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suspended steel shelving forms permeable curtain within revitalized historic slovak library

Doxa + Bistan Architekti revive P. O. Hviezdoslav Library in Prešov

 

The project by Doxa and Bistan Architekti revitalizes the P. O. Hviezdoslav Regional Library in Prešov, Slovakia. Housed within three adjoining historic townhouses, the intervention focuses on preserving the spatial integrity of the original structures while introducing a new shelving system that organizes the library through spatial rhythm and light.

 

The library occupies three protected townhouses, each three stories high with basement levels and saddle roofs of varying heights. The main reading and collection spaces are located in the central townhouse, characterized by its large, hall-like interiors extending from the street facade to the courtyard. Maintaining the openness and light quality of these volumes was a central consideration in the design process. Instead of filling the double-height halls with dense storage, the architects introduced a gradient shelving strategy, open and public on the ground floor, increasingly compact on the upper levels. This approach preserves the sense of scale while fulfilling the library’s functional needs. The shelving layout follows a longitudinal orientation, ensuring that daylight from the tall windows continues to reach deep into the interior.

all images by Alexandra Timpau

 

 

suspended steel shelves form slender, curtain-like framework

 

On the ground floor, two pairs of double-height shelves are suspended from steel beams along the perimeter walls. These 35-ton shelving systems are supported by slender steel rods, creating the impression of a lightweight, curtain-like structure despite their load-bearing capacity. The use of thin steel profiles enables visual permeability and reinforces the dialogue between structure and light. The second floor introduces three continuous rows of shelving, while the top floor features smaller, more fragmented clusters. This gradual densification of shelving creates a legible spatial hierarchy, from communal and flexible spaces below to quiet, concentrated zones above. The rhythm of shelves, furniture, and circulation routes guides users through the library while maintaining clear visual connections across levels.

 

The renovation also makes the building’s historical construction layers visible, revealing transitions from solid masonry walls to later cast-iron additions and newly introduced steel components. The design team between studios Doxa and Bistan guides the arrangement of furniture and emphasizes architectural openings through defined movement routes. The combination of historic mass and contemporary precision highlights the evolution of the structure while accommodating present-day requirements. The ground floor supports diverse user activities and community interaction, while the upper levels focus on reading and study. This progression mirrors the spatial and functional gradient of the shelving system itself, moving from openness to concentration.

the P. O. Hviezdoslav Regional Library in Prešov is revitalized by Doxa and Bistan Architekti

open, communal spaces occupy the ground floor, while upper levels become more focused

longitudinal shelf layouts maintain daylight penetration through tall historic windows

natural light defines the main reading areas, enhanced by a clear structural rhythm

two pairs of double-height shelves are suspended from steel beams on the ground floor

the suspended structure forms a curtain-like framework within the historic hall

slender steel rods support the 35-ton shelving system, creating visual lightness

the design emphasizes openness, proportion, and continuity across all levels

the top floor contains smaller clusters, introducing a sense of spatial densification

restored masonry walls with preserved historic paintings meet new cast-iron and steel components

the library offers a coffee and social area under the revitalized historic cast-iron gallery

 

project info:

 

name: Interior of Regional Library P.O.H. in Presov
architect: Doxa | @doxa.architekti + bistan architekti | @bistan_architekti

location: Prešov, Slovakia

usable floor area: 1,060 sqm

books capacity: 55,500 pieces

 

design team: Matúš Bišťan, Maroš Mitro, Ondrej Jurčo, Tomáš Boroš, Jakub Števanka, Pavel Bakajsa

cooperators: Vincent Ung, Martina Hončárová, Ján Hlodák

engineer: Ivan Tatala – BPT projekt

graphic designer: Tomáš Eisner

photographer: Alexandra Timpau | @alex.shoots.buildings

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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jean nouvel’s fondation cartier reopens in paris with formafantasma-designed exhibition

Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain reopens in paris

 

The Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain’s new building, designed by Jean Nouvel, opens on October 25th, 2025, at 2 Place du Palais-Royal, Paris. The architectural project for the institution reinvents the 19th-century Grands Magasins du Louvre as a mobile organism. Exposition Générale, the inaugural exhibition, designed by Formafantasma, brings together over 600 works by more than 100 artists, including David Lynch, Claudia Andujar, Sarah Sze, Cai Guo-Qiang, Junya Ishigami, Giuseppe Penone, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro to map forty years of contemporary creation through a scenography that reactivates the very notion of what a museum can be.

