This bachelor’s thesis examines the adaptive reuse of the former municipal baths in Prostějov, transforming the building into a public library with a community centre.

The design approach is based on preserving the architectural identity and spatial qualities of the original structure while accommodating new functions. The former swimming pool hall is defined as the central element of the proposal and functions as the main spatial and social core of the building. It is reinterpreted as a multifunctional public space that concentrates activities related to the library and community centre.

The pool area is conceived as a flexible environment that can operate as a café, an event hall, a meeting space, and an informal reading area. It therefore becomes a key component of the new identity of the building and supports the concept of the library as a central public space for the city. Through this transformation, the project develops the idea of a “literary bathhouse”, where cultural, educational, and social activities intersect.

Several historically significant spaces are preserved and assigned new functions that respond to their original use. The former water reservoir is converted into a main hall, while the former water treatment area is adapted as a gallery space.

In contrast, other parts of the building are redesigned with greater flexibility. The existing structural frame is utilised to create open-plan layouts for the main library departments, community rooms, a café, and a barbershop. The building is further complemented by side reading loggias, a winter garden at the main entrance, and community rooms connected to a reading garden on the opposite side.

An integral part of the thesis is the design and production of custom ceramic tiles. Their form is inspired by water waves and the curvature of book spines. The tiles are applied within the building’s wayfinding system, in the cladding of the former pool, and on the facade as negative imprints in precast concrete panels.

As a result of the proposed intervention, the building acquires a distinct architectural expression that reflects the significance of its public function and its role within the urban context.