, volume, and layout. The floor plan is shaped using parallels with various walls of the church or the library headquarters building. The walls and the rooftop are made of matte black aluminum sheets.

The public space around the church is another compelling addition to the project. Where once there was a fence, there is a piazzeta with seating arrangements and suitable greenery now.

Atelier-r designed the concept and philosophy of the interior spaces and asked for collaboration with Denisa Strmiskova Studio which stands behind the detailed interior design elements such as the choice of lighting, or ready and custom-made furniture. Both atelier-r and Denisa Strmiskova Studio closely collaborated on choosing the materials and surfaces.

The reception and the café are taking up the main space in the modern annex. It is made of pastel pink concrete. The pink colour also matches other surfaces throughout the space such as floors, furniture, or walls. Massive accent book wall dominates the interior. It is a tall wall filled with old books that are backlit in the evening. There is a colourful glass light fixture hanging in front of the wall. The elegant and minimalist glass elements float in the air, suspended on the nylon ropes high above the visitors’ heads.

The interior of the church was restored to its original state as much as possible, at least for the elements that were preserved. Instead of the altar, which has not been preserved, a screen from the workshop of the sculptor Jan Dostál was added to the presbytery. The lighting of the church is also contemporary.

Graphic studio KOSATKO collaborated on the project, designing a brand-new visual identity and the logo for the Olomouc Research Library.