 

Jean Nouvel’s architectural transformation of the Fondation Cartier’s new home reimagines a 19th-century Haussmannian landmark as a kinetic machine for art. Within the restored shell of the former Grands Magasins du Louvre, Nouvel introduces a system of five monumental moving platforms that rise and descend to endlessly reshape the exhibition spaces.

La Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, 2 place du Palais-Royal, Paris. © Jean Nouvel / ADAGP, Paris, 2025 | all images © Martin Argyroglo, unless stated otherwise

 

 

Inside Jean Nouvel’s Transformative Design

 

Inside the historic Haussmannian shell, French architect Jean Nouvel strips the structure back to its core, carving out vast, transparent voids where light and movement orchestrate the experience. Five monumental steel platforms, each a stage of 250 square meters and 250 tons, rise and fall on command, suspended by a cable-and-pulley system engineered in collaboration with specialists in bridge and theater design. These movable floors allow for infinite reconfigurations, forming an ever-changing topography of spaces that can expand, contract, or vanish entirely. ‘Everything must be removed,’ Nouvel had insisted early in the process, ‘so that the gaze can pass through an unobstructed space.’

 

The building behaves like a vast mechanical organism. Skylights become luminous floors, shutters slide like theatrical curtains to modulate daylight, and the distinction between inside and outside dissolves. Along the Saint-Honoré facade, a 150-meter-long glass canopy connects Rue de Rivoli to the Palais-Royal, creating a sheltered pedestrian route. With its seven-meter-high windows and fluid circulation, the architecture transforms the site into a transparent urban stage, an ‘exhibition machine’ where Paris itself becomes part of the display.

the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain’s new building opens on October 25th, 2025

 

 

formafantasma designs scenography for inaugural exhibition

 

Nouvel’s design deliberately dialogues with the building’s layered past. Constructed in 1855 for the first Paris World Fair, the former Grands Magasins du Louvre once hosted Expositions Générales, grand showcases of industrial modernity. The Fondation Cartier’s inaugural exhibition revives that spirit of discovery. Curated around four thematic constellations, Machines d’architecture, Être nature, Making Things, and Un monde réel, the show brings together nearly 600 works by over 100 artists from the Fondation’s collection, including David Lynch, Patti Smith, James Turrell, Claudia Andujar, Junya Ishigami, Sarah Sze, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

 

For this ambitious reopening, the scenography by Formafantasma extends Nouvel’s architectural concept into a curatorial experiment that draws on the display systems of 19th-century trade fairs, the design collective reimagines the exhibition as a social and experimental field. Materials, lighting, and spatial rhythms evoke the heritage of the site while foregrounding the performative dimension of showing and seeing. Formafantasma positions artworks within a network of exchange between disciplines, eras, and worldviews.

reinventing the 19th-century Grands Magasins du Louvre as a mobile organism

 

 

four sections compose the Exposition Générale show

 

The sections of Exposition Générale unfold within the mechanical flexibility of Nouvel’s architecture. Machines d’architecture turns the first platform into an urban laboratory, where visionary designs and utopian models, from Alessandro Mendini’s miniature cathedral to Freddy Mamani’s vivid Salón de eventos, reimagine the city as a site of transformation. Être nature shifts focus to the living world, transforming interior space into a sensorial ecosystem where Solange Pessoa’s feathered installation hovers above works by Claudia Andujar, Giuseppe Penone, and Bernie Krause. Making Things traces the fluid boundaries between craft, design, and fine art, while Un monde réel explores intersections of science, technology, and fiction through immersive works such as Sarah Sze’s Tracing Falling Sky and Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s data-driven EXIT.

Jean Nouvel reimagines a 19th-century Haussmannian landmark as a kinetic machine for art

transparent voids where light and movement orchestrate the experience

a system of five monumental moving platforms rise and descend to reshape the exhibition spaces

the Studio Marie-Claude Beaud

works by Chaco Artists, Nikau Hindin | image © Marc Domage

works by Bruno Novelli, Luiz Zerbini, Chaco artists, Nikau Hindin and Junya Ishigami | image © Marc Domage

David Hammons facing Le Louvre | image © Marc Domage

Freddy Mamani, Salón de eventos, 2018 | image © Marc Domage

works by Junya Ishigami and Luiz Zerbini | image © Marc Domage

Andrea Branzi, Gazebo, 2008 | image © Cyril Marcilhacy

works by Ron Mueck, Solange Pessoa and Olga de Amaral | image © Cyril Marcilhacy

 

project info:

 

name: Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain new headquarters

architect: Jean Nouvel | @ateliersjeannouvel

location: 2 Place du Palais-Royal, Paris, France

gross floor area: approx. 14,000 square meters

 

inaugural exhibition: Exposition Générale

scenography for inaugural exhibition: Formafantasma | @formafantasma

client: Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain | @fondationcartier

artists featured: David Lynch, Patti Smith, Joan Mitchell, Claudia Andujar, Sarah Sze, Cai Guo-Qiang, Junya Ishigami, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Agnès Varda, Giuseppe Penone, Solange Pessoa, James Turrell, Alessandro Mendini, Freddy Mamani, Bernie Krause, Francesca Woodman, among others

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IDST pairs memphis playfulness with mediterranean ease in wave restaurant, dubai

IDST’s textured Wave restaurant in Dubai

 

Wave, an all-day dining destination in Dubai, UAE, embraces the Memphis style to boldly reinterpret Mediterranean sensibilities. Located in the heart of Mirdif, a neighborhood, known for its grounded atmosphere and local appeal IDST designed the restaurant as a warm, textural landscape that unfolds gradually for its guests. Its interiors shift from the sun-drenched softness of its natural light to the sculptural rhythm articulated by its custom furnishings and material finishes. The result is a meticulous study in sensory curation, creating in a multisensory experience for serene daytime gatherings as well as vibrant evening settings.

Wave, designed by IDST, is located in Dubai’s Mirdif neighborhood

all images courtesy of Natelee Cocks

 

 

playful contrast between mediterranean and memphis

 

The architectural and design vision for Wave was brought to life by IDST. Renowned for its thoughtful design, the studio emphasizes materiality, character, and intention in every space it creates. Completed in 2025, their work for Wave, from the full design and supervision to sourcing and styling, introduces layers of refinement and creativity. At its core, the concept fuses Mediterranean ease with the expressive geometry of Memphis design. This unexpected play unfolds through deliberate contrasts — soft versus bold, curved versus linear, and earthy versus graphic — culminating in a striking new identity for all-day dining.

the restaurant’s aesthetic mixes the Mediterranean and the expressive geometry of Memphis design

 

 

materiality and pattern layer IDST’s design

 

Diving deeper into the aesthetic, visual rhythm plays a central role in the architecture of Wave. The space is underscored by repeating patterns — from striped upholstery to checkerboard textiles and sculptural lamps — that create a subtle yet pervasive sense of movement. Materiality is both grounding and uplifting, with textural layers like polished marble, raw ceramics, natural wood, and layered upholstery interacting to create a sense of richness without visual noise. The core palette of terracotta and sand tones speaks directly to sun-baked coastal towns of the Mediterranean, while strategic accents of deep navy and cobalt offer moments of sharp contrast and depth. These characteristics are also translated through bespoke furniture, crafted in collaboration with Custom No.9.

textural layers like printed wallpapers, hand-painted ceramic tiles, and polished marble add a sense of richness without visual noise

 

 

Wave is a feast for considered details. A standout element is the bold and varied use of tiles: handcrafted Moroccan zellige and hand-painted ceramic tiles mingle with custom-designed floor patterns that subtly guide circulation and define zones. This tactile and graphic approach to surface design reinforces the project’s rhythmic language and adds a vibrant sense of craftsmanship to every corner. The lighting, sourced from designers including Incommonwith, Henry Holland, Italamp, and &Tradition, was selected specifically to accentuate architectural features, creating the shifting moods that evolve from day to night. Furthermore, IDST meticulously curated a collection of art and decorative objects, like handcrafted vases, to imbue the restaurant with a soulful, textured identity.

the lighting was selected specifically to accentuate architectural features

custom-designed floor patterns subtly guide circulation and define zones

bespoke furniture, crafted together with Custom No.9, translates the interior’s characteristics into form

layered upholstery continues the theme of sun-drenched softness

the project’s rhythmic language, tactile, and graphic approach adds a sense of craftsmanship to every corner

 

 

project info:

 

project name: Wave
designer: IDST
location: Mirdif, Dubai, UAE
photographer: Natelee Cocks
date: 2025

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an ETFE facade wraps luca poian forms’ luminous library proposal for montenegro

luca poian’s vision for Podgorica

 

In Podgorica, Montenegro, a new Central Library designed by Luca Poian Forms is envisioned as both a cultural beacon and an environmentally conscious public building. Sited prominently along Bulevar Mihaila Lalića at the northern edge of the university campus, the project aligns itself with the city’s ongoing evolution.

 

The proposal positions the library as a place of exchange and collective learning. The structure is organized with a cross-shaped plan, while curved rooflines and softened corners lend the building a distinct civic character. Each corner opens outward toward the city, drawing visitors inward through sheltered, shaded canopies that double as social thresholds.

visualizations © Slim Studio

 

 

a new sustainable precedent in montenegro

 

Architect Luca Poian designs its Montenegro library with a translucent ETFE facade. Light yet resilient, it enables a luminous, energy-efficient envelope that blurs the boundary between exterior and interior. Behind this surface, bioclimatic sun greenhouses wrap the volume on all sides, serving as environmental buffers and informal social zones. They absorb solar heat, regulate temperature, and lend a gentle transition between the outside world and the quieter reading environments within.

 

Photovoltaic panels on the roof and passive design strategies further the building’s environmental agenda. These measures all together reduce operational energy use and establish a precedent for sustainable academic infrastructure in Montenegro. The design achieves a sense of calm through precision as each layer of the building’s skin is calibrated for energy performance and interior comfort.

the Central Library by Luca Poian Forms is set to bring a new civic landmark in Montenegro

 

 

inside the proposal for Podgorica

 

Luca Poian plans the library’s entrance with a triple-height lobby that immediately reveals its vertical continuity. A broad spiral stair anchors the space, connecting all levels in a single, fluid gesture. The ground floor hosts public and social programming: a 150-seat auditorium at the center, a café and bookstore along the west and east wings, and an exhibition gallery facing south, all of which remain accessible beyond library hours.

 

As one ascends, the spaces transition from social to contemplative. The first floor houses the Music Archive and multimedia studios, while the second opens into a double-height reading room beneath a linear skylight. The play of daylight here defines the rhythm of study and reflection. The uppermost level accommodates special collections, archives, and staff spaces, framing the city through diffused, even light.

a translucent ETFE facade gives the library a light-filled and energy efficient presence

the building’s cross shaped plan opens toward the city with four welcoming entrances

a hybrid structure of glulam CLT and concrete supports adaptable and sustainable spaces

 

 

project info:

 

project name: Central Library

architect: Luca Poian Forms | @lucapoianforms

location: Podgorica, Montenegro

client: University of Montenegro, Montenegro Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property

building area: 10,223 square meters

status: International Design Competition

visualizations: © Slim Studio | @slimstudio.eu

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